Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
OUT OF A CLEAR SKY
lightning Has Descended Three
Times in Iowa.
SHAW, ROBERTS AND GARRISON
First lntimation Either Had of His
Appointment to a Federal Position
Was Brief Telegram From the
President-Lacey Delivers Address.
WASHINGTON. April "a.

Washington, April "a.
Roberts, Shaw and Clarkson-these
are names to conjure with. All
Iowans. ]. S. Clarkson is technically
charged to New York, and so be it,
but he will ever be charged in the
hearts of the people of Iowa to the
great state which gave him the oppor-
tunity to become the power in the po-
litical councils of the nation which
he attained. Ret" Clarkson is an
lowan.
"Your Are It,"
| Strange, isn't it, that these three dis
tinguished Iowans should each have
been called to high offices in the service
of the country without previous init
nation of the contemplated call? In
each case telegram announcing the
appointment was their first knowledge
that they were even thought of for the
position. There was no application;
no pulling; no pressure. You have
been appointed director of the mint"
you nave been appointed secretary OF
the treasury" "You have been ap-
pointed surveyor of customs for the
| port of New York. These were in
brief the first intimations that Messrs.
Geo. E. Roberts, Leslie M. Shaw and
j. S. Clarkson received that they We're
under consideration for official posi-
tion.. or course each message carried
the query regarding acceptance but in
each instance the appointment had
definitely been determined upon when
the message was sent.
The Next Step Upward.
|
the Fort Dodge Messenger; L. NJ
the governorship of Iowa, during
which time he gave the state an ad-
ministration never surpassed in any
point, and General Clarkson was pursu-
ing the even tenor of his way, attend
ing to private business matters in
New York Absolutely unconscious of
the impending honor the propositions
came to each like bolt from clear
sky.
| An Unprecedented Situation.
Senator Dolliver and some Iowa con-
gressmen and officials were discuss
ing this matter yesterday and Senator
Dolliver directed attention to the re-
markable situation. He said he believed
it unprecedented that within compar.
atively brief space of time that three
men from one state should be called
to the public service and that the
call should come under such circum-
stances. Only day or two before his
appointment by the President, General
Clarkson made the remark to friend
that he had no yearning for official
life and that nothing in sight would
tempt him. That was literally true,
and when Silas Croft, the surveyor of
the port of New York died, Saturday,
probably no man who read of the
death had less idea that he would be
appointed to fill the Office than MIR.
Clarkson. The latter knew nothing of
what was being done, but his friends
We're not asleep.
! Lacey to Credit Men.
Congressman Lacey delivered an adj
dress, by special invitation, before the
association of credit men, at their
annual meeting, held in Philadel-
l phia. About an hour was occu-
pied in the delivery of the speech
by Major Lacey and the reception ac-
corded the speakers remarks amply
repaid the Major for the effort, the
trip and the preparation of the adj
dress cost him. Mr.. Lacey spoke in
I part as follows:
1.-THE credit man is the main factor
in successful affairs in these modern
times. The great questions are, first,
whom to trust, second. when to trust,
third, how to trust, and fourth, how to
aid by trusting instead of injuring by
trusting.
Are Suspicious Lot.
by some mysterious business il