Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-01-23
GOV. CUMMINS' ADDRESS
ELOQUENT ADDRESS DELIVERED
AT DIES MONIES
THE GOVERNOR SUGGESTS NEED
ED CHANGES IN TARIFF.
Hand in Settling the Labor
Problem.
Suggests Many Changes In the
Law Governing Railway
Taxation

: I Observation-Disclosures PTIOW
Citizens: gratefully acknowledge my deep
appreciation of the confidence and good
VIII OF my fellow men, and am solemnly
taken and the responsibilities | have as
sumed.
The honor Of the Office now enter is out
ranked by but one OF all the places of trust
and distinction known to the institutions OF
the public. and If Its duties were as din
cult as Its honor Is great, | would have lit
tle nope OF dlscharging them either to your
satisfaction or my own; but, happily for you
anu Tor me, government In this state has
attained climax OF steadiness which gives
me courage to begin the work so generously
committed to my hands. While the prob
lens OF organized society are not less intri-
cate here than elsewhere. and while law
| breaking is not unknown to us, Ii is still
| true that the ease with which the laws are
executed In this state is a superb testimo-
MAI TO the sound character OF its people,
! Ine men and women of Iowa are, | believe,
| beyond all their fellows. either of this coun-
Try or any other. law abiding: yielding that
implicit and instructive obedience TO the
ordinances Of both God and man. which
makes the enforcement Of statutes. the
| preservation Of peace and the maintenance
OF order task so light in comparison with
the labor attending the duties of n chief
| executive In many parts Of the world, that
one may, with confidence and hope take mp
the work incident 10 the Office with which
nave been infested.
In common with all Of you, ! share the
| pride which has become the habltual garb
OF the citizens of this state. We would In
of patriotic humanity II our hearts did not
expand with pleasurable emotions under the
Influences which surround us. Our beloved
| state has barely passed the pioneer period
| or It's development, and yet Il occupies a po-
sition, In all the affairs of the republic so
commanding and so honorable that It's sis
| ousy, graciously yield to Iowa a pre-emi-
nence that II modestly accepts and will
zealonsly hold 1t Is fast becoming an es-
| tabllshed maxim that of the things men
| most want, Iowa has the most to give. With
an empire Of farms, which, taken as
whole, never have had, nor can have.
| whose productions can be multiplied again
1 and again without serious strain upon the
enduring strength of their fertile fields;
| with a population steady In growth and
| permanent In character, prosperous beyond
| description and as well defended against
the uncertainties Of the future as the mag
| nation can conceive; with poverty and ig-
| norance reduced to their minimum; with
| education and intelligence universally diff
fused; with a love of country In every
heart, and the weapons Of industry in every
hand: with genius for the science of gov
eminent, leading as well In congress as In
cabinet; with growing tendency toward
the best forms Of learning. and the noblest
| Ideals In social and civic life. II is small
| wonder that prosperity reaches Its highest
| level, progress Its most uniform pace, con-
| tent Its serenest phase, and happiness Its
most perfect expression. In Iowa. Without
dsparaging the splendid accomplishments
| OF other states. II can truthfully be said
that the world can present no fairer destiny
| for the human race than may justly be pre-
| dicted for the men and whose homes
Will beautify and enrich this garden of the
| world.
1t is with mingled sentiments Of pride and
| gratitude | speak of the republic and the
| conditions which surround and sustain its
| citizens. Governments may rise and fall.
| nations may appear and disappear, races
may develop and wither away, but we have
established one proposition that will never
| again be doubted. The student of state
craft will hereafter always assume that a
| republic may be free, just, strong. and en-
| during. We have solved the problem for all
time and our people VIII he renowned In all
ages for the splendor Of the period In which
| the demonstration has been made.
The story of the marvellous transition
| from the puny power Of colonial days to the
| puissant strength we now exercise. is in ev-
cry memory, and need not lie retold. The
| magical development In material things
which has raised us above all the nations of
| the earth. has been the theme of so many
| an oratorlcal epic that the echo OF the song
| Is always In our ears The wonderful pros
| perty OF the people is a theme so fascinat-
| Ing that we rest continually under its
charm and detail only makes the romance
sordid The maintenance Of our high stand
ard of manhood, so essential to the preser-
walton Of free institutions, Is so manifest
| and satisfying that the evidences OF our
| senses needs no supplement.
! therefore check a natural tendency to
fall into the language OF eulOgy, and CON
| tent myself with these plain statements.
| The men and women Of the United States
! have reached higher point in the pathway
| of progress morally, intellectually and
| cially than was ever before touched by the
| human race; they are the creators Of a
mightier physical and material develop,
| ment than was ever before known; aud
| they have established and now maintain "A
| government that has more liberty, justice
and Improvement in II than any other gov
| eminent that the world has ever seen.
| These observations however, do not mean
| that we have finished the fight. The years
to come have Victories to be won and will
1 cd wifi nm M IN ha ON
| braced. | turn from an Inspiring retrospect
| to hopeful future.
| 1t is eminently appropriate upon this oc-
| casion to review some OF the duties OF cltl-
| zenshlp, to re-examlne some OF the questions
| which engage the public mind. and to again
| resolve to promote with our utmost endeav-
| or the cause of good government. The ex-
| perience of the world establishes beyond
| controversy that nothing Is more helpful In
| the solution OF the problems OF state and
| nations, than constant discussion OF the
| plans suggested for the reform and better
| ment Of the rules of society. II is unfortu-
| nately as common. as II Is unpatnotlc, TO
| sneer at the idea OF reform and to deride the
| reformer; but the sneers and derision pro-
| coed either from corrupt heart or an I'M
| thinking mind. Reform and betterment In
| laws are as essential to the advance OF the
| republic as is the growth In its Industrial
| life. ] therefore make no apology for the
| belief that many OF the questions pro-
| pounded To us by the evolution Of the time
| have not been adequately answered. On the
| other hand, he who predlcates his demand
| for change upon the hypothesis that what
| we have is wholly bad and proposes over
| throw rather than a gradual approach to-
ward higher efficiency In government, Is a
| superficial agitator, who dooms himself to
| defeat by Ignoring the fundamental law OF
| mankind. The true friend Of progress recog-
| nizes that what we have Is good, but per-
ceives that we may have better. He sees
| life and energy taken on, from time 10 time,
| new forms and phases; and he knows that
government to be just and effective, must
adapt Itself to the changing relations of
| men aud the varying tendencies OF the age.
| He understands That this generation has
something more 10 do than to glorify the
past and enjoy the fruits Of its victories.
| The rapid accumulation OF wealth and Its
| UNPARALLELED concentration were the distinr
| gushing characteristics OF the last decade
Of the nineteenth century. These character
lstics have propounded new inquiry for
| governmental Investigation. The subject
has, by common consent received name
which, though once appropriate, is now al
lions and Industrial trusts have provoked
much thought which. as yet, has produced
little result. Originally they were, as the
names imply, concerts OF independent COM
panles aching through agreements control-
Ing the business OF the several constituent
parts. In that sense they have snostan-
TALLY disappeared. and there have been sub
stltuted for them interpretations that nave
become the absolute owners Of the property
and business affected by them. ! shall not
pause to Inquire whether these vast incor-
porations are wise unwise. The extinc-
tlon Of the independent trader, merchant
and manufacturer may ultimately impair
the standard OF manhood so essential to free
institutions IL this shall be Its effect. We
may deplore the tendency; but II II be Who'll
~ overcome, 1t will not be through the pro-
hibition Of government, but by that imper-
ceptble warning which changes the cur
rents OF the world and teaches humanity TO
avoid approaching danger, ] dc not believe
that the government can safely deny the
right OF association under established
forms; nor am ] ready TO concede that In
dustrlal organizations. however large their
capital or extend their operation, IL com
| petition remains, constitute n menace TO the
prosperity and welfare OF the people. The
| motive which underlies the so chilled trusts