Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-01
Chicago W. Baltimore.

EdltOf courier:
However, the political wise men may
regard the outcome at Chicago, they
will make profound mistake if they
fail to recognize the Importance of
the principles Theodore Roosevelt
fought. His weak point was his per-
sonal ambition which has experienced
a setback. Had he been content to
be savior of his party for reform
sake alone. he might have won the
fight and united progressive republic
anism could have looked forward to
a triumphant issue in November. 1t
was his third term candidacy and ME
personality, not his principles that
split the party, but the reforms he
championed and which have been ap.
proved by an undisputed majority of
the republican voters at the primaries
will go on to final success as there
was both force and dignity in his ap-
peal for nationwide support for a
movement, the main object of which is
to reassert the popular will and re-
the hands of the people by. taking II
away from the hands of the bosses
and political machines. He raised an
issue which was thrown sside tempo
rarily by the power Of superior or.
ganization, that will yet be faced and
wisely decided at whatever cost
The turmoil of Chicago was repro
duced at Baltimore. They pictured
our social and political unrest, the
distractions of the people bound hand
and foot as 1t were by presidents that
are bound sooner or later to deprive
them of their share in the running OF
the government at Chicago. Roosevelt
pointed out the danger of tolerating
longer the corrupt rule of united cap.
italism and bossism, and especially its
control Of the machinery of nomina.
ton conventions and the making OF
presidents. At Baltimore Bryan sound
ed similar note of warning to his
party and followers. Both of these
protests are loud call to arouse citi
Eens to timely sense Of the situation
History repeats itself in this case
as all modern reformers have their
prototypes In these men. Take for in.
stance Scion, founder Of the Athenian
commonwealth, degraded by the injus.
tice Of courts and corrupt admins.
tration as well as general lowering
OF moral and political standards OF the
people at that time as 1t is today
They called him mad-crazy when he
attempted to call the people to &C
>tion, but his message reached the alb.
ject, and redeemed them from the op.
preston and tyranny of the rich. Also
relieved industry of it's burdens, freed
the land from burden of debt, re-
pealed oppressive laws, gave the com.
monwealth a new constitution and re.
built 1t upon the broad basis of equal.
ity and justice. Political parties and
their corrupt allies had been it's ruin
for the machine controlled everything
In sight and was In turn controlled by
the wealthy classes. Scion warned
them that q time would come when a
man would be ashamed to say am a
citizen of Athens, for this would be
an open confession. He was one OF
those that let their liberties go.
We need men like Roosevelt and
Bryan, although they are classed by
some az tumult makers. Their mis-.
sion is to keep in constant view the
dangers that threaten the right of
good citizenship They may not have
the courage to put aside their personal
ambition and its allurments but they
will accomplish their mission just the
same. When they hold out the idea
of clean and honest government;
hence they are as missionaries, call
ing the people to higher citizenship.
The principles they advocated. set the
people to thinking in a way they never
did before, and the result is they must
be fought out sooner or later, and we
know OF no better time than right now.
Olivet, July 80, 1912.
r. WILLIAMS.