Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-24

occasion was addressing the people Of
Missouri. lie grew eloquent on de-
nouncing the views of the reput can
party. He spoke of the so.called mill
tarism, Imperialism, etc. and appealed
to his audience, asking what shall we
do with 1t. le big Missourian stood
up and replied, Well. Champ, as long
as steers are seven cents guess we
can stand it.
Senator cockreII Of Missouri.
Let me give you an Illustration Of
leader and great fighter, whose ca.
reer as public man is about to end.
Francis Marian Cockrell, Of Missouri,
was recently defeated by one Of those
usual landslides which takes every.
thing in front of it, General Cockrell,
after his defeat, and at the present
time, has the utmost sympathy of
those who were most prominent in his
defeat. General Cockrell was in com.
mand OF confederate troop down
south, which had just been taken by
our army. Steele and myself were
sent out by our commander into the
confederate ranks. Soon we came
upon Gen. Cockrell, went up and
introduced myself, had quite a talk
with this leader. In 1889 when went
to congress for the first time, one of
the first things l did was to go over
to the senate chamber and look IN
Senator Cockrell. / asked him if he
remembered me and he did Since
then we have been warm personal
friends, notwithstanding our views
am glad to see that the President
is to honor Gen Cockrell with
position. A political leader must
hight and fight hard. He is like a
leader OF buffalo herd.
Speaker Thomas Reed.
Il remember when Bailey. of Texas
was speaker of the house. A bright.
bralny fellow and an excellent states.
men. He was, however, not possessed
OF the power to lead and when he was
retired and Thomas B. Reed took his
seat, then a truly giant leader, a man
whom every member of his party fol.
lowed, was the speaker. He was the
leader, Who when asked favor by his
followers would turn it down but at
the same time never let them depart In
any other but a cheerful humor. | re.
member very distinctly of approach.
ing Reed on numerous occasions and
asking a favor. Invariably he would
! turn me down and have me leave in
Ia good humor. President Harrison
would grant my requests, but each
tlme would go, was sorry he did.
"A giant in stature and in frame. gi.
gantic i'll intellect and yet the MIN.
blest man Of them all, was Thomas
b. Reed. Possessed of a face which
nobody accused of being pretty, Reed
sat in his station with never a smile.
AT one time the many friends of Reed
mad his picture painted and hung in a
conspicuous place. Reed happened
along and noticing it, took. a long
look After careful Derusal of the
work, Reed exclaimed, Well now my
enemies are all satisfied Reeds
ready wit was one of his many good
points. On one occasion, Springer
quoted from Henry Clay, I'D rather be
| right than be president Reed in an
swer to this said, You'll never be
either. Let me give you an illustra-
ton OF Reeds honesty and his straight
forward manner when in the right or
wrong. At one time, Reed went to
President Mckinley and apologized.
saying he had openly criticised the
President for sending the battleship
Maine to Havana. He thought he was
wrong and openly apologized to the
President. Shortly after this occurred.
the battleship Maine blew I'D in the
southern harbor. Reed, it was found
was right, but he thought he was
wrong. That was Reed. Reed was de-
MED a vote of thanks when he left
the speakership, but SO was Polk and
Henderson
cIarkson's Name Proposed.
II spoke a moment ago of General
Harrison's wit think Harrison was
one OF the most able men who ever
occupied the presidential chair At
one time the Iowa delegation had plan
ned to go to President Harrison and
present the name of Clarkson of Iowa
Tor the office Of secretary of the navy.
The Iowa delegation had planned to
meet at a certain place, but when Hep
burn and myself had reached there, we
found the rest of the Iowa body had
come and gone We then decided to
visit the President. In presenting
Clarkson for the Office, we were very
enthusiastic. The president com.
planned OF Clarkson's residence being
100 far IN the Interior Hepburn met
this complaint with the recital of a
fact which happened with an earlier
secretary of the navy, who came from
Ohio.
This officer shortly after taking
his seat, visited the navy yard and
upon returning told to the president
he found out how ships stayed on top
of the water, saying they were hollow.
The presidents reply to this abounded
with wit. With a stolid face he said,
l'Gentlemen, you must consider that the
Wabash is larger stream than the
Des Moines.'
Hoar and Mason.
Let me call your attention to Sen
ator Hoar, who has just gone to his
reward He was wit and a great
statesman. He graduated from the
house into the senate and was one of
the readiest wits of that body. Hoar' s
ability was expressed laudly when his
state sent him back to Washington,
when many of his constituents and peo-
pie OF the state of Massachusetts were
| opposed to several measures of their