Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-11

seventeen I6puDllcdIlS anu SIX uemO-
Gratis favor commission to revise the
tariff in accordance with the sugges-
ton in the Presidents Logansport
speech. Eleven republicans and seven
democrats are on the other side. Fin
ally ten republicans and twenty-one
democrats favor the pending Eeci--
procity treaty with France. Only six
republicans and four democrats .ex--
press opposition to this. tits duiteevi-
dent from this that neither the repub-
lican section nor the democratic Sec
tion of the house are going to- be
united on their ideas as to what Should
be done and some lively debates may
be expected.
Gigantic Fight.
One of the most gigantic political
fights in the history of the nation sim
ply had its beginning in the cam,
paign just past. Far seeing politicians
of both parties are girding their loins
for farther trouble. The democrats
have shown themselves to be very
much alive The fact alone that for
the first time in six years Mr. Cleve-
land, Mr.. Olney, Mr.. Carlisle. ETC.,
have been eXerting themselve in pc.
litical campaign show that a material
change has come over, democracy
The revival of the old issues of free
trade has had its effect on those whom
free silver chilled to the marrow. The
old time leaders are again warm in
the harness and seem to be determin-
ed to exert every effort to gain the
ground lost under Mr.. Bryan's leader
ship. 1t is true that they were not
DESTROYS of winning the house of rep
resentatives, but the fight. had to be
made to encourage the rank and file of
the party, and the real contest termi-
mating in 1904 has just now been en-.
tered upon.
The Coming Democratic Convention.
In view of all this, politicians de-
clare that the next democrats ma
tional convention will be a most inter-
esting body. How interesting that
meeting might be made may be seen
at a glance at certain possibilities and
the question is will the party even by
that time be able to get together. It
| is suggested for instance that Mr.. Bry-
an might head the Nebraka delega-.
ton, Mr.. Cleveland that of New Jer4
ey, Mr. Olney that from Massachu.
sets, Mr.. Hill that from New York,
Mr. German that from Maryland, Tom
Johnson that from Ohio, and probably
Mr.. Watterson that from Kentucky.
Such an array is not at all improbable
and no one needs to be told that the
| combination would cause some liyelx
| times.
Representative Men Astir.
The Chicago convention of 1896,
which plunged the party into woe, was
attended by comparatively few OF the
real leaders of the party The men
who had helped most to name the tick
ct in 1892 were conspicuous by their
absence. Men Of less ability and less
experience were in charge and the re-.
suit was a reckless deliverance and
an unwise nomination. Also In 1900
at Kansas City everything went by des
fault. Mr.. Bryan's hold remained un.
shaken and the convention simply reg.
i istersd his will. 1t is declared that
things are different now. Mr.. Bryan is
Regarded as considerably shaken, If
not wholly destroyed, and the old lead
ership is bestiring itself These lead-
ers are said to be already planning I'd
make the next convention one OF the
i most representative that the demo-.
cratic party ever held. The work ID
4 to begin clear down at the choosing az
1 delegates to county conventions and
i proceed on up to the construction Of d
platform and the nomination Of a press
idential candidate.
I Biennial Elections.
The revival of the biennial election
question which the passing of tha
campaign has brought up in Iowa
seems to be spreading over the entire
country. The complaint is made in
many quarters that there are too many
many campaigns. One seems to bs
no sooner done than another begins
1t is declared by some that the people
are firing of the constant strain and
excitement and are also somewhat
grumpy about the growing size of the
bills. Politics has become sort OF
an industry and there is something
doing every year. Many men make a
; study of political management and
each with his own particular corps OF
assistants tries to keep the pot boil,
. ing all the time. That the result of
all this is fatigue in many sections is
!, said to have been evinced by the
marked apathy of the campaign just
over.
campaigns f1dVe Ihelr SOOQ fOintS
However those who are opposed to
! the plans for cutting down the mum
Der of elections declare that much good
results from frequent campaigns. II
is pointed out that long terms are moi
!, in favor and the number of elections
, national state and municipal is neces
sarily large. The most eminent stud
. ents of popular government declare fol
: regular and frequent opportunities fol
! hearing the voice of the people and fol
) resultant close watch on all public
: servants. The theory is advanced
:, that all elections from coroner to pres
!, ident should be contested with the
full spirit of all the people and thus
the purpose and spirit of the republic
: be realized.
d Elections Not Always Disturbing.
/ Elections are not always particular
) ly disturbing to business even though
}, both sides usually fortell the calamit.
Z, that will befall the country in case o
Y the success of the opposite party. II
I the recent campaign it was declared
| a. ,ixr1,t cd IA