Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-08
DEMOCRATS OPEN
CAMPAIGN HERE
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR AND
U. s. SENATOR SPEAK IN
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
LEWIS IS CHAIRMAN
Local Attorney Introduces Speakers
Hamilton Treats on State Is
sues-ConnolIy Attacks
Cummins.

The opening meeting of the cam
paign by the democrats was held in
the Grand opera house Monday night,
and an audience filling the lower
floor, with a scattering few in the
balcony, was present. The speakers
were John T. Hamilton of Cedar
Rapids, candidate for governor, and
Congressman Maurice Connolly of
Dubuque, candidate for United States
senator.
The former in his remarks gave par
ticular attention to Governor Clarke.
and the executive council, the in
~creases in taxation and the capitol
grounds extention. Congressman Con-
molly gave most of his attention to
Senator Cummins, whom he is striving
to succeed as representative from
Iowa in the upper house of congress.
John w. Lewis was chairman of the
meeting and waxed eloquent in his
introductions of the speakers. He
likewise called attention to two of the
candidates for state offices, George
Phillips for state auditor, and John F.
McAuley of Osceola for state treas
urer, who were present. The various
candidates on the county and town
ship offices were present, either on
the stage or among the audience.
Refers to Veterans.
MI. Hamilton at the outset of his
remarks referred in an aulogistic man
ner to the coming reunion of the
Hornets Nest Brigade and the recent
commander of the G. A. R., lauding the
vyofnronc For fh1 ~ %L>.x -I,roJ -,
making the country what it is.
Mr.. Hamilton stated that he has
been accused of being a pessimist and
not in favor of a greater Iowa. He
said that if favoring the purchase of
additional building lots in one city OF
the state constituted the greater Iowa,
then he was opposed to it. "How-
ever, said he, II believe in better high
ways, better schools and the highest
standard of teaching, better ventila-
ton in the factories above the ground
and mines beneath the surface. I al.
SO believe that it is men and people
that make cities and states valuable;
that they are it's greatest asset. These
are the things that l think make a
better and greater Iowa."
Of the watchful waiting policy of
President Wilson Mr.. Hamilton said
that the present wal in Europe shows
the wisdom of the Wilson foreign
policy, in that this country was saved
from a war with Mexico and the
mothers, sisters and s~weethearts saved
from a w%atchful waiting for sons,
brothers and loved ones dying on the
plains of Mexico.
Referring to taxation in Iowa he
said that these increased 81, 900, 900 in
the past two years and that there is a
raise in taxes Of a million a year in
the face of a decrease in population.
Speaking on the capitol extension
Mr.. Hamilton said that it has been
stated by the governor that the in
in the tax to meet this pur-
chase of property is so trivial that the
property owner thinks nothing of pay
ing it and that the dignity of the state
demanded the additional ground as a
fitting perspective for the capitol
building. He then showed the extent
of grounds upon which the capitol
buildings Of other states are main
tanned. Illinois with 10 acres, Mime
sofa with IL acres and New York with
less ground than the original acreage
of Iowa were cited and the national
capitol at Washington was said to
have but a fraction more than So
acres, and Iowa with it's additional
purchase to have 83 acres.
The taxes to pay for this purchase
were said to continue for eight years
at the rate of more than a million dol
lars a year.
Connolly Attacks Cummins.
Congressman Connolly in following
Mr.. Hamilton or the platform stated
that he desired to be frank with the
audience. He said that the issues of
this campaign for senator were clear
ly defined by Senator Cummins, who,
he continued, has chosen to attack
Woodrow Wilson as president, as a
man and all of the legislation initiated
by Mr.. Wilson.
IF I was in politics as a game" said
he, II might do as Senator A. B. Cum
minis has done, desert my leader when
i thought I might profit the more indi-
'vidually. He is not attacking Presi-
Wilson in Iowa with the method
that he used in Washington. Now he
the president as a car, who
legislation and drives con-
gress. Only a few years ago Mr.. Cum
Minis did not approve of William
Howard Taft because the latter had
enough backbone. He now attacks
Mr.. Wilson because he has too much
back bone. Senator Cummins sees men
and measures with an animals eye;
he looks for mice and crickets instead
Of essentials"