Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-05-03
Hungry For Information.

Hungry For Information.
The Republican congressman are de-
cidedly hungry for information touch
ing the trusts. They introduce all
sorts Of resolutions asking for informa-
ton which every reasonably well in
formed man in the United States al
ready has, hoping thereby to deceive
the people. Not long ago Mr.. Martin
Of South Dakota introduced a resolu-
tien with great flourish Of trumpets
calling on the attorney general to In
vestigate and ind out If there is such
Q thing In the United States as beef
trust. He might just as well have In
toduced resolution to inquire as to
whether the sun rises and sets or as to
whether the moon shines by its own
Or BY reflected light. Mr.. Attorney
General Knox may report on that reso-
luton some time this side of the judg-
ment day-and he may postpone 1t to
later period. He has himself said
that the administration does not intend
to run amuck" on the trusts, and he
should know the mind Of the admin
isration II any one does.
Next among these hungry for infor-
nation Republicans is Senator Jona-
than P. Dolliver of Iowa. The other
day he introduced resolution direct
ing the secretary Of commerce and
labor to send to the senate statement
showing what companies have been
incorporated and what investments of
capital made by individuals or cor
porations since 1900, Independent of
the $50 called trusts" and the aggre-
gate capital and total capitalization of
the trusts. The resolution was ordered
to lie on the table,
And now comes Mr.. Tawney Of Min
nesota with a resolution to investigate
the question of whether there is to-
bacco trust! He might have gone
further and asked the secretary Of
commerce to inquire. if there are not
two tobacco trusts, and II they are not
named the American" and the Con
tnental," and II they haven't, like the
Roman triumvirs, divided the world
between them. But why ask the secre-
tary Of commerce and labor when the
gamin smoking cigarette on the cor
ner Of the alley could tell him? 1t is
gigantic bluff at being opposed to
trusts, this caper Of inquiring If this,
that and the other thing is true. 1t
will not deceive any one. If these Re-
publican leaders were really anxious
for some cold facts as to the existence
of these various trusts, let them con-
suit the ledger Of the Republican ma
tional campaign committee and read
the names Of the multitude Of trusts
which are there credited with hand
some contributions to the Republican
campaign fund in 1900, and which
contributions were made for the pur-
pose of maintaining in power q party
which it was thoroughly understood
would give the trusts no deadlier blow
than digni6ed resolution directing
the secretary Of this, that or the other
department to inquire"-to politely in.
i Quire, Of course, not rudely, but gen.
tly-and to inquire particularly of the
trusts themselves rather than Of the
sandbagged public.
/ William 8. cowherd.
| The congressional campaign commit.
tee has done very wise thing In
selecting as its chairman the Hon. VIII
Liam strother Cowherd, Democratic
1 representative in congress from Mis-
souri, Cowherd has all the necessary
qualifications for that difficult position
He is handsome young man Of fine
address, honest, industrious, well edu
Gated, public speaker Of great force
For SO young man he has had quite
a career in politics, having been mayor
Of Kansas City two terms and member
OF congress four terms, besides having
held several minor offices. His ex
periences in Kansas City politics
where the game is played with great
skill and enthusiasm, ought to stand
him in good stead in the campaign t.
capture the house Of representatives
He is popular with all who know him
and his high character is sufFcien
guarantee that the campaign is in goot
hands. His geographic location SHOULD