Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-24
HON. T. J.PHiLLIPs SAYS THE OLD
LINE DEMOCRATS ARE MAR.
sHALlNG FOR CONTEST.
OPPOSES W. R. HEARST
Declares That Presidential Aspirant
Could Have Found Much Better Men
to Manage His Campaign in Iowa
Des Moines Interview.

7. ]. Phillips of this city, who is in
Des Moines attending the Iowa Coal
Operators association convention
bumped into a reporter for the Des
Moines Register and Leader yesterday
and acquitted himself in his character
1stlc fashion concerning Candidate
Hearst and his ''paid henchman,' as
Mr. Phillips characterized Charles
Walsh, also of this city and secretary
OF the democratic national commit
tee. Mr.. Phillips believes that there
is little chance of the Iowa delegates
to the national convention being in
structed for Hearst.
The interview is as follows:
Thomas J. Phillips of Ottumwa,
once democratic nominee for govern
or OF Iowa, and even now one of the
powers in democracy in the sixth dis
trict, declares that Charlie Walsh,
secretary of the democratic national
committee, is on his political death
bed.
"Old line democrats of Ottumwa, as
well as the remainder of the sixth, are
gathering their forces to put Walsh
out OF the arena for all time to come,
he says, and at the same time blast
the hopes Of Hearst in Iowa.
While the straight democratic
organization of that part Of the state
hopes to kill two birds with one stone
in the elimination of these two obiec-
tionable features. and believes that the
death of one will inevitably result in
the passing of the other, the fight is
as much against Walsh as against
Hearst.
While l. do not presume to speak
! for .tSSass 4 entire e. sixth district, said Mr.
Philips Yesterday t. is my firm belief
Hearsts strength there is scattering.
Democrats have no confidence in him.
They see nothing about him that en-.
titles him to any claim as a leader. He
lacks the craftsmanship and general
ship that characterized Bryan and
about the only fellows down our way
who are climbing into his bandwagon
are the ones who get paid before they
get in.
Goes After Hearst's Managers.
And want to say that in nv
opinion Hearst could have found a
much better aggregation to push his
candidacy in Iowa. Nowhere in Iowa
are his managers representatives OF
the democratic party. He opened ur
headquarters in Ottumwa about as
soon as any other part of the state, ]
believe. and aside from few strag
glers who are supposed to yell like
sixty whenever they are given the sig
nal, he has no strength whatever.
1T is my prophecy that the Iowa
delegation will go uninstructed. con
cur with Congressman Wade in his
statement that it is not for Iowa dem
ocrats to say whether it is Hearst OF
whether it is somebody else. We are
in the minority here. Even when every
man is loyal, we don't make any toe
brilliant showing and l believe it is
the duty of democrats in Iowa to give
those of some other state the say SO
Then it is up to us to abide by the de
| cision'
"Mr. Phillips said that there were
few surprises in store for Hearst
and that there was likewise a dose be
ing prepared for Walsh.
"Mr. Phillips is in close touch with
political activities in Wapello county
which is practically the center of the
sixth district politics. His remarks
indicate that this district, at least,wil
fight hard for an uninstructed delega
ton"