Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-10
NO CONTEST ON
SENATORSHIP
TALK OF FIGHT ON DoLLIvER
ORIGINATED IN WASHINGTON
FROM FAKE STORIES

Washington. Jan 8-A vast amount
OF fiction has been unloaded upon the
people of Iowa the past few weeks I'M
der a Washington date line, concern
ing the senatorial succession which is
to be determined by the Iowa legis-
lature within a couple of weeks.
No doubt some surprise has been
felt. if not expressed in Iowa. that the
people and statesmen of Iowa, who
are usually awake when anything
political is doing or about to be done,
were unable to keep in touch with the
senatorial situation except via Wash
ington, D. G.
In Iowa the farmers have been busy
figuring up the profits of great year;
the business men have been rushed to
handle the immense holiday and win
ter trade; the politicians have been
taking rest, there being no election
in sight for nearly two years. But
from Washington, 1900 miles away,
there has burst forth weekly the tale
Of mighty conspiracy, the incubation
Of plot, a combination to wrest the
senatorship from j P. Dolliver.
yellow journalism.
A democratic paper in Iowa printed
story that in consideration Of the
speakership a sufficient number Of
democratic members of the Iowa leg
islature proposed or we're thought to
contemplate Joining with certain
standpat members of the legislature
to defeat Senator Dollived and hand
the senatorial toga to another. This
story did not excite Iowa people or
politicians because it was absurd and
preposterous on its face. However,
within week that same story, touch
ed up with little pigment and set to
fast music and red light was sent
back to Iowa under a Washington
date line and forthwith some easily
moved people became agitated.
| Governor Cummins came to Wash
ington, and as is usually the case,
lunched with several members Of the
Iowa delegation. He also received a
call from Secretary Shaw which again
caused the eastern sky to become
lurid and the woods to become filled
with bogy men each armed with a
club, and thick, two-edged dagger.
| The fact that Secretary Shaw, an
Iowa man and former governor, has
called to pay his respects to the pres
ent governor Of Iowa, was matter
fraught with the deepest political sig
niflcance. Why, the merest novice in
politics could see through it all; 1t
was as plain as the nose on your
face that deal was on between
Shaw and Cummins to undo Dolliver.
The. second story, as a matter. of
fact, is just as likely as probable as
the first. which is to say that it is i'm
possible.
Doliver is Tranquil.
Neither Governor Cummins or Sec
rotary Shaw desires to undo Sena-
tor Dolliver; in fast the close friends
of both these gentlemen in Washing
ton declare the foundation and fab
ric of the whole story to be moon
shine; in fact Congressman Lacey
used the term "mocnsaine". in refer
ring to the matter. 1t is perfectly
safe to say that during Shaws call
the senatorship question was not men
toned.
So far as Senator Dolliver is con-
cerned, he is in perfectly tranquil
state of mind. He is not apprehensive
nor worried nor anxious, neither is
he, as has been intimated. signing that
it was all over. Senator Delivers
record is before the people and his
case is in the hands of the jury elect
ed last fall by the people. Further
than that the jury has rendered it's
verdict although the formal declara-
ton will not be made until some days.
Legislators Are For Him.
i Senator Delivers friends in Wash.
ington point out that the result of the
! joint ballot is not matter for spec.
ulation and more than the result OF
the ballot in the electoral college. fol
owing a presidential election is mat
ter of doubt The republicans in the
| legislature of Iowa are not only in ia
vor of the reelection of ]. P. Dolliver
to succeed himself in the United
States Senate, but a very large per
i centage Of the members-many more
than a majority-have assured Sena
tor Dolliver that they are for him.
Naturally Senator Dolliver was in
terested in these assurances. When
a hundred of more members-consti
tuting a very large majority-of g
legislative body clothed with power
and authority to choose a senator
assure the only candidate that they
will vote for him; his friends declare
that he should be permitted to retair
his peace of mind, notwithstanding
alleged proffers Of democratic supper
or of IDEALS" in Washington based
largely upon pipe dreams.
); In Washington nobody knows any
thing about any such conspiracies OF
deals and nobody believes and sucf
combinations or suggestions of comb
nations or deals have been made
Major Lacey, whose name figured
prominently in the alleged scheme
says it is all moonshine; that he new
er dreamed of such deal and coult
not by any process be interested il
it. Of course 1t is perfectly clear t,
: everybody why these rumors of dir,
: things are sent out from Washington
but they have all failed of their aim
1t is simply desired, now, that tn,
people should know that there hal
been no substantial or even unsub
| III