Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-10-02
Luke for Railway Com missioner.

a more fit and appropriate Bonina-
ton for any office has never been made
in Iowa than that made by the Repub
leans OF Capt John W. Luke. of
Franklin county, for Railway Conmis.
sioner.
In addition to a we'll balanced judi
cial mind and a successful law prac-
tice OF twenty-five years. his legIslu-
tive experience has most peculiarly
fitted him for this position. Elected
in 1887 to the 23d General Assembly,
for the reason. that his views were
known to be pronounced upon the
necessity OF some legislation looking
TO a correction of the abuses then eX.
listing relative TO the state control of
our railways, he made the question an
especial study and at the organization
was placed on the railway committee
of the house.
The committee fully considered the
many bills submitted for its action
but none of them seemed to NEE: the
exigencies OF the case. Mr.. l.. was an
active, hard working member and
after it had been some time in session
it became known to few OF his col
lea CUES that he had nearly completed
he draft Of bill relative to the mat
ter under consideration. A sub-com-
mittee was appointed OF which be was
made member and he was requested
to continue the work aud complete the
measure. He consulted freely with
his associates upon the committee and
with members who had introduced
bills upon various phases Of the rail-
road question, and others well iu
formed upon the matter under consid-
Grafton, and availed himself OF many
suggestions made from those source
and placed the result of his labors il
the form OF q bill before that sub-com
mittce. 1t, with the approval of tho5
and the full committee, and after care
ful consideration there, without IN
terra! change, was ordered reported T.
the House as Committee Bill and b
came known as House File 1913. a
the request Of the chairman of railroad
committee MIR. l.. had charge OF tn
measure upon the floor OF the House.
He was by the House added TO the
committee upon engrossed and enrolled
bills to look after all the details of the
measure in those important commit
tees ana served efficiently upon the
Conference committee between tho
two Houses. This bill Substantially
as orig inally drawn, became law,
and with the measure making the
Commissioner elective by tho people
which also received his supr OFT, wal
/ about all the railroad legislation o.
| general interest enacted by that gen
cral assembly now so we'll known 70!
its services in relation 10 that import
! ant matter of public interss:. Tha.
he can be trusted TO safely and judi.
/ ciously construe aud enforce this law
no one can doubt. His prevailing
charac eristic is love OF justice ans
impartiali'y, aud there is no question
among those who know him best as e
absolute fairness and devotion TO VIVA
he deems TO be right. Neither hi!
sympathies nor undue pressure will
ever influence his judgment.
Thus it will DC seen that his recor,
upon the points where his judgmen
will be called into question, il he i
elected. is we'll known and can admi
OF no misinterpretation and that h,
. can safely be trusted by the grca
masses o. our people TO act for tn,
4 common welfare, admits of no doubt
= His early training and experienc,
combine also to make him u man o
. the people. Born and reared to man
! hood on farm he commeGced tn,
u study OF law upon his return from foal
: years Of arduous service in tho war o
: the rebellion, broken down in health
by wounds, aud with mono OF the ad
vantages Of money or inAuentia
: frieods. His struggles for such sue
y cess as he has achieved have beer
made in the face OF az many Difficult
ties as tall TO the lot of men, and h,
= has always been in touch and sym
pathy with the common people. HI
is sale man for them TO trust now il
This important position for which he j
!" % well and thoroughly qualifel.