Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-22
r. w. Clayton Has Offer From an
Iowa Concern.
POLITICS SAID TO BE INCLUDED
Intimated That Return Would Make
Him Candidate for Reelection as
Sixth District Committeeman,
Which Might Modify Views.
IBY H. ]. MAHIM.l

Washington, d. e., Jan. l9.-lt is
said that R. w. Clayton of Oskaloosa,
now in the treasury department, is
considering an offer to return to Iowa
and accept highly remunerative po-
sition with large corporation, soon
to be formed in southeastern Iowa.
Mr.. Clayton is committeeman for the
sixth district, and has been prominent
in politics for some years. The offer
to Mr.. Clayton is tempting one, but
it is stated that his acceptance might
necessitate the change of his political
views and preferm 2nts to certain
extent On this account he hesitates
| to give an answer, and has not yet
made any decision.
The offer which comes to Mr.. Clay
ton is a fine one in every way. The
position would be one of Importance
and trust and one that would udoubt-
eddy give him larger income than
he receives in Washington 1t, of
course, has the additional advantage
of bringing him back to his old home
and to reside among friends. The cor
poration from which the offer comes
is not yet announced, but it is declar-
| ed that it will be large one, with
plenty of capital, and will take a lead
| ing place in one Oh the most impor-
tant industries N the sixth district
employing many men and welding
much influence There are already
| several candidates in the neld to sue
coed Mr.. Clayton as committeeman,
but if he returned to Iowa to accept
this place it would also be to stand
again to be chosen as committeeman.
In spite of the other candidates, his
friends here feel lat he would again
| be chosen, also taxing into account
the aforementioned possibility of shift
ing of political allegiance. Mr. Clay
ton will undoubtedly have to decide
the matter before long, as it is said
the company in question will soon be
| formed. 1t is quite certain, however,
that as yet he has not made up his
mind what to do.
i Rev. James R. Clemmons, pastor of
the African M. E. church at Oska-
| loosa, has written to the Iowa delega-
ton declaring himself a candidate for
the appointment as minister to Liber-
ia. Mr.. Clemmons' action came
promptly on the heels of the story of
of the proposed cleaning out of the en-
tire American legation at Monrovia,
Liberia. DR.. Grassland the present
minister, is to be let out because of a
shooting episode and it is thought the
secretary of the legation will also be
requested to resign. Mr.. Clemmons
!; from the tenor of his letter desired to
j. succeed DR.. Grassland and gave his
candidacy as an opportunity to recog.
nize the west by national negro ap.
pointment. Congressman Lacey and
other congressman seemed to regard
the matter favorably as Mr.. Clemmons
is spoken Of as an able man. II
, seems, however, that the matter is al
ready practically settled and that Rev
). DR.. Ernest Lyon, pastor of the Johr
Wesley Episcopal church at Baltimore
will be appointed minister to Liberia
, to succeed DR.. Grassland.
, D.B. Henderson may have done some
!. thing very unwise in a political sense
| he may have deserted the party at
: crucial time, he may have become
: faint hearted at the time when h
: should have fought the hardest, &C
a cording to the many reports, but h
I is still the same universally popula
Y Henderson. There were many gloom.
: stories before the session in regard t.
S what an unpleasant time was in stor
+ for the speaker. 1t was said that h
0 had lost his hold entirely, that h
n would be reproached, reviled and dc
e fed. 1t, however, did not take tn
d speaker a month to win back his oil
/ place in the hearts of the law maker
p Mr.. Henderson has undoubtedly effet
J. himself, but as good fellow, frien
and a comrade he is still the genia
speaker of old. The first days G
greetings may have contained fey
, awkward occasions for the speake
but matters soon settled back to thei
old place and he took the reins in til
same strong hands that have hel
If them since he occupied the chair an
4, is holding them today.
d The recent stories of proposed r,
h ward for the speaker for his assist
y ance in getting trust legislatio
,, through the house show the feelin
n among the politicians. The story
: said to have been somewhat exagge
g ated. Mr.. Henderson has always bee
S. in favor of trust legislation and wa
is ready for it without any promise of r.
S, ward. However, the rumor of the pr
h posed reward in the shape of some |,
N crative appointment as a foreign re-
resentative or some commission WEI
the rounds and everywhere it foun
friends. Eyes, Henderson ought to /
taken care Of He has given valuab
IS service as speaker and now that h
has lost his hold in his own sectio
o. he ought to be given an easy bert
n somewhere else" This is what or
y heard from groups of representative
q discussing the matter. Those who ha
! from sections that do not sympathi1
ID with the points of the Iowa idea [
N which Mr.. Henderson took exceptio
e. are of course most friendly to any
ID thing of this sort, since they thin
i. the speaker was wronged. On the OF
ID er hand there are some of course WI
think that the speakers action has 4
excuse and that he should suffer til
le consequences. 1t is generally under
b stood, however, that Mr.. Henderson
81 now well supplied with worldly goot
III according to present day standard
a. 1t is not known that he has muc
e. property and as he has always live
~ well at Washington there is no re