Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-04

!, trustees, which is to manage the pos
tai repositories, the discretion to des'
Iignate such post offices as it sees fit'
This discretion will be never end
ing irritation. 1t goes without saying
that the banks In any community will
not favor the designation Of the post
office in that community as depos1.
tory It will be natural for the banks
Ito resist. because the repositories are,
in a sense competitors in business.
Therefore, the board will be from the
beginning the focal point OF all the
political influence that the banks can
arouse and direct.
The law should be amended SO that
repositories are selected by some
standard, either OF population or OF
business, which could be applied IN
fexibly to the whole country.
Second, the most serious objection
! to the law will he found in the dlspo-
sition of the money after it Is gath
cred at the postofices. Until a few
weeks before the bill passed 1t mad
never been suggested that the money
so taken in at the postoffice was. un-
der any circumstances, to be removed
|, from the communities In which 1t was
gathered, except as 1t went out under
the ordinary laws of commerce and
trade.
: The subject has been considered by
more than one postmaster general
bills have been introduced. and reports
made by committees, but 1T had never
been intimated that 1t would be wise
to withdraw these funds from the 10
cality of the postoffice and invest
them in government bonds. Our plat
form was bottomed upon the funda-
mental idea that the money put In the
postoffices should not be withdrawn
by the government from that com
munity.
The power Of the east over the west
in controlling the supply of money Is
already too great. and what we have
done will add immeasurably to the
eastern influence.
Protect Country Banks.
In my judgment if we want to pop
ularize postal savings repositories and
allow them to fulfill the purpose we
have had in view, we must speedily
amend the law so that the country
banks will not ! injured. and SO that
money will be permitted to perform It's
full functions in the localities to which
1t naturally flows.
In this connection must be per-
mitted to dwell upon the proposition
for a central ban 1t will soon be
live question in American politics. and
it is high time that republicans should
-
which in the end settles all public
problems. Leaders may fret and rune
about it: they may write books about
it; committees and commissions may
sit upon it: the Congressional Record
may be filled with pages concerning
it, but finally the quiet reflection OF
the farm and factory; the shop and
store, the street corner and the road
side will enter the judgment.
The proposal has not yet taken DEN
mite form, but 1t is in the air that
central bank shall be established
with the sole power of issuing paper
money and Of determining therefore,
how much money at any given time
we shall have. and how 1t shall be dis
tributed.
I do not say that / will oppose
central bank, but l do say that I will
oppose any bank with the powers that
have described, for If that misfortune
should befall us we would suffer n
rancial slavery more complete even
than the industrial servitude which
now afflicts us.
In the consolidation OF the great
banks now in progress we see the
f0 q
ready a dozen men, or less, can exert
an influence which makes the coun-
try tremble in apprehension OF their
mighty strength, and 1t we permit
them to enlarge their authority we
will richly deserve the subjugation
which will follow.
"But Little Conflict Of Opinion"
You will bear me witness that ! have
not attempted to evade or obscure the
differences that have developed among
our party leaders and our party men;
but ] am profoundly of the opinion
that in the body of the party there is
but little conflict Of opinion. At heart
the rank and file Of the party are OF
one mind, and when the clouds OF
prejudice misunderstanding and mis-
information lift there will be a better
and truer vision of impending issues
and important questions.
On both sides those who speak and
act for the party will be Judged In the
final tribunal of the people: from that
Judgment there is no appeal and to It
we must all yield implicit obedience. :,
The republican party has past full
of wise administration and high &C
con,plishment, and every citizen who
loves the flag must be proud OF his
country's career during the period OF
our supremacy. 1t is the height OF
folly, however, to assert that we have
done everything well, or left nothing
undone. While the memories OF VIC
tories already won will comfort aLs
inspire us, our eyes must be kept
steadily upon the present and future.
for we have greater work to do than
ever before has fallen to the hands of
man.
The republican party was not born
to make men rich. 1t was born to make
men free. 1t cannot survive upon the
feasts Of riches OF millionaires. 1t must
live at the plain table Of common men.
Riches are not to be despised; but
wealth should be the incident OF q
Justly ordered society and not the chief
object Of government.
Full employment for everybody, fair
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