davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
SECRETARY SHAW IN 1896.

Indianola Herald: In 1896 Leslie M.
Shaw, then an attorney in Denison, Ia,
at the request of j. M. Kittleman, then
of this city and a member of the state
central committee, delivered a. speech
in. our court house hall to about $50
people, He was not known here at
that time and did not draw well. The
speech was the one he had prepared as
an answer to William j. Bryan. who
had some months before made a silver
speech in Denison Mr.. Shaw delivered
his speech as carefully as though he
were addressing 5000 people. At the
close of the meeting many said to him:
Mr.. Shaw, that is the most convince
ing argument as to the good effect of
the tariff and the benefits sure to fol-
low the. adoption of gold standard in
finance that will be delivered in this
campaign, and it was. That speech
was afterward delivered during the
1896 campaign in about sixty other
cities and towns in Iowa, and was con-
sidered by all who heard it to be a
masterpiece. 1t made him governor,
which opened to him field in which
he drew to himself the attention of the
President of the United States and was
appointed to the great office of secre-
tary of the treasury. In this position
he is demonstrating to the great bust
ness interests of the country and to the
whole people his splendid abilities as
a common sense financier and states
man. There are still higher honors in
store for the man who addressed that
small audience in Indianola early in
the campaign of 1896. If he lives 1908
will be an eventful year in the life of
Leslie M. Shaw, for the eyes of the
country are now centering upon him.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
WHY ROOSEVELT is POPULAR.

Charlton Herald. = Congressman
Hepburn was chatting with sexeral
fasteners a few days since and in
the course of his conversation Colonel
Hepburn was asked to explain the
cause of President Roosevelt's great
popularity in Iowa and the west.
The veteran debater replied in this
vein:
Il had the honor to be a guest of
the President during his journey
through the Eighth district last spring.
The schedule provided for five stops,
at which times the President made
some remarks to the vast crowds of
people who had gathered to see the
chief executive. We passed through
perhaps twenty towns where no stops
were made, but the President insisted
that the train should slow up at every
station and no matter what he hap
pened to be engaged in doing at the
time he instantly ran, to the rear of
the platform and bowed and in some
instances waved his hat or handker-
chief to the masses of people who had
expected only to get a glimpse of a
flying train bearing the President of
the. United States or Il
1T was raining at one of the points
where stop was made, and the Pres
ldent was to take a short drive and
inspect the town. The committee on
reception mad provided covered car
riage, but the President insisted that
the top should be lowered, notwith-
standing this subjected the President
to a good wetting. AS the top was
dropped the President remarked:
These thousands of people have
assembled this bad day to see their
President; if they can stand it to walk
in the rain, guess / can stand it to
ride a few minutes in the rain
AT the town of Diagonal the Pres
ident was making a speech. An old
crippled soldier hobbled along and
tried to find a seat, without success.
The President stopped and said: i
can not proceed until that soldier is
provided with a place to sit
"At one point the President looked
out Of the window and a few rods
ahead saw farmer clad in his work
ing clothes, standing alongside the
right of way in a corn field with
barred head, realizing, as the farmer
did, that the on rushing train bore
the President of the United States
| Without stopping to say, Excuse me-
the President grabbed his hat, dashed
to the rear platform and swung his
hat and bowed. That farmer may
have been a democrat of the dyed-in-
the-wool type, but you couldn't pre-
vent him from voting for Mr.. Roose-
| welt with a six horse team"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
TO HONOR IoWANs.

Burlington Hawk Eye: William b.
ketcham, formerly Of Mt. Pleasant,
and now engaged with the Ketcham
Coal company, at Mendoza, Mo-, made
the suggestion some years ago that the
state of Iowa ought to honor the menu
DRY of her $4,000 soldiers of the civil
war by a state monument to be erect
ed at Des Moines. The suggestion was
not wholly original with Mr.. Ketcham,
the same thought being extant all over
the state, but he was especially active
and influential in crystallizing the
movement to build the monument. The
same gentleman now comes forward
with another meritorious idea. In q
letter to the editor Of the Gate City he
says: g4
"You will rmember that in the ro-
tunda of Iowa's elegant state capito
there are four inches intended fol
statues of honored sons and daughters
of the state. Would it not be fitting
and proper to fill those inches with
eight-foot marble statues of the fol
lowing honored sons of the state ano
nation: Justice Samuel"F. Miller. SEN
ator James Harlan, Senator James w
Grimes and Senator Samuel j. Kirk
wood. Those four statues can be place
ed in the capitol for $4,000. The cost
to the state would be infinitesimal
Should Iowa wait one hundred years
perhaps no grander men would be pro-
duced to fill these niches."
The Gate City endorses the sugges-
ton. The inches are in the capitol
building and some day the state will
be called upon to fill them with repre-
sentative statues. The names of other
men prominent and potential in the
making of great commonwealth, will
occur to the citizens, but the selection
may safely be left to the public judy
ment when the time comes for the
erection of the monument.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
CAN THE PACE THAT KILLS BE
AVOIDED.

Cedar Rapids Republican-Last Sun
day the Chicago Tribune discussed this
question from an affirmative stand
point and advocated the cultivation of
what it termed judicious idleness-fre-
quent periods of rest for the business
man and slower pace all around.
1t is not likely, however that many
men are going to be Influenced by this
sort of advice. All admit that the
American people as a people are trav-
cling at the pace that kills. Every
body will admit the vanity and vexa-
ton Of the mad pursuit of wealth in
which majority of the American peo-
pie are engaged. But whenever AN in
dividual here and there begins to con-'
slider how he shall adopt a more ra-
tional course he is bound to be very
much perplexed and in the end will,
probably conclude that it is impossible
to do anything but keep on in his eff
fort to keep up with the procession.
Perhaps the time may come when the
whole country will go slower than it
islgoing now. Perhaps the time will
come when Americans In general will
adopt q saner philosophy, but until
something in the nature of a general
movement is inaugurated it is going
to be exceedingly hard for individuals
here and there to cultivate what the
Tribune calls "judicious idleness"
Comparatively few people are able
to extract themselves from the crowd
and travel the pace that suits their
own convenience. OF the few that are
able to do so comparatively small
number have the moral courage to take
the step. 1t is of course possible to
point out how this may be done In an
Individual case. The man who finds
himself travelling the pace that kills
in the city can dispose of his business
interests and go to the smaller towns
where life is more quiet and the de-
mands of business are not nearly so
exacting. Others can absolutely retire
from business at a comparatively ear
ly age with sufficient to keep them in
comforts but will they do it? Can the
man who has been trained to city
methods be content in the quiet at
rmosphere of the rural community?
Can the person who has cultivated
a love for achievement and power even
contemplate dropping out altogether
and ceasing to be a factor in the life
of his day and generation? 1t is easy
enough to philosophize about these
things and to dream about them. To
put them into execution requires a
sterner will than most men possess.
The chances are therefore as a nation
we will continue to struggle and strive
and fight and die early in our pursuit
of the almighty dollar until the whole
country will come gradually or sud-
denly to realize the vanity and use
lessness of the whole performance.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
WOMAN AND HER WAYS.

Chicago Inter Ocean: Prof. Hat
field of the Northwestern university is
credited with advancing and cham
pioning the idea of adding the study
Of women's ways and whims to the
curriculum Of that institution.
And he is credited also with the very
sensible view that since universities
are intended to prepare young men for
life. and since women enter largely in
to the aves of men, the least that the
higher education can do, and the most
important thing it can do is to impart
to the male students a scientific know
ledge of the psychology of women.
If Northwestern university can do
this successfully, there can be no sort
of doubt about it's future, for it. will
have solved the problem Of all the
ages. We shall know, at least-for the
students can hardly keep it to them
selves-why women say mo" when
they mean yes" why they say "don't'
when they mean do" why they step
backwards off the cars, and why they
do lot of other things that have been
incomprehensible to men since the
days of Adam.
Whether it will do male humanity
any good to know why women do
things that man is at present unable to
understand is a question. We are In
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
WATCHING ORIENTAL WAR DE-
VElOPMENTS,

The Washington government is
watching closely the developments in
the Oriental war. 1t is conceded that
Secretary Hay has apparently done
everything in his power to prevent
the Chinese from taking any part in
the Russian-Japanese war. In this his
course has received the commentator
of the American public. His policy
has received the moral if not the for
NAL approval of the world powers. But
in the face of all these facts and in
spite of the proclamation of neutrality
issued by the Chinese government
there now seems to be possibility
that the Chinese may eventually take
a hand in the far eastern conflict.
Already Chinese troops have been
sent north along the Manchurian Dor
der for the ostensible purpose of main
tanning the precepts of the neutrality
proclamation. But in the event of a
Japanese victory on land as well as
on the sea there now seems to be a
possibility of an uprising against for
eigners all over China as well as a
general movement against the Rus
SLAMS. In case of such contingency
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25

the war department in 1876 during
President Grants administration. An
oil portrait of the elder Taft hangs on
the wall of the war Office facing Sec
rotary Taft's desk. When Secretary
Taft reached his Office that first morn
ing after being sworn in he stood be-
fore his fathers picture and viewed it
for a long time. Then turning to one
of his assistants he said:
That's a good picture. My good
old governor certainly had a command
ing eye. I say nothing about the COM
pelling force of his hand" Then he
added, his eyes twinllling: 81 am
afraid I'll just naturally have to be
good here under that steady and ques-
tioning gaze"
In that statement of Secretary Taft
is contained an eloquent tribute to his
fathers influence upon his life. He
has shown himself to be susceptible
to the home influence and with such a
man in high Office the affairs of the ma
ton are exceedingly safe.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25

but his loyalty has never in the least
been shaken. His effort is always to
keep down bad Blood He cultivates
the amenities rather than the asperi-
ties of life. This trait of his character
was never more strongly manifest
than at present In reply to Governor
Cummins, who strutted into the arena
brandishing his sword, and like Goliah
of old. breathing out defiance to the ar
mics of Israel, he, like the mild and
gentle shepherd boy. without ponp or
display, hurls from his sling little
stone which seems to have laid Mr..
Cummins low, in the form of PROPOSE
ton that Senators Allison and Dolliver
and Governor Cumrnins, If he also de-
sires, should be three of the delegates
at large from Iowa, and that he would
not allow his name to be considered
for the fourth place, if it was likely to
cause trouble in the party.
Whatever may have been said of
him, he has never been charged with
disloyalty to his party or friends, nor
with bad faith in his political actions.
His word passes at par with his enc
mics as well as friends.
He is a man of whom Iowa, and es-
pecially the first district, should be
proud.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25

pressing himself as completely salts
ned of their proficiency and drill.
Ihen he hurried away from the field
Tor fear somebody might ask him the
caliber of our Krag- Jorgensen rifle in
which event his own ignorance would
exposed.
The secretary has the right to his
Jokes at his own expense, but nobody
is disposed to take him at his own val.
uation nor to deny him the faculties
that are needed for the post he holds
He is, indeed, the minister of peace
rather than of war. His greatest
achievements have been in the direc-
ton of securing peace. He pacified the
philippines not merely through the use
OF the military arm of the government,
but through the wise exercise of those
arts of civilization which he knew
SO well how to employ. He gained the
confidence of the natives. He assured
them of participation in their own To-
cal affairs. He called them into coun-
Gil and in many instances sought their
advice and deferred to their Judgment.
While he did not hesitate to employ
the troops when necessary to put down
instruction or to exterminate ladron-
ism, he looked to the better impulses
of the native for corporation with the
government in the humane and just
direction Of their affairs.
The secretary of war in the United
States has more to do with peace than
with war. The department of nsular
affairs, which by some odd evolution
became attached to the war depart
ment has to do with civil governments
in time of peace and it cannot operate
efficiently while or where war con-
tinues-even in the organization Of the
army.
1t is not the aim of the secretary of
war to invite conflicts with any nation
or power, but to prepare for eventuali-
ties if, through no fault of our own and
in spite of all honorable efforts to avert
it, war should be forced upon us. That
was thrilling compliment that Lord
Wolseley paid us when he said that,
man for man" the American army
was the best in the world" 1t is a
compliment our authorities should con-
stantly endeavor to deserve.
Still, we shall continue to hope that
Mr.. Taft will always be known as the
greatest minister of peace the United
States has ever had. His inclinations,
his education and his temperament
will lead him in that direction. Peace
hath her victories, and may our new
secretary of war live long to enjoy
them. The people of the United States
earnestly pray for peace, but they are
always conscious of the fact, now al
most passed into a platitude, that the
best way to secure it is to be prepared
| for war.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
VACANCY ON CANAL COMMITTEE

sHSHISS u YIN SfAINAI SoWl WI i EE
The death of Senator NJ A. Hanna
leaves vacant the craftsmanship of the
Panama canal committee. During the
past few days there has been consid.
cradle speculation as to who would be
appointed as his successor. Senator
Mitchell, of Oregon, is said to be next
in line for the place. While he strong
ly opposed the acceptance of the Pan
ANA route he voted for the Colombian
treaty, and should he be appointed, he
would doubtless support the admins
tration in the construction of the great
waterway.
that Senator Spooner ought to have
the place. He is an able constitutional
lawyer, and is depended upon by Pres
ident Roosevelt as he was by President
Mckinley, to present the admininstra-
ton policy to the people in the right
light, to defend that policy before the
senate, and above all, to formulate the
legislation necessary to defend that
policy. 1t was his amendment that
gave TO the President the authority tc
choose between the Panama and Mica.
raguan route.
Senator Spooner as chairman of the
inter-oceanic committee, would be in a
position to render to the country much
valuable service. 1t is not improbable
that Senator Mitchell may waive his
claim to this craftsmanship. The ap-
pointment of Senator Spooner to that
place would be exceedingly gratifying
to the people ofithe United States.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
OUR PRESIDENT.

There's a man down east
That we like tip-top,
And we mean to support him next
June;
For his backbone's stiff
And his word clean cut,
And we favor the sound of his tune
He knows what's what,
And he says so, plain,
And he looks 'em straight in the eye.
AS the fellow with pull,
And the graft working cuss
Travel on to the sweet by and by.
Some stock market chaps
May feel kind a sore,
And be aching to give him the knifes
But we folks from the plains
OF the great northwest,
Will lead them the fight of theip
life.
Keep a genuine man
Like him at the helm,
And the ship will weather the gale,
And justice and right,
And deals on the square,
In nation and statecraft prevail.
Oh, Teddy has nerve,
And Teddy has grit,
He's brick of a man, we say,
And the Wall street crowd,
With their water-soaked stocks.
Had better not get in his way.
Lewis L. Bingham.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
IHE cLEws LEITER.

The recent letter of Henry Clews
of New York in which he states that
Russia gave the United States no help
during the civil war, has brought forth
| considerable comment in all parts of
| the country. The visit of the Russi-
an fleet to the harbor of New York in
| 1863 was made not under order from
the czar but upon the invitation of
| Secretary Seward. The Chicago In
ter Ocean takes exception to the state
ment of Mr.. Clews,a and offers some very
interesting information in substantial
ton of it's position. That paper says
that the position taken by Mr.. Clews
| is contrary to the statements of Mr..
Seward himself. 1t is contrary to the
statements of Bayard Taylor, Cassius
NJ. Clay. and several members of Pres
ident Lincoln's cabinet. 1t is at vari-
ance with the resolution of congress
adopted in April 1866, and presented
| to the czar in August of the same year
by Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Fox, acting under the instructions of
congress.
| 1t is in fiat contradiction Of the
speech made by Gortchakof at st.
Petersburg, on September 10, 1866, and
of his official utterances in 1863. 1t is
contrary to the spirit of the
cars letter of August IL, 1866,
to President Johnson. 1t is in
contradiction of the history of our
diplomacy in 1863 as given by Fred
erick w. Seward, John w. Foster and
John Hay. Here in brief is the true
story:
In January, 1863, Louis Napoleon
made an offer of mediation which the
Comte de Paris (vol vi p. 6S, History
of the Civil War,") says was threat
| which might be carried into action at
any time" Mr.. Seward received the
offensive dispatch on February 3,
and answered it on February in what
1 is described (Nicolay and Hays cab
raham Lincoln" vol. vi. p. ~ as zone
OF the most important state papers
written during the war" AS soon as
the contents of the French note were
known In Europe, a Russian fleet was
ordered to American waters and it
came to New York harbor. Another
Russian fleet came to Sar Francisco
President Lincoln and Secretary
Seward and the other members of the
cabinet, and the members of the for.
eign committees in the two houses of
congress. knew why it came. The ar.
my ana navy knew why, and the peo
pie knew why. Mr.. Clews also must
know why, or be a far less intelligent
man than the average New York bank.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-25
BEYOND STATE LEGISLATURES
SDLEPE

There seems to be some doubt as to
what action will be taken on the pro-
Russian resolution introduced in the
state legislature by Representative
Manhlon Head of. Guthrie county. In
drawing up the resolution Mr.. Head
unquestionably displayed marked di
plomacy and it is rather by inference
than by direct statement that the reso-
luton may be taken as favorable to
the Russians and their cause. The
text is as follows:
Resolved, That we as representa-
tives of the state of Iowa, a state
whose intelligence. patriotism, loyalty
conservatism and gratitude to all who
have in any measure contributed to
our national independence, the preser-
walton of the union, our national great
ness and Christian civilization are
well known, are intensely interested
in the war now in progress between
Russia and Japan for the supremacy
in Manchuria and Korea, it's possible
effect on Christian civilization and the
commerce of the far east.
That we are not unmindful of the
uniform kindly attitude Of Russia
toward this country during our entire
history, her sympathy in our struggle
for independence. her great service to
us in the war of the rebellion, and the
fact that whenever we have needed
a friend she has never failed us.
That we as neutral power should
carefully refrain from expressions of
sympathy that would indicate that we
are ungrateful or forgetful of past fav-
ors.
Also, we should take into considera-
ton the possible effect of this war on
Christian civilization and the control
of commerce in the far east; our inter
ests which now may seem obscure
may develop and it may become ap-
parent that to protect our interests
We may have to lay aside our nell-
trality, and enter this contest. The
question will then be, with whom will
We cast our lot;' will it naturally be
with powers commercially unfriendly
ito us or with a friendly power that has
been and is now a good customer of
ours in the purchase of railroad equip
ment and manufactured products?
Just why the members of the Iowa
general assembly should be called
upon to take formal action on such
a proposition is not apparent. In
fact, it appears that this resolution
deals with a matter which is entirely
beyond the authority of any state as
sembly and is one with which only the
national congress should deal There
is yet no record where any legislative
body in the country has considered
this subject in an official capacity.
Whatever expressions of sympathy
have SO far been made, all have come
from individual Americans. That
such sympathy has been extended to
Japan creates no demand that there
should be any legislative action there
on. 1t appears that Iowa legislators
have enough to do to rightly dispose
of state business, that they may wise
ly leave all consideration of such sub
Jects as mentioned in the above reso-
luton to the national congress.