Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-11
A COURTEOUS EXECUTIVE.

Governor Cummins has written the
following explanatory letter to Mr..
George S. Dick. of Charles City, on &C
count of the governors failure to keep
his engagement to speak al that place.
The letter gives some idea Of the siren
uousness of the gubernatorial exist
ence:
Executive Office, Des Mones, Iowa,
June 3. l903.-Mr. George S. Dick.
Charles City. Iowa.-My Dear Mr.. Dick:
II feel a great deal worse about not be-
ing able TO get TO Charles City than
you possibly can, and the whole matter
lis a combination of i'll luck and bung-
ling. | had an engagement here last
might which prevented me from leaving
on the Northwestern as | originally in
tended, going TO Algona. and from there
east this morning. and so concluded
that / would take the 2.30 a. m. train
on the Great Western to New Hampton,
and go west from there or the morn
ing train. | telephoned to the Office
and they told me that this train would
run all right. i went to the depot at :
o'clock this morning and waited until
i:15, at which time the train was about
ready to start. but they told me that
with the state of the track between
here and New Hampton, it would be
utterly impossible to get to New Hamp-
ton in time to take the train / intended
to take. 1 then gave 1T UP and went
home. ] never thought of the chance OF
getting off at Waterloo and running up
on the Illinois Central which l might
have done. / deeply regret the failure
TO keep my engagement, as such things
very rarely happen to me.
II trust that you will explain to those
interested in the occasion the reason for
my absence. Yours very truly.
ALBERT b. CUN1MINS.'
Most public men are glad to accom-
modate their constituencies and Gov
ernor Cummins is exceptionally so. The
Charles City date was to be kept during
the flood time. when the governors du-
ties were doubled and his responsible
ties as a leading citizen of Des Moines
were infinitely multiplied. Under the
the impracticability of
Mr.. Cummins' attendance at their func-
ton would be patent to the Charles
City people without explanation.
About the same date as the Charles
City engagement Mr.. C,mmins spoke
at the V NJ c. A. banquet in this city.
1t necessitated night OF wakefulness,
as he took train from Marshalltown
for Des Moines at O'clock in the morn
ing. In conversation with a friend the
governor said: THE actual duties of
the governor call for about ain hour of
attention daily, but the customs and
courtesies of the Office make sixteen
hours of hard work obligatory"
Few people realize the demands
made upon the time and energies of
public men to the private pleasure and
profit of the pubic. The duties of their
official positions as may be gathered
from the governors remark are light
compared to the social demands upon
their strength and nerve force. The
people desire to see and hear their ia
vorites and demand their presence at
minor public functions of varied sorts
and character There is Danger of these
demands becoming too insistent and
these drafts upon the strength and use
fitness of valuable public men should
be kept within bounds. None will dep
recate the excellent effect of the Gus
tom which has grown to be prevailing
one, but all will advise that the pleas
ures of the public shall not become an
overdraft upon the time and vigor of
officials whose worthiness and talent
make them strong public favorites.