Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Furnishes Topic of Talk For News.
Famished Washington.
EVERYBODY IS FOR ROOSEVELT
Frank ]. stilIman Says Presidential
Possibilities AS Against Present
Chief Executive Are Not Thought
of-Walt. H. Buffers Ideas.
Frank j. stillman.l


Washington. D. c., May 26.-Iowa+
continues to occupy the center of the
political stage in Washington, next,
perhaps, to the discussion of presiden-
s tial possibilities.
The fact that in Iowa the question
of platform and tariff seems to have
been relegated for the time being at
least, cuts no figure in Washington.
The politicians will not permit this IA
yorite theme to slumber or be forced
in the background.
This is not an evidence of virility
on the part of what Is termed the
Iowa idea" SO far as immediate action
is concerned, because all factions in
Iowa seem to have agreed upon the
proposition that it will be impractical
bic for congress to take up the matter
of revising the schedules until the
short session of the fifty-eighth CON
gress; it is not that this subject Is
properly debatable or likely to be
brought to the attention of the public
in an active way for year and half,
but the discussion is fostered because
there seems to be nothing else polit-
ical to talk about
The opposition to President Roose-
yelt's nomination next year, which was
fostered by Washington politicians for
time, has entirely disappeared and
even in the present political famished
time it is not used as a topic for CON
versation.
The discussion of democratic presi-
dental possibilities, while in a sense
interesting, is perfunctory in view of
the palpable fact that whoever the
democracy may nominate he will be
beaten by President Roosevelt. The
democratic party never stood farther
from the haven of harmony than at
this moment. The leaders realize this
: fully and privately admit there is not
Z the ghost of a chance for them. When
Walt H. Butler pins his hopes to VIM.
r. Hearst, and says he is the only man
who can possibly win, and is not very
sure about Hearst's ability, the utter
hopelessness of the democratic posi-
5tion becomes apparent.
y OF course there has been some little
stir in Ohio, but that has evaporated.
There seems to be nothing doing in
+ New York, SO that Iowa is the only
I proposition that will carry"
Then it is getting hot and hot wealth
Z er always brings it's swarm of yarns of
the think" type. When correspondents
for the eastern papers find
themselves absolutely up against
"a barren political news field,
they instinctively turn to the Iowa
Idea" and work some other change.
incidentally some of the Iowa boys
occasionally throw a new feature into
The arena, just to keep things going
Then the think stories are wired
back to Iowa and politicians and 9TH
ers permit themselves to become I'M
necessarily heated over the state
ments.
If there is an optimist in Iowa it is
Walt H. Butler. This proposition needs
no demonstration Walt can see a
silver lining when the political heay,
ems are so obscured with clouds that
you cannot see your hands before your
eyes.
And yet, with all his optimism; with
!. his never-failing supply of gladstone
hope, fresh every morning and renew
GU GNSlg SNSlilhSo' w tiiJ IoullcI SdH SCR
4 no good in the situation. He was re
Gently in Washington and there was
nothing but encouragement in his OBJ
seryations on the political outlook fol
his party. He did not even attempt
to be politically cheerful. Even he
saw nothing but clouds.
Mr. Butler believes Tom Johnson tc
be the absolutely ideal presidential
candidate for his party While John
son does not agree entirely with Bry
an on several points, notably free sill
4 yer, yet he enthusiastically supported
Bryan in 1886 and 1900 and Bryan is
satisfied. However Mr. Butler says
the objection to Johnson is that h,
stands for the single tax and inciden
tally Butler says he fully agrees will
Johnson, but the moment johnson