Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-04
POLITICS AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A glance at the papers these days
shows that this state has much e
learn in the game of politics. lowe
tries occasionally to make itself pc
lieve that it is torn up by Iactlon la
political strife, but election day rolis
around to find everybody happy ano
the same good old Republican major
ity piled up. 1t is only necessary to
turn to the dispatches from Ken
tucky to learn how little Iowa knows
about real fighting. Take, for instance
the explanation of Circuit Judge
Adams of his reasons for requesting
troops to preserve order in Ken
lucky town on election day. Inc
Judge said:
I'm requesting troops, was needing
the appeals of the good people to take
Immediate action to prevent a confiic1
and loss Of life and to preserve peace
and order among the people.
men led by Ed Callahan, armed
with rifles, were in the upper story OF
the old Hargis building and were Is
suing threats of death against citl-
zens and officers and they had COM
menced to terrorize the town by shoot
ing on the streets and exhibiting their
weapons when sent the message to
the governor for troops, and 1t is for
tunate that they came before sunrise
this morning.
81 felt it my duty not to wait until
men were killed before taking steps
to bring about peace and good order,
and have no doubt that the presence
of the troops prevented serious trou-
lives
don't know what effect the presence
of the troops will have on the result
of the election but that is a matter
of no concern when peace and good or
der and human life are at stake.
"The first thing Is to prevent muir
der and assassination, let the election
go as it may. care nothing for the in
dignation expressed by some at the
presence Of the troops, if can save
their lives from the assassins and re-
store to them their peaceful and hap
Ply homes"
But the Democratic view is differ
ent. The county chairman denied that
the militia was called out to prevent
the Democrats from carrying the cleo
ton with double-barreled shot guns,
but to enable the Republicans to carry
1t at the point of the bayonet with the
aid of the militia. The Democratic
chairman said:
you can state that any published
reports that the Democrats have COM
bined with the whisky forces and that
they have done anything to precipitate
election troubles is lie. 1t has been
known that the Republicans have de-
termined to defeat fair election and
to resort to any fraud they could
conceive in order to defeat the will Of
the people.
'All this trouble was brought about
by Republican officials in their deter
mination to take the election. Their
action in respect to ballots and the
presence of soldiers under command of
Judge Adams, who refused to put
them under command of Sheriff Craw
ford as required by law, has created
a feeling of Indignation on the part Of
law abiding citizens, irrespective Of
party in this high handed effort of 4
circuit Judge to elect himself by force
and fraud"
Here is a real political fight compar-
ed to which the little troubles that stir
Iowa occasionally dwindle into insig-
nificance. There should be comfort in
this contrast for the Iowan who is
prone to view with alarm the differ
ences that arise in Iowa politics. We
haven't progressed to the shot gun and
militia stage as yet.