Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-13

1:
LEI the demct ratio party leaders and ex'
Guided from their caucuses. con-
Guided that not even a seat in the Uni
ted States senate was worth surren
der of Try convictions and that opinion
is unchanged. There is not speech
or veto of mine upon any question
growing out Ct the Spanish-American
war that | would change even if could
and in Which ! dc not take pride in
thus proving my loyalty to my country
| nave EVER maintained this indie
Tehdence of tlcught and action. Last
summer, recognizing my responsibility
to the recple, there being no campaign
IN the state, / announced my intention
OF going before them for the purpose
of discussing these national issues.
was Immediately and violently assail,
ed for advocating republican doctrines
and branded as republican in demo
cratic disguise. The state democratic
executive committee met and under
the dicta:ion of my colleague in the
senate forT ally declared that ] was
not democrat, which formed the bas
is for similar action on the part of the
democratic caucus of the United States
senate. Since that time the war
against me has been persistently
waged. The policy of my opponents
has been to belittle the real issues into
a personal quarrel between "Tillman
and McLaurin." This issue am not
willing to accept, as do not propose
to be influenced in my public course
by personal spleen or petty jealousy.
The public interests should never be
sutordinated to purely personal ends.
| Now the proposition of my political
enemies is to exclude me from the pri-
mary as candidate, and to exclude
all candidates for Office who entertain
(n,y views, and thus prevent the people
from hearing me and from hearing
them in justification of my course and
lin advocacy of the absorbing public
measures now confronting the Ameri
can people. l am absolutely convinced
and forewarned of this purpose to ex.
clude me and my friends because l
have read the speech of Senator Till
man, the acknowledged dictator of the
democratic machine of South Carolina,
delivered at Manning, in which he di
Irec.s revision of the rules and form
of oath of the party for the purpose of
excluding myself and friends from par
tieipation In the primary. I resent the
suggested acceptation of myself, fol
|of course I would not make my race
for the senate or proclaim my views
under conditions which were not equal.
ly applicable to those who entertain
and advocate my views. l have an
abiding faith and it will yet be shown
that the dictator of the machine is not
the exponent of the views of the ma.
jcrity of our people.
l The primary system adopted in our
state through the farmers movement
has been prostituted and perverted in,
to political machine for the purpose
lof excluding all candidates who are
not in full accord with the views and
wishes of the dictator The vital ques-
ton therefore is, Will the people of
the state submit to this political tyran-
ny and join in this unholy and unpa-
triotic work of DISTINGUISHING the in
telligent people and excluding them
from our elections?
With such system I have no SYM
lpathy and feel impelled by a strong
sense of duty to warn the people
against such tyranny as it encourages
; and establishes. With these facts be-
fore me and my convictions as to the
original purpose of the primary sys.
TEN, am driven to the conclusion that
lit has subserved its purpose and has
outlived its usefulness. 1t is there
fore a matter Of no concern to me
what may be the action of the May
conventions to the rules Of the primary
and revision of its pledges. The sup
preston of free speech and independ-
lence of action in voting by such means
renders 1t impossible for any self re.
specting citizen holding my views to
become candidate in the democratic
primary in South Carolina. 1t is ap-
parent that the system has been warp
ed and twisted SO as to serve the one
purpose of throttling free speech, free
thought and liberty of action.
The primary system in South Caro-.
lima has been sacrificed upon the altar
of partisanship and personal malign.
ity, and has therefore become unpatri
otto and useless and should be ignored
and finally repudiated by our people
with purpose similar to my own tic
look hopefully to the results of a fair
and just general election under on,
state and national laws.
} A party yoke has been placed upon
our people, and it has become too gall
ing for further endurance, and vet ]
: realize that many of my loyal friends
would even once more hold in check
their resolution not to again enter ou1
system of primary elections in order
to again vote for me, but have reach
: ed the point where will not subject
them to subscribing to an oath to sup
J port men and measures which do moi
represent their views upon the isms
facing the American people today.
THE ALASKA FUEL SUPPLY.
In closing his discussion ~ tho 600,