Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-27
SEES NATIONAL CRISIS
New Baptism In Civic Honesty
 Needed, Says A. B. Cummins.


 Needed, Says A. B. Cummins. POINTS OUT PERIL IN HUGE TRUSTS Governor of Iowa Declares Amefi- cans Have Better Chance Than Any Other Nation, but if Neglected Dismal Defeat Awaits Them-why He Opposes Government Ownershfp of Railways.
 We need in this hour more than righteousness, in public honesty, in the patriotism of peace, in the courage to say what we believe to be true and to do what we believe to be right We have become altogether too tender to the wrongdoer. too indulgent to the man who fails to use his public trust for the public good. We will be un- successful in preserving the high standards of upright, impartial and just government unless the voters are strong in virtue and active in fulfilling the duties Of citizenship. We have better chance than any other people on earth, but it is chance which If neglected will consign US to a more dismal defeat than any other nation can suffer-
 The warning to the American people was uttered by Governor A. B. Cum nins in an address before large audi ence at the Chautauqua in Iowa Falls, la. the other afternoon. His subject was The Reign of the Common Peo- pie and he based his talk on the re- cent revelations in the financial and railway worlds. He prefaced his ad dress with an outline of the history of the common people from the earliest times to the present, says an Iowa Falls special dispatch to the Chicago Record Herald
 Turning to the com binations of man. ufacturers, he said:
 They want duties on imports so high that, having stifed competition, they can sell at home at their own prices. even though they sell proftably abroad for much less. Having either bought their rivals or overcome them by unfair practices. they want to be let alone. and every effort for fair reg ulation, every demand for square deal ing. is met by a com bination of wealth and influence against which only the most resolute integrity can stand with out terror and dismay.
 T do not accuse them individually of dishonesty, but the system reeks with falsehood, trickery and corruption. IL seems like a paradox, but 1t may be true that in the vastness of their opera tions the profits of dishonor flow clean and pure into the pockets of their saintly leaders. but if So q am not tainted beyond sanctifcationl then let them pour their fortunes into the chan nels of atonement and leave the gov ernment to the common people.
 T wish to impress upon you the fact that these associations Of transporta- ton. finance, commerce and industry have good and valid reasons for their presence in politics. so that you may see that they intend to run the gov ernment if they can. in order that you may understand that the reign of the common people is in danger I hope that you will resolve that this peril may be averted and that the common people shall make and enforce the laws of the republic.
 Tt is not my object at this time 10 discuss with you the changes that ought to be made in the laws that sf- feet these corporations, but rather to discuss with you the more vital que~- tion which lies at the threshold of gov ernment. propose the inquiry: Is there anything that can be done that has not been done 10 make it more certain that the common people will continue to reign-thsf is. 10 determine from time to time what laws should be enacted and the kind of men who shall interpret and enforce them:'
 With regard to the railroads Gov ernor Cummins said:
 We have 210.O0O miles of main track railway capitalized at nearly si4ooo,- 000.o00. IL cannot be managed except by corporations unless it is assumed by government. and for one have no hesitation in saying that the day of government ownership ought not to dawn until the virtue and strength of the American people are exhausted in the attempt so 70 regulate the railways that fbeir service will be without dis .--ss-s--l--.s~r and their compensation limited to a reasonable reward. The railways are many. but the eentraliz- ing tendencies Of the past quarter of q century have been so overwhelming that they are dominated by divisions and. except upon rare occasions. com petition has been substantially eilmi- nstei from the affairs Of transports- ton
 In closing the speaker appealed 10 hls hearers to support the state pri- mary election l.r and condemned un- compronisingly the use Of railroad passes br city. county. state and ns-