Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-13
STOPS OFF ON
WAY TO LINCOLN
SPEAKS AT INDIANOLA TODAY
AND THEN GOES ON TO SEE
BRYAN NOTIFIED.

Des Moines, Aug. 11-John Worth
Kern of Indiana, Democratic candidate
for vice president, spent the night in
Des Moines.
He expected to leave at z o'clock
this morning for Indianola, where he
will visit old friends. He will return
to Des Moines tonight and proceed on
his way to Lincoln, Neb., where as
guest of Mr.. Bryan, he will attend the
notification ceremonies at Fairview on
Wednesday,.
Mr.. Kern spent Saturday at Charles
City, the guest of his cousin, S. H.
Kern. He delivered nonpartisan adj
dress at the Chautauqua at Charles
City and will be invited to speak at
the Chautauqua at Indianola this aft
ernoon. A reception will be rendered
him there, also, but aside from that
he has requested that no other demon
stration be organized.
State Chairman Clint L. Price met
Mr.. Kern last evening and took him
to the Slavery hotel where he was a
guest during the night He met
number of the Democrats there, but
it had been supposed that he would
not reach the city until this morning
SO that no considerable number were
at the hotel.
M. E. Geiser of New Hampton,
Democratic candidate for congress IN
the Fourth district, John ID. Dennison
of Dubuque and other prominent Dem
ocrats from out of the city were at
the hotel during the evening.
Politically Noncommunicatve.
Mr.. Kern was disinclined to discuss,
politics. He was asked as to the
Democratic view of Indiana and Ohio,
for instance. 81 get only one side If
the situation, of course" he said.
Naturally, politician will take one
sided estimates with allowances. But
many of my good Republican friends
regard Indiana as an extremely doubt
full state, which warrants the conclu-
sion that the Democrats have an ex-
cellent chance of carrying it. I think
the same thing may be said of Ohio.
am anxious, however, not to appear
to be oversanguine or boastfu1 of the
Democratic outlook / think Demo-
Gratis agree that it is quite satisfac-
tory, however"
Mr.. Kern was asked if he expected
to make speaking tour and if he
would visit Iowa to make political
speeches. He said that no plans for
the campaign have yet been made and
it was impossible to say as to the flu
ture. He said that the whole arrange
ments are left in tie hands of the ma
tional committee.
He was asked as to the effect of the
independent movement organized by
Mr. Hearst, with respect to the Demo
cratic vote.
1T will have absolutely no effect
whatever in Indiana" he said. "As to
other states I am not informed or adj
Yised and cannot make a prediction >
Never Had Fight.
Some one recently forwarded me
a copy of an Iowa newspaper contain
ing story of my boyhood experiences
near Indianola,' said Mr. Kern at the
Slavery last evening. 81 suppose, gener-
lily, it was correct, but many things
were related in the story that | am
sure / never heard Of For instance,
there was a most amazing story of
how had been in a fight or two, when
declare that l never had fight in
my life.
But irrespective of the stories that
are now being printed about my old
days, | anticipate an extremely inter
esting visit to the old scenes which |
have not seen really since 1863. l Wis
tied Indianola on business in 1873 and
again made a speech there before a
pioneers association about twenty-five
years ago. But on this occasion I am
returning merely for the purpose of
seeing my boyhood surroundings and
meeting the old friends, scores OF
whom recellect perfectly.
81 shall never forget the first time
that ever saw Des Moines. 1t was as