The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-09
THE SHAW EPISODE.

THE SHAW EPISODE.
1t is strange that certain newspap
ers in the State, which claim to be.
and ought to be friendly to Secretary
Shaw, have seen fit to misrepresent
the incident which occurred at the
State convention, in connection with
the mention of his name. The facts
do not warrant the assertion that the
mention of Secretary Shaw's name in
the speech of the temporary chairman
provoked kissing of character such
as the papers describe. While it may
be true that there were a few men in
the Convention guilty of this unseen
ly conduct toward the Secretary, the
number was insignificant in compar-
ison with those who were inspired by
other reasons. 1t is safe to assert
that the principal part of the kissing
was on account of want of tact on
the part of the temporary chairman,
in proceeding in the manner he did.
While advocating harmony, he unfor-
tunatly adopted a course, which was
intended to antagonize a large por-
ton of the Convention. In mention
ing the names of some of the Con-
gresham who had stood by the Presi-
dent in his desire for rate and other
legislation, and emitting to mention
the names of others, he opened the
way for criticism toward himself, and
it was because of the fact that a
large number of those who heard him
thought that he was unfair and parti-
san in his conduct. and because they
We're anxious to proceed with the
business of the Convention, that the
protest was registered.
No one believes for moment that
if the Secretary's name had been men,
toned early in the list of those who
were named, that anything of dis
agreeable character would have oc-
Cured. The failure of the speaker
to mention the names of some of the
Congressman, after he had mentioned
others, and the fact that all of those
he mentioned belonged to one faction
of the party, brought out storm of
protest from the Convention and gal
leries, of such character as to pre-
vent the speaker from proceeding for
several minutes, and not until the
chairman of the state central COM
mittee came to his rescue did the
Convention quiet down.
1t was after, and Immediately fol-
lowing, this incident, and when many
of the delegates were out of harmony
with the speaker, and anxious that
the business of the Convention should
proceed, that the name of Secretary
Shaw was mentioned. Evidently
nearly all of those who engaged in
kissing, intended to express their dis
appreciation of the conduct of the
speaker. rather than a want of re-
spect for the Secretary. Judge
Towner evidently lost sight of the
fact that there were two factions in
the Convention, and that one faction
was not content to hear all the praise
bestowed upon the Representatives
of the other faction.
If the newspapers which first re-
ported this incident had given all the
circumstances under which the kissing
occurred, the impression would not
have gone out that any considerable
number of delegates intended to ex-
press disrespect for the Seer etary.
No one doubts for a moment but that
Mr.. Shaw entertains the respect of
the great body of the Republicans of
Iowa, regardless of the faction to
which they may belong. The demon
stration in his favor, when his name
was mentioned, was so pronounced,
and continued so long, that no other
conclusion could be reached. The
number of those who engaged in hiss
ing his name was too insignificant to
be considered.
1t is true that he is a man of firm
convictions, and may be classed by
some as partisan, and probably has
antagonized some Of those who do not
believe as he does. and out of this
number, a few were guilty of the con-
duct complained of, but certainly a
limited number. A man who would
engage in such an exhibition must
be. not only a narrow partisan, but
lacking in breadth of character.
Iowa is proud of the fact that the
State is permitted to furnish two
members of. the Cabinet, and Secre-
tary Shaw's splendid record in the
discharge of his duties as the head of
the Treasury Department will protect
him for all time against those who
have no other weapon of attack ex-
cept to hiss the mention Of his name.