Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-30
He Can Conceive of No Combina
ton of Events That Would
Make Him Candidate
HIS VIEWS ON RATE QUESTION
Saws the People Of Northwest arc Not
Aaitatina the Question, But senti
mont Favors Congressional Act as
States are Unable to Control Inter-
state Commerce.
to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Spirit Lake, Dec. 30.--A representa-
tive of the T.-R., knowing that ex-Sen-
ator Funk's position on matters Of pub
lie policy as we'll as his reported re-
fusal to be candidate to succeed
Governor Cummins II made In an au-
thorized interview, would be of gener-
al interest to the people of Iowa, called
on him yesterday and obtained the fol-
lowing interview:
"Is it true as reported that you are
not to be candidate to succeed Gov.
Cummins?"
absolutely. I have not and have
not had any idea of entering the field,
and cannot conceive of any possible
combination of events that could
changes my mind"
do you mind saying why you take
tnis losit'on?'
my only objection is based upon the
feeling that what may say is of little
public interest. In the first place do
not consider myself particularly avail
able. The situation would not appear
to warrant on my part reclining atti-
tude with an ear to the ground. This
is really answer enough but ! may be
pardoned for adding that inward scrut-
my would appear to justify the conclu-
sion that the office-seeker microbe is
entirely radicated from my system.
- ~. t. L,
BILE capacity since this important dis
covery. I can better serve my country
and my party in an independent atti-
tude, and this statement Is meant las
no reflection upon the many good men
in public life, and a much larger num-
ber who are seeking its opportunity
and responsibility. My earnest desire
is to support the former in good and
helpful public service and to aid wor-
thy aspirants in the line of their con-
sistent ambition"
What is your attitude and that Of
northwest Iowa as to the railroad rate
question:"
There is no section of the state dis
posed to fairer treatment of corpora
tion than northwest Iowa, and none
more courageous in insisting upon a
square deal for the public. The DEM
agogue who would serve his petty ann
bition by fomenting prejudice against
the railways has never found any foot
ing with u.s. And our people reserve
to themselves all the rights Of indepen-
dent manhood at the caucus and at the
polls. There is in northwest Iowa,
perhaps, less of agitation as to the rate
question than in other parts of the
state. This Is not due to Indifference,
1t is doubtless due to an Investigating
temperament. Speaking for myself
would say the president is making a
splendid fight for proper business re-
lations between the railways and the
people. The inadequacy Of state reg
ulations is no longer In doubt. Our
transportation is so largely interstate
in character as to make national regu-
lation necessary and the means sug-
gested are by no means extreme. 1t Is
difficult to understand how reasonable
objection can be made to the PROPOSE
ton vesting in the railway commission
the power to change an unjust rate,
still subject to review by the courts If
the general government is to manifest
ally lHl0ISSC WAdlCVSI III luS puUlC
welfare at this point, how can it de-
mand less? It has been the tendency
of legislation and of jurisprudence to
assert the sovereignty Of the state and
nation over corporations and particu-
larly public carriers. This policy ad.
mits of no patriotic question. Corpor-
alton motive is wholly selfish, in the
very nature of things. The men now
in control of the larger corporate in
terests are denounced, but turn them
all out and fill their corporate positions
with lawyers and editors and college
professors and preachers and corpora
tion policy would not be measurably
affected. 1t is simply necessary to curb
the power of corpora tions to a reason
able degree, not because bad men
manage them, but for the reason that
human nature cannot In such rela.
ton be entrusted with unlimited pow
er in working out the problems of
commerce..
What is your attitude and that Of
northwest Iowa on tariff revision?''
consistent with it's intelligence and
independence Of character northwest
Iowa evidently feels the Importance of
adjusting the tariff system to the needs
of the government and the practical in
terests of the people. Our people are
strongly for protection. Few sections
of the country would more earnestly
oppose an assault upon the integrity
and usefulness Of the system 1t is
hardly assuming too much to say they
are not as much afraid of the prac-
tical effect of incorrect schedules as of
the contingent perils of democratic re-
vision. I believe I am in line with
the more general sentiment Of north.
west Iowa republicans in earnestly fa-
voring few schedule corrections. I
am unalterably opposed to that sort
Of tariff revision that would put out of
business thru foreign competition any
industry that now supplies or affords
any reasonable hope of in the future
supplying the needs of the country in
it's field. I do not feel that the paper
trust should be permitted to arbitrar-