davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
LOUISIANA so-cALLED REPusLI
CANISM.

In recently issued circular the Lily
White faction of the so-called republi-
can party in Louisiana vigorously at
tackled President Roosevelt for his at
tempt to treat the negroes of the coun.
try as citizens. In the heat of their
wrath they declare that the President
is violent reactionary, whose idea
of craftsmanship is to subvert the poll
cy of his predecessor and whose con-
Stunning vanity and egotism will soon
earn for him the title Of party buster,
as well as bronco buster" They also
add that mo self-respecting southern
republican can longer affiliate with a
party that stands for social equality
with the negroes"
By what right do these would be ora
cles condemn the first citizen of the
land? What have they done to give
them the right to dictate to the chief
executive of the United States or the
republican party? True they have
been in the south in search for Offices
They have furnished only an insignifi.
cant portion of the party's vote. They
have not single representative in
congress, though they have always
been strong lobbyists at the nation
al capitol for political preferment
In 1900 they gave to the Mckinley and
! Roosevelt ticket only $4,000 votes as
against $4,000 cast for Bryan and this
too in a year when the republican can
| didates were given the largest MAORI
| ty eyer accorded a national ticket.
Since it cannot but be seen that they
| have no right to call the President tc
| task in this manner it is also patent
| that he has given them no reason fol
making such an attack. These traduc
ers know that neither President Roose
welt nor the republican party have ad
vocated social equality for the negroes
They know also that in giving an occa
sional appointment to the colored men
of the south he has not departed from
the policy of his illustrious predeces
sor. In fact he has not appointed sc
many colored people to office as die
President Mckinley and his record in
this line is equaled by that of Grover
Cleveland.
In fact there are no republicans il
Louisiana worthy of mentioning
/ The organization of these so-callet
republicans is nil They cut absolute
ly no part in the affairs of the party ex
cept that they are represented by {
few noisy delegates at the conventions
Republicans of the United States viii
spend little time in looking up the re
4 suit of the republican vote of Louisiana
4 following the national election mex
year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
CONCERNING BuNko sTEERERs

Chicago Chronicle: Mr.. BRYAN. the
Nebraska populist and attorney for
the silver trust, made a speech at
urbana, Ohio, on Wednesday in the
course of which he characterized
Grover Cleveland, twice president of
the United States, as "bunko steer
err"
A bunko steerer is said to be a
person who persuades innocent or
avaricious individuals to take part in
gambling or swindling game in
Wnlch they are sure to lose money.
Mr.. Cleveland is identified in Ameri-
can political history with several i'm
portant issues, among them the fol-
lowing: Taxation for public purposes
only, enforcement of the laws against
mobs, the maintenance of public and
private credit, economy in public ex-
penditure, no imperialistic expansion
beyond the sea and the vigorous as
sertlon of the Monroe doctrine.
When Mr.. Bryan began the accumu-
lation of his present fortune a few
years ago he became the attorney of
the silver mine owners, who had a
plan for doubling the value of their
product. More than any other man
in American Grover Cleveland is to
be credited with the defeat of this
sWlndling proposition.
The project OF the silver mine own
ers which Mr.. Bryan has supported
on what seems to have been liberal
compensation was practically the first
development of the trust idea. Its
purpose was to create monopoly and
to enhance prices. AS to some other
trusts 1t is asserted that they have
lowered prices, but there was no such
purpose behind the trust which has
had Mr.. Bryan's valuable services for
ten years. Its one aim was to make
40 cents worth of silver bullion do
duty as dollar in money.
To bring about this end which would
have cut every mans wages in two
and which would have enabled public
and private debtors to repudiate more
than one-half of their obligations, the
chief attorney for the silver trust had
to be something more than a mere
lawyer. He had to be a politician and
a demagogue, If not scoundrel as
well. Ii he could identify his swind-
ling game with great political party
SO much the better for the trust
and for him!
Mr.. Bryan filled the bill admirably.
By trickery and treachery the at
torney of the silver trust became the
democratic nominee for the presidency
and his fortune was made. He failed
to deliver the goods" as they say
IN bunko steering circles. but if ever
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13

each succeeding rank from a lieuten-
ant of volunteers, to lieutenant gen
eral OF the United States army, Mel
son A. Miles, commanding general of
the United States army since 1895,
retlred Saturday from Office through
the working OF the age limit Among
the list OF eminent men who have
been in command Of the army of the
United States since the establishment
OF the government there has been
none who has made the efficiency OF
the armed force. and the welfare of
the men his special care to a greater
extent than has General Miles. He
will be succeeded by General S. NJ. b,
Young, who will be known as the
commanding general of the United
States army for one week when the
new general staff law becomes eff.
fective
Though General Miles has been
severely criticised during the past
few years it cannot fail to be recog.
nized that his career of more than
forty years in the army has been one
of the most brilliant of recent years.
Entering the service at the beginning
of the Civil war as a lieutenant he
rose in four short years to be major
general of volunteers commanding the
first division of the second army
corps of the Army of the Potomac,
His record during the campaigns of
this army forms a brilliant page in
the history of his life. Though often
wounded he was absent but one bat
tie during the many campaigns, that
being due to what was believed to be
a mortal wound received at Cancel
louisville. So brilliant was his conduct
during these years that he was given
many brevets for gallant and meri.
torious services. In many cases he
was intrusted with commands superior
to his rank and at one time while a
brigadier general, % years of age, he
was in command of the second army
corps of 10000.
AS commander of the district of
North Carolina at the close of the war
General Miles evidenced great admin
istrative ability and established order
without creating fiction. His services
in the west against the Indians were
no less remarkable or successful.
Though ghampered in his action dur
ing the war with Spain the same abll
ity for arranging and executing cam.
paigns was manifest, it being no.
table fact that his Porto Rican cam
paign cut short as it was by the de-
claration Of peace, was the only one
conducted in the West Indies which
received concentrations from foreign
military attaches in reports to their
governments.
General Miles distinguished career
places him among the prominent and
successful military commanders of the
United States. His efficient services
to his country will long be remember
ed by thankful people. who are ever
DESTROYS of honoring the defenders of
this country.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
Favors Junketine Trips.

The Cedar Rapids Republican, speak
ing of the legislative jurketing trips,
says there is much to be said in favor
OF them, for they kept the members of
the legislature in touch with the work
OF the institutions. The Republican
considers that the institutions are in
safe and competent hands now, but
there may come day, it points out,
when there may be incompetent or ev-
en- bad men on the board of control,
and ito provide against such day, it
is well enough for the legislature, and
also for the executive department of
the government to keep in touch with
the institutions"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
LYNCHINGS IN JUNE

The United States enjoys the I'M
enviable reputation of having had, dur
ing the month of June, nineteen lynch
ings. Two of these were in Georgia,
seven in Mississippi one in Illinois,
one in Louisiana, one in Delaware, one
in Tennessee, one in Arkansas, four
in Alabama.
A lynching is horrible affair. 1t
seems strange that in civilized com
munity such thing could occur at all.
But that nineteen should occur in a
single month. the balmiest and pleas
ATTEST month of the whole year, the
month OF roses and weddings. of po-
etry and pleasant recollections, during
this month nineteen horrible brutal
ties that exceed in fiendish detail the
conduct OF the most savage people that
exist on the fact of the earth all this
is very strange record indeed.
During the spring and early sum
mer the sexual instincts are at their
highest activity. This undoubtedly &C.
counts in part, for the numerous in,
stances, as these scenes are mostly oc-
casioned by crimes Of sexual nature.
But Whatever climatic or physiolog-
ical causes are behind the commission
of such crimes, it is difficult to con.
Jure up any excuse for such manner OF
treating this class of offenders.
That they may deserve punishment
swift, sure and relentless, no doubt is
true, but it should be done according
to the process of law. Frequently, the
law is slow and ponderous Of operation.
Sometimes criminals escane RJlt moi
this class of criminals. The courts
themselves deal very hardly with "a
pists. There is no need to add to the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
BOOKER r. WASHINGTON AS.
SAILED,

Chicago InterOcean: The men who
assailed Booker T. Washington before
Boston audience on Thursday asked:
"Are the rope and the torch all the
race is to get through your leader
ship"
Mr.. Washington might have answer
ed truthfully that no colored man who
had followed his teachings or acted on
his advice had ever been lynched.
Mr.. Washington's teachings have en-
couraged the self-respect, self-discip-
line and selfeducation of the negro,
He has seen the faults of his people
in the south and sought to correct
them. He has taught the dignity of la
Dor and the necessity of thorough
and the duties of citizenship.
He has urged the negroes to become
as good farmers, as capable business
men, and as skillful mechanics as their
white neighbors.
He has held that there is one law
for the white and the black, and that
the moral standards of the black man
must be as high as those of the white
man.
In the nature of things, Mr. Wash
ington's teachings have led to a bet
ter understanding between the races,
and Under his guidance the colored
people in Alabama and Georgia have
made remarkable progress.
The recent outbreak of lawlessness
is not the result of Mr.. Washingtcn's
teachings, but of the Vaccinations of
men opposed to him and his policy.
Moreover, when the dust and smoke of
the present controversy shall clear
away it will be plain to the whole peo--
pie that the only way of solving the
negro problem is the Booker T. Wash
ington way.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
TAKES UP TIE WATTERsok
MANTLE.

Colonel Bryan has taken up the task
of fiaying Grover Cleveland, assigned
him by Colonel Watterson, with a
vengeance. Not since the Chicago
picnic has he paid much attention to
the Princeton gentleman until his ad-
dress at the opening Of the Ohio cam
paign at Urbana. In language that
could not have been excelled by the
Kentucky critic for the sledge ham
mer blows dealt the New Jerseyan,
Mr.. Bryan denounced the former
president and his policy during his
second administration. So bitter
was the inyective that to an unknown
nearer 1T would appear that Cleve-
land was a prince OF black and dis
reputable schemers fit only to occu-
Ply a space behind bars. He said:
The democrats in 1892 played a
confidence game on the people and
put bunko steerer at the head of
the party, want to say to you, my
friends, that the disreputable man
who stands on the street curbing and
leads the unwary traveller into a
game where he loses money is re
respectable compared with the man
who accepts the suffrages of 5,000,.
600 of people and then leads them
into Wall street to be betrayed"
That there is little hope for Grover
Cleveland and his followers to be
reinstalled in the graces of the silver
wing of the party is evident from
the following utterance of the Nebras-
kan:
Don't be. deceived when they tell
( you it was the silver question that
drove people out of the party. Those
who left the democratic party are di-
i vided into two classes-those who
left because they understood the is
sue in the campaign and those who
left because they were deceived in
8 the issue of the campaign. Those
who understood the issue and left be
/ cause they understood it can never
return to the party until they repent
and show that their hearts and sympa
thies are changed. The fight will con
tinue in this country until one side
or the other is triumphant"
Colonel Bryan is unquestionably
right when he says that the fight is
on and must continue until one fac
ton is victorious. 1t would seem
however, that Mr.. Bryan could gel
but little consolation out of the situa
ton inasmuch as the reorganizers
are striking telling blows in many
+. parts of the country. Perhaps con
ISOLATION comes to him in these pub
lie denunciations of his former fellow
partisan.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
THE MERGER AND THE COURTS.

Sioux City Journal: The Northern
Securities company has won rather
empty victory in the United States
district court at st. Paul, where Judge
Lochren has refused to issue the in
junction asked by the state to restrain
the securities company from voting
the stock of the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern railways. The refus.
al will probably terminate Governor
Van SAINTS campaign against the mer,
ger which was inaugurated last fall
In the theory that the merger involved
a violation of the Minnesota state law
prohibiting the consolidation of paral.
lei railways. The state authorities
have been able to get very little sat-
isfaction out of their proceedings
along this line, and it probably was
with pretty thorough understand.
ing that the Minnesota case
would fail that Attorney General
Knox took up prosecution of the
same defendants under the Sherman
antitrust law.
Although the Minnesota decision
caused a rise of points in the quos
tations of Northern Securities stock
it is not to be seen wherein that cor.
poration's legal standing is any way
bettered. 1t will be remembered that
Attorney General Knocks prosecution
was successful in the circuit court
and an injunction was issued restrain
ing the securities company from vot
ing the stock of the two railways
The injunction was issued on thu
ground that the merging of interest
between two competing railway sys.
TENS, by means of stockholding cor,
poration, was in fact such combina.
ton in restraint Of trade as is for
hidden by the Sherman antitrust law.
1t was held by the court that actual
restraint of trade need not be shown
but the fact that such restraint was
made possible constituted presumptive
restraint in the eyes of the law. The
securities company has appealed to
the United States supreme court, and
decision is not expected until the lat
ter part of the year
Many good lawyers predict that the
United States supreme court will not
uphold the circuit courts ruling on
presumptive restraint of trade, but
the general opinion is that the court
will uphold the injunction now in
force, and that the merger will have
to dissolve. The life or death of the
Northern Securities company is now
III the hands of the court Of last re.
sort. The only significance to be at
tached to the Minnesota ruling is that
in case the United States supreme
court should hold the merger to be
valid under the Sherman law it cam
not be forced to dissolve under the
Minnesota state law.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
MERCHANT MARINE PROBLEM.

Realizing that merchant marine is
of great Importance to the United
States, the Home Market club of Bos-
ton has started a campaign that will
doubtless result in the gathering of
valuable information and weighty
opinions on this subject. This club,
which has done so much for the protec-
ton of American industries, has plac-
ed this campaign in charge OF its sec
rotary, Col. Albert Clarke. Its spe-
cific object is to get from leading men
outside of congress their views in re-
gard to the best way in which to re-
store the foreign carrying trade of this
country. There has been issued cir.
cular letter touching this matter the
points of which are slightly condens.
ed:
/. The United States. being mari.
time country with many thousand
merce by sea- should be shipbuilding
and ship-owning nation of the first
rank
2. Under the present policy of no.
preference to our own vessels our coun-
try has lost most of it's foreign carry.
ing trade and suffered the humiliation
of depending upon foreigners for the
conduct of our commerce.
8. This dependence, with it's conse'
quent liabilities and subordination, was
not intended by the founders of ou1
government. They planned to secure
commercial independence, to be based
upon an American marine.
4. Under our original policy of right.
full preference to our own shipping
through regulations of commerce insti
tuted in 1889, our shipping increased
until in 1897, and down to 1929 oul
proportionate carriage in our own com
merce averaged nearly 80 per cent
| but, as consequence. mainly, o.
changing to the present policy, which
was adopted partly in 1916, and fully
in 1928, our share in carrying our OWL
commerce has fallen to less than nine
per cent. Before the civil war the
loss of "a per cent, during the wal
3S per cent and since 1870, 27 pei
cent
5. The inexpediency of continuing
this state of things with it's discrimin
atoms against us in obtaining foreign
markets and its dangers in time O
war, admits of no doubt.
| 6. 1t is an historic fact that in the
convention called to frame the consti
| tuition it was agreed that navigation
laws giving a preference for employ
| ment to our own vessels similar to thu
acts then in force in the several state.
should be enacted and maintained b.
| the federal governme nt.
7. This agreement constituted per
petual compact between all the stateI
or between the union and the shipping
states.
8. So long as the government wal
controlled by the makers of the con
stitution, the compact was faithfully
carried out. Afterward it was brok
en-, and today it remains infracted, no
4 in American, but in foreign interest.
4 8. The provision in the constitute.
that Congress shall have power t;
regulate commerce with foreigl
nations, and among the several states
/ has been practically nullified by th'
i conditional repeal in 1915 of the law
4 ralatina to direat nnmmaree and til,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
ANOTHER" JONES ANSWERED.

Mother" Jones, who recently made
pilgrimage to Oyster Bay with a
small band of textile workers from
Philadelphia. has been answered.
Though her purpose in visiting the
home of President Roosevelt was not
directly accomplished, yet she has
been successful in obtaining state
ment as to the position of President
Roosevelt on the child labor question
Z In accordance with the advice given by
Secretary Barnes at the time of her
visit, Mother" Jones shortly after
wards addressed letter to the Presi
dent, setting forth the question OF
child labor. Mother" Jones now gives
out information concerning the Presi
+ dents answer, which states precisely
7 his position on this matter and the
means now available under existing
laws for securing remedies for this
evil. Secretary Barnes says:
The President as was shown by his
action while governor of. New York
has the heartiest sympathy with every
effort to prevent child labor in factor
les, and on this matter no argument
need be addressed him, as his position
has been announced again and again.
"Under the constitution, it is not a,
present seen how congress has power
to act in such matter. 1t would seen
that the states alone at present have
the power to deal with the subject"
Laws for the prohibition of child la
Dor must depend essentially upon the
endorsement of public opinion for theil
enforcement. Thus the enactment O
such laws must necessarily be ques
ton for the decision of state legisla
lures. Already this matter has receiv
ed considerable attention from the pee
pie in various states, In some of whicl
laws protecting the children have al
ready been passed. Though assure,
! that President Roosevelt favors al
movements of this character, Mother.
Jones has learned that it is by voter
this question must finally be settled.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13

provisional suspension in 1928 of the
laws relating to indirect commences and
by the negotiation of conventions with
foreign countries, thus giving up the
power to regulate our commerce favor
ably for our own vessels, and thus
making it easy for foreign vessels, aid
ed in many cases by their governments
to beat our own in securing employ
ment in American trade.
10. These conventions are all ter
minable on giving years notice, so
our continuation in this plight is vol
untary. Nevertheless, this circum-
stance itself has been made by some
statesmen an argument for the adop-
ton of subsidy policy instead of a
protective policy, in order to avoid the
possible danger Of foreign reprisals or
combinations against us.
H. Every shipping nation has elab-
Grated such protection as it thinks
sufficient for the employment of it's
marine While this has been going on
We have done nothing. There seems to
be growing conviction that our true
course is to terminate our conventions
according to stipulation, and to return
to regulation of our commerce.
IL. The recent attempts of congress
to enact subsidy system have en-
countered such opposition in both par
ties as to suggest the ineXpediency of
sucn legislation. Discriminating du-
ties with other regulations would avoid
favoritism between our country and
other countries, would be constitutions
al and efficient, would harmonic with
our economic policy relating to other
countries, and would be practically au-
tomato in execution.
In view of these considerations, the
secretary asks the persons addressed
to say if it is their best judgment:
First, that discriminating duties and
other regulations of commerce. should
be used? Or, second, that a subsidy
system should be applied? Or third,
that nothing should be done, and that
foreign nations be allowed to continue
to appropriate our commerce.
The subject is indeed one of great
Importance. Every patriotic, citizen
would be glad to see the stars and
stripes restored to their former place
on the ocean and the ships of mer-
chantmen. 1t is a question that de.
mands the careful attention of think.
ing citizens and it is to be hoped that
it will receive the agitation necessary
to evolve some wise and practical
method to bring about the desired end.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-13
Sees Big Majority.

While it cannot be said that all par
ty differences have been settled" says
the Burlington Hawk-Eye, there is ev.
cry reason to believe that the harmony
program has resulted practically in a
reunited party and in much stronger
fellowship between all sections and a
perceptible decrease in fractional feel
ing. 1t will undoubtedly result in a
handsomely increased republican ma.
jority this fall, and strengthening of
party lines for the presidential year."