Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-05
NA[E N SENSATIONAL
Gov. Cummins' Attitude Toward
Rock Island Misrepresented
by Newspapers.
Has Decided on Investigation
Simply as Official Duty to
State.
JohnF. Duncombe's Death Makes
Changes in Iowa Railroad
Attorneys.
Special to Times Republican.

I w
Des Moines Aug. 5.-rhe attitude of
Governor Cummins toward the specu-
lators who have obtained control of the
stock of the Rock Island railroad and
are exploiting it for all they can in the
way of expansion, is attracting a great
deal of attention in this city. not onlS
among politicians but among railroad
attorneys. Governor Cunmins has in
tnlated to his friends that he feels he
of the newspa pers. which undertook to
make sensational stories out of his
statements. They added to it and en-
tered into the realm of speculation as to
what was being done or could be done
in a manner to place the governor in
false light before the people. All that
the governor said was that he would
make an investigation. OF course in
that one statement there was a suffi-
cient foundation for great deal of gos-
sip and speculation. An inquiry might
develop something great or nothing at
all. The governor does not know what
he can do. He has not said what he can
or will do. But he did say. and say 1T
most emphatically and earnestly, that
he felt it his duty to do something and
to not permit such enormous transac-
tions in stocks of an Iowa company to
go on without an inquiry us TO whether
or not they are legal. 1t is certain that
Governor Cummins did not intend TO
say or do anything sensational. He saw
before him a simple duty. which he
would meet just the same as if 1t in
volved a 80 cent claim against the state
instead OF deal involving S50.00O.O0O
OF expansion in one company The sug-
gestion that he is making a grand
stand play" or fooling the people. which
has been made by some persons. is all
wrong, for the governor had no thought
that his innocent words would be so
exploited by the newspapers.
The political phases of the action ta-
i5an We're not at all considered by Gov
iel,nor c.uanins when he made his
statement as to his plans and purposes:
but others could not avoid considering
this matter. II am very glad Governor
Cummins spoke up promptly said
Henry Wallace, the veteran editor of
the Farmer and believe he is right.
We ought to have men in public office
who dare to do their duty. no matter
what interests may be affected. | do
not know what the governor can do.
and greatly fear he will find himself
helpless. but he has certainly shown the
right spirit" Others speak in the same
4 rail
suggested that the governor had spoken
too hastily. He did not know what he
was doing. He had not considered the
matter sufficiently This may be a pre-
JUDGED view of the case. The majority
of the governors friends say that the
governor has done what he could not
very we'll have avoided in the light of
his record on public questions. and that
ii will strengthen him with the' people
by convincing them he means just what
he says ON the public questions before
him. 1t is certain that the action taken
by the governor has caused consterna
ton in some quarters and pleasure in
others.
1t has not escaped notice that there
are numerous changes going on in the
list of leading railroad attorneys of the
state The death of Mr.. Duncombe will
unquestionably place Judge Kenyon at
the head of the firm which will handle
the business for the Illinois Central
Judge Stevens. of Boone appeared be-
fore the executive council for the
orNthwestern. His selection means
that the Northwestern is to be taken
out of politics as far as possible in
Iowa. 1t is known that General Solici
tor Bowers. of the Northwestern. has
long desired to get the road out of poll
itics in this state. and when he was
here attending the hearings of the eN-
ecutive council he expressed the hope
that his company would be able in the
future to clear itself from any political
leanings The appearance of Judge
Carr for the Milwaukee indicates what
that company is doing. The fact that
Judge Ollie of this city WAS made one
of the directors of the new Rock island
company is regarded as significant.
Ollie is regarded here as one of the
coming lawyers of the city, a bright.
clean capable man, and the fact that he
is so close to the new owners OF the
Rock Island indicates that Others have
great confidence in him. Incidentally
it WAS remarked that Carroll Wright,
Iowa attorney for the Rock Island. left
for q vacation trip to the west a day or
TWO before the republican convention.
The fact appears to be that Wright
wanted to avoid the state convention
and hass aid q great many times lately
that he desires personally to get out of
politics for himself and his company.
There was a rumor some time ago when
Judge Waterman resigned from the
bench that he was to become connected
with one of the trunk lines of railroad
in Iowa. but this has not been verified.
The Des Moines people are again
much concerned about who is going TO
break the bottle of champagne o.er the
cruiser Des Moines Wen that vessel is
sent into the water. IL is up to Cover
nor Cummins, and he has wisely decld-
ed upon having the mayor OF Des
Mones assist him. so that there can be
no chance for criticism.
When Representative Temple, of
Clarke. last winter, as a member OF the
on Judiciary strongly urged