Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-03
JACKSON WRITES
TO F.W. SIMMONS
OF TAFT REPUBLICAN,
CLUB REFERS TO CONDITIONS
IN OTTUMWA.
Mr.. SIMMONS REPLIES
interchange of Correspondence Re-
garding Recent Progressive Con- :.
ference Held in OttumWa is
of Interest.

| Former Governor Frank D. Jackson
president of the Taft Republican clul
of Iowa, has written letter to Franz
w. Simmons relative to the recent
conference of progressive Republicans
held in Ottumwa. The interchange OF
correspondence between Mr. Jackson
and Mr. Simmons is of interest. Mr.
Jackson's letter follows:
Des Moines, April 27, 1910.
Hon. Frank w. Simmons,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
My dear Mr.. Simmons.-I notice in
the Ottumwa Courier of April rs re
port of meeting held by progressive
Republicans at the office of E. H
Emery, in which a resolution was
adopted. This resolution purports tc
be in the interests of harmony and il
is proposed by these gentlemen to di
vide the Wapel1o delegation to the
state convention, one-half to be from
each faction Of the party. To me this
looks like an evidence of weakness on
the part of the progressive gentlemen
| If they thought they had any show
to capture the Wapello delegation
am quite sure they would not propose
to divide it, or give away one-half.
I wonder if they would be willing
to pass such a resolution in Polk coun.
ty, or even in the city of Des Moines,
proposing to divide the delegation
half and half between the two fac
tions of the party.
The Taft Republican clubs have
been talking harmony; have been ask
ing all Republicans Of Iowa to unite
under one banner, the banner of Pres
ident Taft. The Ottumwa gentlemen
who met in caucus the other night, &C
cording to tie Ottumwa Courier re-
port, had nothing to say in commend
alton of the president. If we cannot
unite under the national administra-
ton, the real head of the party, I do
not know how we can unite by adopt
ing such a proposition as they pro-
pose.
1t might be we'll to ask some Of
these gentlemen if they would be
willing to make the same agreement
in Polk county, or even in Boone
county. @T
We are expecting the Wapello coun-
ty delegation to be for the national ad-
ministration.
Very truly yours,
Frank D. Jackson, president.
Mr.. Simmons Reply.
The reply of Mr.. Simmons to the
Jackson letter is as follows:
Ottumwa, Iowa, April 20, 1910.
Hon. Frank D. Jackson,
Des Moines, Iowa.
My dear GOVERNOR have your let
ter of the 9th and in reply beg to
say that I think that you have sized
up the situation as it is here
There is no disposition here to quar-
rel over candidates SO far as their fac
tional alignments are concerned. That
feeling has been, think, in this coun-
ty, reduced to minimum. There is,
however, strong feeling among Re-
publicans here, to stand by the party
administration, its principles, it's acts.
it's leaders; and when a party con-
vention is assembled, it is the desire
Of our Republicans to endorse with
full emphasis. the administration and
policies of President Taft, and other
leaders in the party, leaving out the
cheaper phase of attempting to con-
denim in any public resolutions, any
individual members Of the party who
may have strayed little away from
the tenets of party regularity. If,
therefore division of thedelegates to
the coming state convention means
anything else than this, the regular
Republicans of this county will not
support such plan, and l believe it
would fail. ..-.
The regular Republicans here have
no plans for organizing to fight any
ether kind of Republicans and they
will not be goaded into the extremity
of formulating any.
The common idea in this county
amongst regular Republicans is to
have an organization for the purpose
Of contesting elections with Demo
Gratis and other political parties only,
and not for the purpose of keeping up
family quarrels. 1t must, however, be
understood that they will zealously
guard their political rights and prin.
ciples in any convention called by the
party. Very truly yours.
~