Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-31

tFrom Wednesdays Daily.]
"Never has the state of Iowa held
such high place in the councils OF the
nation as at the present time, said
Hon. Walter |. Smith, temporary chair
man of the republican state conven.
ton, at the opening session Of that
body held this morning, in Des Moines.
In his eloquent and convincing man
ner Congressman Smith presented the
questions of political Importance that
are at the present time attracting the
attention of the people throughout the
United States. Mr.. Smith showed the
prominent place that is now maintain
ed by the representatives of the state
OF Iowa in the national councils. He
also presented the policy of the repub-
lican party in dealing with the trust
problem and showed the fallacy of the
theories of the democratic party in
connection with these questions
Mr.. Smith dealt with the question of
so-called imperialism in truly re-
publican and most patriotic manner
and showed the loyalty of the present
administration in providing for the
needs of the soldiers who are defend
ing the honor of the nation in the far
away Philippines.
Hen. w. |. Smiths Address.
Hon. Walter |. Smith, temporary
chairman Of the convention, spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
thank the State Central Committee for
the unsolicited honor it has conferred
upon me by my selection to preside
temporarily over this convention, and
/ thank the convention for its appar-
emily cheerful acceptance of the action
of the committee.
/ congratulate you upon being cho-
Sen as the representatives of the domi-
nant political party in this state at a
time when Iowa is more potential in
public affairs than at any other time
in its history and when either by rea-
son thereof, or at least coincident
Herewith, the nation and the state are
enjoying higher degree of prosperity
than was ever before enjoyed by any
state or country since the dawn of re-
corded history.
Iowa Holds High Place.
ever since her admission to the I'M
ion Iowa has held high place in the
councils of the nation but never be-
fore so high as now With Leslie M.
Shaw at the head of the treasury, with
James Wilson at the head of the de-
partment of agriculture, with William
B. Allison at the head of the appropria-
ton committee of the senate. with
Jonathan P. Dolliver as his colleague
in the senate, with David B. Hender-
son as speaker of the house, with j.
A. t. Hull as chairman of the COM
smittee on military affairs, with w. P.
Hepburn as chairman of the commit
tee on interstate and foreign COM
merce, with John r. Lacey chairman
of the committee on public lands, and
with the positions held by other Iowa
members of the house it is safe to say
that Iowa's position in national affairs
is not surpassed by that of any of the
states
mot long since gentleman re-
quested me to indorse him for appoint
ment as assistant secretary of the
treasury l told him | would gladly
do SO, but as Iowa already had the sec
rotary of the treasury, the solicitor OF
the treasury, the director of the mint
and the deputy auditor of the treasury
for the war department, it might be
possible that some of the other forty
four states would claim some of the
minor places.
The republican party is dedicated to
promoting the honor and glory of the
republic and the freedom, prosperity,
moral well-being and happiness of all
it's children, whether they dwell al
home or in the islands beyond the sea
that have been added to it's territory.
1--WE are proud of all the great
achievements of the party in the past
forty years-of the union saved, OF
slaves made free, of free labor better
paid and more constantly employed
than in other days, of greater prosper
ity and of increased wealth, of the
wider diffusion of knowledge and hap
piness among all the people.
Proud of Its History.
In 1860 the total wealth Of the ma
ton was $16,159 ,616O6S. In 1890 i
was S65 ,037 ,091, 1877, and is now more
than 95,000,000.000. In 1860 the tota
wealth of Iowa was $247 ,338,265 ant
in 1890 $2,27S,34S,339 and is now NOR,
than $3,500,O00,O00. In 1860 the tota
revenues of the national government
were $56,064, 607; and in the past yea
they were $563,4O5,1S7. In 1860 tn,
state revenues were S276,197; and il
1900 they were $2,638,246. Such is 1
mathematical statement of the finan
cial development in nation and in stat
during the years since the republican
party first came into power. And Still
more startling would be this array o
figures but for the dark four year
when the American people, unmindfu
OF all their history, stopped all devel
opment by entrusting the management
of public affairs to that political par
ty which with the best Intentions ha
always when in power so conducte,
matters as to lead to financial disas