Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-17
DENOMINATION OF MAJOR LACEY

Lacey for his eighth term in congress
Us SO well deserved that it calls forth
no surprise but is taken as a matter of
course by the people of this district.
The convention simply registered the
will of the republicans and the nomina-
ton will be regarded with favor by
hundreds of Independent men who
recognize Mr.. Lacey's splendid abili-
ties and are proud of the record made
by Sixth district representative.
Major Lacey won the district over
to republicanism against distinguish
ed opponent in the person of General
Weaver, who had been elected by a
large majority and was then endorsed
by both the democratic and the green
back parties; a careful canvass of the
fusion vote indicated that it maintain
ed a majority when the memorable
contest occurred that resulted in vic
tory for the republicans. There has
been an unbroken series of republican
trtumphs since 1890 in the district.
with Major Lacey as the standard
bearer, and the republicans well salts
fed with these results and the record
OF the man they have SO often elected,
ere following the general republican
Idea, to let well enough alone, in nam
ing Lacey for another term
the republicans of Iowa and indeed
the people of the state without regard
to party lines may well be proud of
their distinguished representative,
from the beginning of his career to the
present. When but mere youth he
enlisted as a common soldier in the
Third Iowa infantry, participating
with his regiment in the battle of Blue
f,6fissffs, Missouri, where he was captur.
ed, and contracted disease that caus.
ed him to be discharged soon after his
release from the hands of the rebels:
he again enlisted in the Thirty-third
Iowa Infantry, participating in all the
campaigns made by that regiment in
Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama,
where he rose rapidly in rank serving
on the staff of General Samuel A. Rice,
who fell mortally wounded at jenkins
Ferry April 80, 1864. He was but lit
tie over twenty-one years old when he
was promoted to major, and made adj
jutant general on the staff of Major
General Frederick Steele, and was
among the first who reached the ram
parts of Spanish Fort in the advance
on Mobile and for distinguished ser.
vices in this campaign was brevetted
Lieutenant Colonel
His services in congress are well
known to the people who are again
called upon to render their verdict OF
approval or disapproval. He has stood
frm to the principles upon which hi
was elected and yet has never inquir
ed into the politics of any citizen who
has asked his intervention and as.
sistance in public matters before con
gress or the departments at Washing
ton, but in each case has diligently
investigated and whenever he coulC
conscientiously advance or promote
the wishes of any constituent he ha:
cheerfully done SO. Especially is this
true of all old soldiers of the union OF
volunteers in the late Spanish war
There are few of these in the distric
who nave not invoked his aid; Their
are very few of them who are not nov
his friends. As member of the com
n1ittee on public lands and as chairman
Of that committee, Mr. Lacey hal
been able to do signal service TO
homo seekers; his bill now pendin,
before congress provides for the res
cue Of large part of the public dc
main from the hands of the great COZ
proations, SO that the broad acres ma,
be taken up as homesteads by set
tiers. He has also been able to sc
cure legislation for the benefit of tn
miners in the territories and these act
have served as a model for state lee
islation in the same interest. Durin
Mr.. McKinIey's life, the member fror
the Sixth district gave cordial suppol
to the administration and is now a
loyal to the administration of M
Roosevelt and as firm in support {
the measures of the present adnnini
tration as he was to the policy of NJ
Mckinley.
Iowa is strong in congress becaus
Of the individual strength of eac
member of the delegation and eac
term added to the length Of years tn;
such men as Lacey serve, increases I'll
influence that Iowa may exert on n
tional Legislation. This is a matte
not of partisan interest alone, but
concerns every citizen, without regar
to party Affiliations. Major Lacey h