Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01

to present to the house statement of
their case. With but ninety minutes
on each side ii is obvious that no such
opportunity will be afforded. They will
kick up considerable dust but it will
avail nothing. The bill will pass this
afternoon precisely as reported. The
patronage has been so judiciously dis
tributed that good safe majority
may absolutely be depended upon
Great ia the rule"
Thomas is Mum.
No amount of fighting or diplomatic
interrogatories are sufficient to cause
Congressman Thomas to divulge his
plans concerning the action proposed
by him in connection with the Sioux
City postoffice. '"The politicians have
had the matter setted," the Judge
says: ''have retired this candidate and
that, and hope they are having a good
time. They all know more about the
matter than 1 do" This. with the
!stereotyped statement that he has not
given any consideration to the case,
constitutes all the information obtain
ed. Mr. Thomas says he will let the
Sioux City postoffice matter sweat:
there is no hurry"
81 have talked with number of elev-
enth district politicians. in Office in the
capitol and departments, and they all
take the view that Judge Thomas will
hold the case up until after his con.
gressional convention has concluded
its work and then re-appoint Ed
Heller.
Shaw's Methodist Foot Foruets.
Secretary of the Navy Long enter
tanned the President and members of
the cabinet a couple of nights ago up
on the steam yacht Dolphin, in short
cruise down the Potomac. The Presi-
dent and all the members of the cab
met, save Secretaries Root and Hitch
cock We're on hand and the admins
tration" had one Of those times you
read about. Secretary Shaw, in early
youth, upon the hills of Vermont,
trained in the intricacies of the dance
and the husking bee, joined with the
others in the regular old-fashioned
"shake-down" upon the deck of the
Dolphin, while portion of the marine
band kept the music going lively. Sec
rotary Wilson, who is more at home
talking farm and scientific agriculture,
than upon the dancing floor, met with
an unexpected accident. He was en-
deavoring to reach for his partner"
but missed footing and came down up
on the deck with whack that fairly
Jared the ship. There is no way to
verify the statement, but one of the
sailors says the President nearly died
laughing and called out Get up there,
you old cornstalk."
After the dance and music the sail
ors edited the distinguished guests
with exhibitions of fencing and box
ing. There seems to be no doubt, but
that at the proper time and in the
proper place the President and his
cabinet are boys" again
Certain members of the Iowa dele
cation have been "joshing" certain
other members Of the delegation
about their proneness to become
sporty. During the past few weeks
the big races at Bennings have con-
stituted the principal attraction in
Washington, even overshadowing,p
sibly congress itself. 1t appears that
several OF the Iowa congressman en-
JOY a good horserace and have been
quietly slipping away in the afternoon
about 3 o'clock, occasionally, and do
ing the races. There has been con
siderable testing and good-naturad
badinage as to who was the instigat-
or or mover in the practice and who
would be called upon to stand the
brunt OF the explaining should the
people demand an explanation. The
Iowa congressman steered clear of the
"boohies. Frank, ]. Stillman.