Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-01
GEN. ]. B. WEAVER
HEARD ON ISSUES
LOCAL CANDIDATES ALSO SPEAK
AT DEMOCRATIC MEETING
HELD IN SOUTH oTTUMWA
Principal Orator Deals With the
Trusts, Tariff and Primary Law
Urges the Election of Senator Por-
ter for Governor of Iowa.

Urges the Election of Senator Por.
ter for Governor of Iowa.
From Tuesdays Daily.
Claude R. Porter for governor by a
majority of from 10000 to 25,000: Dan
lei w. Hamilton for congressman by
a majority Of from 1000 to 1900 and
the election of the entire democratic
legislative and county ticket is the
confident prediction made last even
ing in the first democratic meeting
held This campaign in the city of OF
tumwa, by the chairman of that meet
ing. John w. Lewis.
The chief speaker Of the evening,
General James B Weaver of Colfax
the veteran leader VI the democratic
forces in the Sixth congressional dis
trfct also stated at least twice in the
course Of his remarks that the election
Of Porter was positive certainty. In
fact the speakers all united in sound
ing the note of coming democratic
triumph as the eynote of the meet
ing.
The meeting was held in Fry's hall
In South Ottumwa and the auditorium
was filled to the limit of it's capacity
The first address Of the evening was
made by Clyde G. Sparks of Eldon,
democratic candidate for the state leg
islature. After Mr.. Sparks remarks
in which he announced himself as
standing firmly upon the platform
adopted by the democratic party at
Waterloo, and as feeling himself
pledged If elected, to strive for the
success of the principles therein set
forth. the chairman of the evening
John w. Lewis was introduced.
After brief but eloquent eulogy Of
the principal speaker of the meeting,
Mr.. Lewis presented to the audience
Gen. Weaver, who raid in part:
Gen. Weaver's Address.
"Mr. Chairman, Gentlemen and La
dies: You cannot imagine the pleas
ure 1t gives me to meet you again to-
night Many Of you are my old friends
and constituents. Some of you were
not for me then but it made no diff
ference to me whether you were or
not, / always tried to serve you.
took it upon myself to think for my
self and I accorded the others the
same privilege. Without this freedom
OF thought, this would be depotism
and there would be a end to all pro-
gress and development.
II am not going to make aprtisan
speech this evening. There is now
too much party and not enough true
patriotism Nor will my address be
abusive in any way. I am just here
to reason with you, that is all. I shall
mo etc ia 30
not entirely neglecting national poll
state matters. This is proper. We
ought to take these intermediate years
to look into state matters and policies.
During the presidential campaigns we
go daft and consider nothing but is
sues of national Importance. But in
year like this it is wise to consider
state questions.
Lauds Waterloo Platform.
"Our platform, which I helped to
make is great plrtform. If I had
not had part in framing it would
say that it is the best platform ever
given to the people Of Iowa.
ut has more of the spirit OF true re.
form in it. And it has just as little
partisan politics in 1t asT possible.
THE railway is a highway and as
such the people have right to control
1t. Ought not every citizen OF the
state Of Iowa be allowed to occupy
that highway upon just the same
terms with every other citizen? Now
II one man can occupy that for two
cents q mile, every man ought to be
able to do 50. In our platform we de-
clare for equal rights to all and special
privileges to none. But you say that
is generality So it is, but it applies
here. No man ought to have special
privilege on a public highway. But
you do have. Here is one.
Credential Book a Privilege.
So saying Gen. Weaver held up the
ordinary credential book. He stated
that the credential book represented
a privilege. While most Of the poorer
classes of people have to pay three
cents mile when they travel, he,
ne said, by means of the credential
book, only had in the end to pay two
cents a mile. The speaker said ne
always could tell when he went into
car, who it was that had the mileage
book, that it was the well dressed man
while the man with coarse clothing
paid his full fare.
Continuing the speaker said, II have
the advantage over all of you, except
ing those that have cTedential books
and the man who has a pass has the
advantage of me.
$50 in our platform we declared in
favor of equal rights for all and special
privileges for none. But we did not
stop there. We went right on and de
clared that we believed in two cent
mile rate and no passes. If man
isn't ready to live and let live, he bet
ter move out.
Every one of our candidates stands
pledged to the two cent fare and they
stand pledged to give it, If they are
! elected To this peonle Some of the