Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-08
HILLS RETIREMENT.

New York Evening Post.-"Nothing
IN his life became him like the leaving
it." The announcement this morning
that David B. Hill is to retire from
politics. that in case of democratic
success In November he will not ac-
cept office. either federal or state, Is
good news. For twenty years and
more Mr.. Fill has owed this step to
his conscience and his country, and at
last he has seen fit to take it. We do
not mean to say that Mr. Hill has
never been guilty of worthy act, but
that, except for occasional lapses into
political virtue, he has throughout his
career been a malign influence. He
has, with. Justice, been called the
stormy petrol Of the democratic party.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.- Hill is
Offering the people chrome, the de-
livery Of which is eminently uncertain
in case of democratic success But
that Is SO improbable that Hill will be
retired from politics, and no doubt
permanently on the morning of No
Vember 8.
Chicago Record Herald.-He Is thus
becoming a veritable hoodoo to his
candidate, who must find a situation
extremely embarrassing. For it will
be remembered that Hill ruled the
democratic state convention with rod
of hot iron and damned through the
instructions for Parker. In this way
he established a claim upon the graft
tude of Parker which 1t Is difficult to
Ignore, and yet he Is In such bad odor
that he seems himself to feel the ne
cessity of relieving Parker of the bur-
den Of gratitude.
Lincoln Journal.-The announce
ment of Dave Hills prospective retire.
ment from politics would be more eff
fective IL the date Of the event had not
been postponed until next January.
II he is earnest, why not retire now?
Minneapolis Journal.-He relieves
the situation of embarrassment be-
cause of the intense prejudice against
himself personally in the minds of q
great many democrats; but it is not
fair to Judge Parker to assume that
he will not accord to Mr.. Hill that
recognition to which he is entitled, in
case the democracy is triumphant at
the election.
Washington dispatch to the New
York Evening Post.-Few announce
ments for the present campaign seem
calculated to do the Parker candidacy
more good, or to meet so distinctly
"a long felt want" as that made at
Albany yesterday by David b. Hill.
1t was agreed in political circles here
from the start that the heaviest hand
leap to Parker was Hills name. The
prominence which 1t assumed in the
pending contest was distasteful to
many branches of the party. 1t an
tagonizes the old Cleveland following,
which has never forgiven the crafty
ex-senator for his persistent course of
obstruction to the democratic presi-
dent. German never liked Hill when
they were in the senate together, and
Hills prominence in this campaign is
believed to have made Parker's can
didacy only half acceptable to Cor
man, In spite of the nomination of
tn latter's cousin, Henry G. Davis, for
the second place.
Tammany feeling toward Hill is
well known. The mugwumps have
never had any use for Mr.. Hill. He
is, furthermore, weak among the west
ern democrats, because of his opposi-
ton to the income tax, which they re-
gard as fair and just. His course In
the senate in this particular would
have been forgotten had he not insist
ed that the ST. Louis platform this
year should contain no declaration in
favor Of that project. For these and
other reasons Mr.. Hills weakness is
confined to no section of the country
He has antagonized nearly every wing
of the party, except the profes.
sionaI machine politicians, who look
with favor on fellow machinist His
announced purpose to retire after New
Years Will be helpful everywhere