Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-28
THE BLOOMFIELD CONVENTION.

\ TIE BLOOMFIELD CONVENTION.
The republicans of Davis county
may we'll feel proud of the convention
Which they held at Bloomfield last Sat
urday. The republican party is fast
gaining in Davis county, long regarded
as one of the strongest democratic
counties in Iowa, if not alb
solutely the strongest. Since
Since 1t went for Roosevelt last fall
there has been much question as to
the outcome of the next election when
8 more purely local issue should be at
stake. Judging from the attendance at
the convention of Saturday and the
enthusiasm displayed at that time the
republicans have a splendid chance Of
electing their candidate for the legis-
lature. That candidate is John H. Curl,
q well known and highly respected
farmer Of Davis county. He is web
qualified to fill the Office for which he
has been nominated and the party
commends him to the careful voters
OF Davis county as the best man for
the place.,
The Davis county convention was
watched with interest by the politi-
clans Of the state and they learned
something. They learned that Major
John F. Lacey is still a standpatter
from Standpatyille. They learned
that he believes in the future of the
country as long as it is guided by re-
publican hands. They learned, too
that B. F. Carroll, auditor of state, is
1 in the same class with Mr.. Lacey. Mr.
SCarroll is a resident of Davis county
and he chose the county convention
as a fitting occasion to declare his be-
lief in the protective tariff espoused
by Mr.. Lacey. He declared to his fell
. low republicans of Davis county that
he is now as much in favor of the prin-
ciple as he was ten years ago.
AS indicating the view taken of the
convention around the state the follow
ing editorial mention by the Des
Moines Capital is of interest:
"In the dull tedium of biennial in
activity the utterances of Congressman
John F. Lacey. at the Bloomfield con
vention, came nike an invigorating
breeze upon a hot and listless summer
day.
Davis county republicans enjoy
coming together and giving expression
to the faith that is within them. 1t
goes without saying that they enjoyed
the sound republican doctrine which
the stalwart congressman from the
sixth district administered to them in
allopathic doses Saturday last.
congressman Lacey used plain Ian
guage in discussing the situation as it
exists today. He was one of those who
doubted the wisdom of the biennial
elections amendment and ne doubts it.
now. He does netabelieve that the
voters can take too much interest in
the affairs Of state. Or that constant
discussion will lower the standards of
citizenship. But that issue is settled
The people will know in time whether
or not a mistake was made.
Congressman Lacey doubts the ex-
pediency of state wide primary law.
He is unable to see where the state
has suffered by the system which has
been In vogue so long, and he further
more fails to discover anything in the
Tillman ruled state of South Carolina,
In the Vardaman ruled state of Missis-
sippi or In the jeff Davis ruled state Of
Arkansas-in each Of which the state
primary is the fashion-to create en-
thusiasm for the adoption of similar
law in Iowa.
When 1t comes to discussion of
the tariff question Congressman Lacey
is always perfectly at home. A veteran
{ in congressional service he is familiar
with the details of tariff schedule con-
struction. He knows what congress
is up against when called upon to
frame a bill which shall be just to all
the varied interests of which Ameri-
can industrialism and commercialism
Is composed. He believes that the wis
dom of the Dingley enactment has
been more than indicated While the
stormy petrels of reform have made
the air culver with the burden of their
piercing screams, the country has con-
bftinued to prosper until the chapter
which tells Of the story of the last
eight years is without parallel in the
annals Of any nation under the sun.
Last year the balance of trade in
our favor was $401 ,O49,091, and yet
the political Jeremiahs have been
preaching before Chautauqua as
mbles and old settlers reuions that
unless n crusade of tariff smashing
were inaugurated, and few interests
laid upon their altar of an alleged
reciprocity that within a short time
our foreign trade would be ruined.
''The soldier-statesman from the
Sixth district has sounded a timely
note in behalf of stalwart republican
ism. We believe 1t will strike re-
sponsive chord in the hearts Of Iowa