Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-27
MANY VOTERS
HEAR PROUTY
DELIVERS PRACTICALLY sAMH
SPEECH AS IN THE PRE-coN- i
NENTIoN CAMPAIGN
TALKS OF RAILROADS

Called Machine Of Years Ago-Goes
Into His Recollections Of Political
History of State Of Iowa.
From Fridays Daily.
AT the meeting held last even
ing in the McHaffey's opera house at
Eldon, Judge S. F. Prouty, Of Des
Moines, made the first political adj
dress that he has made during the
present campaign. The meeting was
well attended. Z. j. Moore, candidate
for state representative, presided.
After a few opening remarks he In.
troduced the speaker of the evening.
'@rhis campaign" said Judge Prouty.
'is not merely a contest for party SUI
premacy but 1t is struggle for the
maintenance of our political institu-
tions
I'VE are peculiar government.
The theories and practices that apply
to a monarchial form Of government
are not applicable to that of a repub.
lie. In monarchy, whatever Of
power the people possess they obtain
from the throne. The power descends
form the king to the people In a re.
public 1t is different. In the United
States the power ascends from the
people. No president or governor
has any power but that that is given
to him by the common people.
"The government of the United
States is republic 1t Is govern.
ment of the people, for the people and
by the people. When we depart from
that principle we are departing from
the original form of our government.
Preservation of Power.
"It Is proper that every man should
observe whether we are maintaining
the great fundamental principle OF
our government, that Of all power as.
cending from the common people. /,
want to portray to you this evening
4 the true situation in the state OF
Iowa as see It, You cannot have
republic unless all the power ema-
mates from the people. While the re-
publican form Of government Is the
best possible form, whenever it falls
into the hands of few designing men,
1t becomes the worst. would rather
live in the German empire than In
republic like ours under the domina-
/ tion and control Of men like Rookie.
feller and others OF his ilk.
why? A monarch would make his
laws for all his people. He would
have no selfish motives to subserve.
But on the other hand where repub.
lie Is controlled by a small number OF
men they make their laws for the in.
I terests Of the class to which they be-
long and appoint officers who will con-
4 duct the duties of these offices in a
manner favorable to them and against
; the greater interests of the great
masses Of the people.
!! Who Are the Common PeopIe7
"Do not mfsjudge me. When q man
talks about the common people, he is
: called demagogue do not mean
by the common people, the lower
: strata Of citizenship. What do mean
!, by the words, the common people?
III mean that great mass Of citizen
!, ship which has no favors to ask of its
government which may not be enjoy
ed by all in common. Rich or poor,
high or low. black or white, whatever
you are IL you only desire a govern
ment for the common veal Of the
country, then you belong to what I
mean by the common people. This
republic can not live when it comes to
, time when the common people, as I
A have defined them, do not rule
II will not mince words. The fellow
that looks out over this state and ma.
: ton today can not fail to perceive that
there is another class besides the one
that have described. There is class
in this country who believe them.
selves to be uncommon. They are
continually trying to bring Influences
to bear to enable them to control
!, legislatures, courts and national and
state officers that they may obtain
special privileges.
Between these two forces there ia
and always will be great and unceas.
2 ing conflict Not between parties for
, 1t is not partisan contest, but it does
and always will until the common peo-
pie are settled in power
A Strange Contest.
!, "We have strange contest In Iowa
this year. We are in peculiar situa-
2 ton. There has been in this state for
the past quarter of century, Ger.
$ tain clique that has assumed to die
: tate the policies of the state. With
these fellows there is NO question OF
politics or parties, but the question Of
who they can control.
"In the twenty-six years that have
s been an observer of the politics of this
state, there has never been mar
elected to Office against whom the
; united force of this power has been
!, opposed. During the time was q
!. member of the legislature we created
I the railroad commission. The first
9 man appointed on the commission was
Q Major Anderson, who was favorable tc
: this clique. In fact it was understood
! that he was appointed because Of this
attitude. But Major Anderson was {
q good fellow and he was a concientious
J.