The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-10


of Iowa for the republican railroad poll
ticians coolly to assert that in this state
campaign it is their purpose to contine
their discussions to national issues.
"Can the state of Iowa legislate or
the currency question? No. Can the
state legislature enact laws on the sub
Iject of tariff? No. Can it deal with the
Philippine or Porto Rican question:
No. Can it legislate on the subject Of
interstate commerce, pensions, the 18TH
milan canal, statehood for the territor.
les, the arid lands of the west, the
Chinese exclusion law, war, taxes, sub.
sidy, civil service, merchant marine
the Monroe doctrine, or any other ma
tional question or policy? No; and Mr.,
Cummins, who is one of the shrewdest
railroad lawyers in the west, knows it
can't, and knows it we'll.
Subjects of Interest to Iowa.
Son the other hand, Mr.. Cummins
and tie coterie Of railroad, building and
loan and other corporation politicians,
who now constitute the head and front,
the brain and soul, of the republican
party in Iowa, we'll know that the state
legislature can and must enact all state
laws on the following and other subjects
of vital interest to the people of Iowa:
81. The taxation of railway property
and all other kinds of property within
the state, including telegraphs. tele-
phone, street railways, gas and electric
plants, sleeping cars, express company
property, water works. all kinds of pri.
vate corporation stocks and holdings, as
we'll as the property of the farmers and
tradesmen and other individual citizens.
''2. Laws to compel the Rock Island,
the Northwestern, the Burlington and
other railway corporations to pay into
the state and county treasures thou.
sands upon thousands of dollars of
taxes yearly. the payment Of which
they are now, and for years have been,
through the Vaccinations Of
plant republican politicians in the state
house.
80. Laws to prevent admitted robber-
les of the taxpayers of the state to the
extent of thousands of dollars yearly in
the printing and binding of state docu-
ments and papers.
81. Laws to prevent proved and adj
mitted robberies of the taxpayers to the
extent of thousands of dollars in the
'stufting of pay rolls of state employees.
"5. Laws to prevent corporation bri-
berry of state, county, and city officials
even judges in courts-by the discrimi-
nate bestowal of annual railway passes:
and laws to prevent the packing of
party conventions by the wholesale dis
tribution of the potential trip pass.
"6. Laws to prevent building and
loan steals.
-. Laws to put stop to rohberies of
the people by irresponsible insurance
companies and by combinations among
the more respectable companies for the
systematic and effective Fleeing of
policy holders.
"S. Laws to compel railway companies
and other common carriers that enjoy
public franchises to accept reasonable
compensation for the service which they
render.
SO. Laws for the control of the liquor
traffic in Iowa in such manner that
the people of other states will not natur.
ally reach the irrevocabe conclusion
from observing the practical orking Of
the mulct fraud and farce-that the
population of this state consists wholly
of psalm-singing hypocrites, driveling
idiots and consummate rascals; anC
that, by hook and crook, through pro
cured legislation Of the prohibition
mulct type, the rascals are always able
to control the situation, and sell al
kinds of whisky in all kinds of place!
at all kinds of prices without rendering
to the municipalities any kind of ade
quate return for the criminal privileges
enjoyed.
''Will Have to Discuss Them.
'.These are only few of the stat,
issues that Mr.. Cummins and the follow
ing named corporation statesmen who
industriously assisted in his nomination
at Cedar Rapids will be called upon tt
discuss in the present campaign
whether they will or not: Carol
Wright, of Des Moines, a celebrated
railroad lawyer; Judge Cook, of Cedar
Rapids, general solicitor of the G. M. &
st. p; George Sewers, of Oskaloosa
general solicitor Of the Iowa Central; w
T. Brady, Of Cedar Rapids, genera
agent B. G. R. & N; Wright, Call &
Hubbard, of Sioux City, general attor