Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-04
SENATOR TILLMAN
UNABLE TO SEE 1T
NOT UNDERSTAND THE
-'..ovE OF CHARLES A. WALSH
AT THIS TIME

AT THIS TIME
Says Party Organization Has Always
Had Men Connected With Corpora
tions as Long as He Has Been in it
Reforms Have to be Upward.
'T have been unable to form any
conclusion as to the meaning of his
communication" said Senator Benja-
min R. Tillman, who was in Ottumwa
last night, referring to the letter OF
Charles A. Walsh to Chairman Thomas
]. Taggart, resignil.s his position of
national committeeman. 81 am unable
to see what is hoped to be gained
just at this time, following the Bryan
demonstration in New York so closely.
Speaking with reference to Mr..
Walshs charges that there are rings
of corporation men in the democratic
organization, Senator Tillman said, Il
wonder If he expects to find conditions
any different in the republican party.
The democratic rarty has been so ever
since I have been In it, and do not
see how we are going to get rid OF
them. These reforms have to come
from the people. We have to reform
upward. not downward"
Asked if he observed any connection
between this move of Mr.. Walsh and
the operations Of William R. Hearst
in New York, he replied: II have not
observed the workings of the two men,
that Is, connecting the one with the
other, but 1t appears that Hearst is op-
posing the democratic organization in
every way"
Senator Tillman was undoubtedly en-
lightened to greater degree before
he left Ottumwa, as he was met at
the Ballingall by Mr.. Walsh and enter
tained by him the remainder of the
evening, departing early this morning
for Sigourney to fill the date he miss
ed several weeks ago.
WaIsh's Letter.
In letter scoring corrupt corpora
tions and boss control of politics and
rejecting on many of the leaders Of
the democratic party Charles A.
Walsh Saturday sent his resignation
as member Of the national committee
to Thomas J. Taggart, chairman Of
the body The letter of resignation
was mailed to the national chairman
at French Lick, Ind, and the an
nouncement of its contests has stirred
the members Of the party. Mr.. Walsh
says that In the future he intends to
be in position to support or not sup
port, as he may see fit, the candidates
nf tho don,oCrotic rartu
II have reached the conclusion that
the perpetuation of corrupt corpora
tion and boss control of political af-
fairs is made possible by the slavish
subserviency of the individual to par
ty name and by lack Of independent
action" Mr.. Walsh says in his letter.
while I have heretofore been known
as partisan democrat and always
will be stanch supporter of demo-
cratic principles as understood them,
1t has been steadily borne in upon me
for long time as came closer to a
knowledge of the inner workings of
the party system that from the stand
point of true democracy there can be
nothing worse or more injurious to the
country than the yellow dog party
feeling that fmpels good men to sup
port ticket Of unfit nominees merely
because they bear the party label.
| "As an instance of how important
the corporation element believes con-
troll Of machinery to be 1 might men,
ton the fragrant violation Of all party
precedent in the appointment Of the
present democratic national executive
committee
| Scores the Committeeman.
"The executive committee had prior
to the campaign of 1904 been appoint
ed chiefly (and SO far as my recollec-
tion goes wholly from the regularly
elected members Of the national com
mittee and usually being made up of
those members from the more doubt
full states which 1t was necessary to
carry in order to elect. How was the
real campaign organization formed in
1904?
"An executive committee was made
up carefully limited to seven members
and those seven members were Will
liam F. Sheehan, chairman, of New
York City; August Belmont of New
| York City, James Smith, Jr., Of New
Jersey, Thomas F. Martin of Virginia,
James M. GUfy of Pennsylvania, John
R. Mclean If Ohio and the city of
Washington and Timothy e. Ryan of
Wisconsin. The four first mentioned
were not and are not members of the
national committee.
"Sheehan, formerly a discredited
Buffalo politician, builder Of the most
vicious political machine ever known
in Erie county, arrested for the flag.
rant violation of the civil service law
his machine finally routed and he prac.
tically driven from Buffalo, is now
with his partner, Judge Parker, one OF
the chief corporation lawyers of New
York, representing, among others, the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit company, and
has represented in legislative halls
and the courts Consolidated Gas, Edi.
son Electric and many others.
Pays Respects to Belmont.
Belmont is the head Of the Ameri
can branch of the famous European