Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-17

"nS q LILLE county pTlue, InOuSu ulQ
not get the solid delegation. There
were Cornell college boys in most OF
the counties of the state and quite a
number of them in the convention My
partner and Judge Conner, former
partner, were former Iowa City alumni,
and that insured me good per cent Of
the state university influence.
All the other candidates were in the
field before Governor Drake declined
to run again, and this insured me the
support of the ardent Drake men
throughout the state. had spoken q
good many times in the campaign of
1896 and had made few friends. AS
a result was first choice of quite a
respectable number and second choice
OF many returned home. the nom
nation having cost me all told less
than $3.50
During the four years that l was
governor Mr.. Blythe seldom suggested
ian appointment and never asked one.
His few endorsements were to the eff
feet that he thought the man compe-
tent and honest and that he would
prove satisfactory to me. When ap-
pointed Colonel Palmer railroad com
missioner, remember he telegraphed
me, congratulating me on my selection
and saying that would find Colonel
Palmer honest and absolutely free from
outside influence.
During the senatorial contest which
resulted In the election of Mr.. Gear,
Mr.. Blythe never asked my influence,
but after 1t was over he came to my
office and thanked me for having re-
manned neutral throughout, and also,
for having declined overtures which
were made looking to my selection.
h Blythe Made No Requests.
after Mr.. Gears death conferred
with Mr.. Blythe. as I did with Judge
Prouty, Judge Stephens, G. G. McCar-
thy, George Roberts, Senator Allison,
and nearly all the Iowa delegation, but
Mr.. Blythe never asked me to appoint
any one. At no time did he seek to
put me under obligations to him and
at all times avoided anything that
might seem to place him under obliga-
lions to me.
What show my dear senator, would
you or any other conservative citizen
have in a state wide primary as
against a would-be reformer? Imag-
inc yourself going out and making a
canvass for the governorship of the
state on conservative platform. You
could congratulate the state Of Iowa
upon her influence in national affairs
from the days of Grimes until now
You could truthfully say that under
political methods heretofore prevalent
in the state. Iowa has had the strong
est delegation in congress Of all the
states in the union for quarter Of
century, and that the law soon to be
enacted-perhaps the most farreach-
ing of any within twenty years-will
probably forever bear two Iowa names
the Hepburn olliver bill
But after having recorded this if
you should promise that If elected you
would pursue the same conservative
methods; that you would safeguard
expenditures and keep the rate of tax
alton, as it has ever been. the lowest
of any considering what the state has
to show for her expenditures, you
would still stand no show whatever
against some one who would paint
conditions as black as human Ian
guage can describe them. and then
promise that nothing that has been
shall be, and that everything that has
not been tried shall be put in opera
ton,
Reform Work Should BE Slow.
Reforms are necessary, but 1t Is
more necessary still to preserve that
which is good and from the good
evolve what Is better The process
may be slow and free from sentiment,
but it is sure and free from danger.
II hope you will appreciate that
have no personal interest in this mat
ter. Ny own political fortunes are I'M
important. Whatever Shaw senti-
ment exists has sprung up spontane-
ously, and unless 1t grows spontane-
ously, which is not probable, Iowa
will not be permitted, much less
asked, to express her confidence In
me.
81 certainly hope factional politics
will not affect this great question un-
der consideration. Iowa will be on
the map when we are all gone, but a
sentimental law will curse her many
years before any one will have the
courage to urge it's repeal. A state
wide primary for the purpose Of TAX
ing the government back to the people
sounds well, but it is the only law of
which l have knowledge which carries
with it the possibility Of taking the
government out Of the hands of the
people.
II have wondered what position the
democrats of the state will take.
know many Of the democratic mem
bers of the two houses so far as
know they are as conscientious as
any and as proud as any of the record
the state has made. / can but believe
this question will be solved nonpar-
tis a nly-not one way or the other he-
cause any one favors it or any one
|disapproves. It is too big and too far
reaching to be partisan question,
much less fractional contest.
l.. M. Shaw.
Entertaining an Enemy.
Don't entertain chronic, running
sore or wound Cure 1t with Bucklen's