Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-11-07

Addresses.
In spite of the fact that it was an
after noon meeting on the busiest day
of one of the busiest times Of the
year, a large audience gathered at the
Grand opera house on Saturday after
noon to attend the political meeting
and hear the addresses of Hon. Leslie
NJ. Shaw, Secretary of the U. S.
Treasury, Congressman G. N. Haugen
of this district and Hon. s. A. Nelson
of Humboldt. The main floor of the
opera house was packed, with over a
hundred standing in the foyer, and
the balcony accommodated a large
number.
The speakers arrived on the noon
trains and were taken to the Winnie
shiek Hotel for dinner. In the mean
time the Merchants Band entertained
the people with music on Water
street. Promptly after dinner they
were taken to the opera house. where
the people were rapidly gathering
Several pleasing selections were rem
dered by the Oneota Orchestra. and
by the time for the meeting to begin
the house was we'll filled. Rev. DR..
II. H. Green, a personal friend Of
Secy. Shaw, presided at the meeting.
The first speaker of the afternoon
was Hon. s. A. Nelson of Humboldt,
who spoke for nearly q half hour.
Nr. Nelson smoke here two years ago,
giving such universal satisfaction that
he was prevailed upon to make his
only campaign speech this year at
Decorah. He is y clear, logical talker,
Of pleasing address. and has way Of
his arguments that is en-
as we'll as convincing. He
was listened to with much pleasure by
the audience.
After q selection by the orchestra,
our popular congressman, Hon. G. N.
Haugcn of Northwood, was introduc-
ed. and delivered an address that made
a deep impression upon his hearers.
Each recurring visit to our city makes
new friends for Mr.. Haugen. for every
one recognizes the fact that he is
mine of information and
which demonstrates his
close study of national affairs, and his
keen insight into governmental mat
ters. as we'll as his careful and con.
slant guarding of the interests of the
people. His talk was mainly on pro-
lection and reciprocity, and was lis
tened to with close attention by the
audience.
The address Of Secretary Shaw will
long be remembered in Decorah. 1t
is conceded by all who heard it to be
the greatest political address ever de.
livared in Decorah, at least in recent
years. It was plain, homely. COM
mon sense, practical talk. which kept
the audience in good humor and deep.
ly interested throughout. He opened
by telling several good stories, and
no man can tell story like Shaw.
Then he delivered what might more
be called great lecture
than political speech. He arraigned
justly the tendency toward the ma
lignment of all men in public life,
many great statesmen of the nation
who have given their lives to their
in their old age being objects
of the vituperation and wrongful
abuse Of the muck.raker, the yellow
paper and the yellow magazine.
The country is getting better instead
of worse. The standard of morals
and living was never higher. and the
nation was never greater than now. In
its general prosperity, in the honesty
and ability Of its public men. and Of
the common people, and in every
phase of society and Of government
the United States today stands ON
higher plane than any country ever
stood. After urging support Of tho
entire ticket, from Gov. Cummins
down, the Secretary then took up q
discussion of the tariff. and such
logical. convincing, honest argument
was never heard in DecOrah. He
showed how an unwise manipulation
Of the tariff schedules has repeatedly
plunged the country into panic; how
On every occasion the republican party
had bv replacing the protective tariff
brought back prosperity; how the
will again as in the past
demand tariff revision to such an
sxtent that II will come. but lit will