Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-07
INTERVIEWS AT LONG RANGE.

live anu CudulplOU.
INTERVIEWS AT LONG RANGE.
William HI. Hunt, governor of Porto
Rico: General Miles landed in Porto
Rico four years ago. The island has
much to be thankful for since our flag
was raised. The close of the fisca
year showed better business, better,
health and better prospects than ever.
The insular treasury balance July l
was $314,000, against S239,000 last
year. The total exports for last yeal
aggregated $12,SS9,925, showing an in
crease in exports to foreign countries
of SAT- per cent over the previous year
and 4S.6 per cent increase of exports
to the United States
The increase is principally in sugar
cigars and cigarettes, straw hats ane
coffee. We sent $204 500 worth of
straw hats alone to the United States
last year.
American merchants would do well
to study Porto Rico imports from Eu.
rope with a view to charging home
trade. Porto Rico bought over $780,
600 worth of Nova Scotia Goldfish last
year and over $150000 worth of for
eign soaps. Spain sent us rice valued
at more than 100000 and over $780,
600 of potatoes.
Porto Rican coffee continues to &C
to Europe America took only $4,000
worth last year, while Europe took, SO,
100000 worth.
Fruit growing is receiving more at
tention, and with quicker transporta-
ton will invite investment.
Improvement is noticeable in all di.
rections. The people welcome schools.
The 1nsular government cannot supply
enough, being necessarily limited TIC
100000 year for education. But we
are teaching nearly $4,000 children
and expect to open two industrial
schools in the fall. Adults want to
learn. and in some instances children
are teaching their parents. There
were $4,000 fewer deaths last year
than the year before. People look
healthier and live better. All santa.
ton has improved.
Congressman Bartholdt of st. Louis.
LOOK out for republican Missouri with
a gain of several republicans in the
house and republican to succeed Mr..
vest in the United States senate y
said Mr.. Bartholdt. "Times and CON
dltlons are ripe for the redemption of
the state from democratic misrule and
Tor the grand old commonwealth to
eaten step with the progress of the
nation. The entire people of the
state, aside from the democratic ma
chine, are alive to the importance of
political, commercial and industrial
rejuvenation, and it is sure to come.
| believe the first step in that direc-
ton will be taken in the state election
this fall.
The adoption by the democratic
state convention of the Kansas City
platform, with special emphasis in ia
vor OF free silver, has disguised the
conservative democrats and has made
the party a subject of ridicule
throughout the country. The idea that
the Missouri democrats are still hug
ging such deiusion and a menace to
the prosperity of the country has I'M
doubtedly alienated the German vote
and the democrats who have been hon
ing to see the party get in line with
the majority of the people of the coun-
try. The greatest disgust prevails
among democrats of standing in the
state.
The second reason for discomfort is
that the financial record of the party
in the state, that is, the record in the
management of state affairs, is the
most crooked of any in the country.
This state of affairs is regarded as
dangerous to free institutions.
Another source of opposition to the
democratic party in Missouri is the
fact the entire police and license pow
er OF the state is in the hands of the
partisan democratic ring, which does
not administer the laws in satisfac-
tory way; the people consider this as
tyrannous and propose to put an end
to it. On top of all this is the objec-
ton to the Endorsement of William j.
Stone as the democratic choice for
senator to succeed Mr.. Vest. Mr..
Stone is looked upon by conservative
men of both parties as too radical.
His record is not of thoughtful, care
full man. All of these reasons are
likely to help the republicans i'm
mensely in the elections. and the prin-
cipal opposition will be shown in the
voting for members of the legislature
The disgruntled, disaffected demo-
Gratis will endeavor to send republic
ans and independent democrats to the
legislature that may be able to pre-
vent the election of Mr.. Stone to the
senate.
The democrats in Missouri and
elsewhere are trying to make an issue
of the trust question on the ground
that there is no sincerity of purpose
on the part of the republicans, and
the President himself Will be unable
to accomplish anything along this line
with the republican congress. This
argument will not make vote in the
announcement of the President that
he is going to devote as much effort
as possible to the placing of antitrust
legislation on the statute books. They
believe that the President will do Just
what he says, and have more conf
dence in him than in the promises of
the democratic party. The fact is
there is no confidence in the demo
cratic party.
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