Iron County register., 1905-10-19
IOWA REPUBLICANS REVOLT
Burning Issues Which Tend to Gre
ate Trouble Among Stand
Patters.

Out In Iowa, where the idea" waA
born, that the tariff fosters trusts, some
of the republican leaders are talking to
the people very plainly. At the Old Set
tiers association of central Iowa, which
recently held its thirty-fifth annual re-
union, Hon. Tom ]. Bray, chairman OF
the republican party in Poweshiek coun'
ty, delivered an address in which he
said:
For political purposes the system is
divided into two branches, the railroad
combination and the American Protec-
tive league.
Il will take up first the operation OF
the railroad branch of the system
which is entrusted with the nomination
of county and state officials, congress-
men and United States senators. The
railroads, by means of the unlimited
amount of free transportation which
they can ISSUE are in position to WELD
a powerful influence in politics, and they
never permit single ounce of this in
fluence to go to waste. A little slip OF
yellow paper properly authenticated by
a railroad company, has a purchasing
power in politics, compared to which
the expenditure of large sum OF money
would be insignificant. l believe that
the majority of American men are not
susceptible to bribes, but at the same
time we are an exceedingly grateful
people, and always inclined to return
favor for favor. The delegate who re-
ceivcs free pass to convention there
by places himself under an obligation
to the donor of the pass, and he dis
charges this obligation by voting fot
candidates for Office whom, under any
other circumstances, he would consider
unworthy of his support.
''Under the railroad system of con-
Quoting politics thorough organization
is maintained in each state. This or
ganization is directed and managed by
the general attorney of the largest rail-
way system in the state, who is selected,
not because of the legal ability which he
possesses, but because of his khowl-
edge of political tactics. In each town
and city he appoints one or more local
attorneys, who earn their salaries by
distributing free transportation among
the influential citizens Of the community
and especially the edelegates to state
and congressional conventions. The
delegates to these conventions accept
the free passage because it saves an ex-
penditure of money. When they reach
the city where the convention is being
held the gentleman who furnished the
transportation requests them to vote
for certain man for congressman, gov
ernor, railroad commissioner, or some
other state Office. The favor is granted
and men are nominated who have in re-
ality been selected by the railroad po-
litical boss.
''The congressman, upon being elect
ed, finds that his most important duty is
the appointment of postmasters in his
district. In most instances the editor
of the local newspaper gets the appoint
ment. He is glad to accept the office be-
cause of the salary which goes with it
and the congressman is glad to have
him accept it because the editor is in c
position to perform valuable services
for the congressman through the col
umns of the newspaper.
''The editor feels under obligations fol
| the appointment and, of course, he woult
not be ungrateful enough to decline I.
perform any service requested by hi
benefactor. The congressman, being in
debted to the railroads for his nomina
ton and being indebted to the Ameri
can Protective league for special favor
shown him at Washington, is tool IL
the hands of the system the post
master-editor for the reasons hav
mentioned is tool in the hands of tn
congressman, and the people are tool
in the hands of the postmaster r-editor
He writes their political gospel, and the,
generally accept it without suspicion"
Mr.. Bray continued by describing
how the railroads in league with the re
publican leaders packed caucuses AM
conventions and elected congressmer
legislators and governors, who wer
pledged to do the will of the "railroa
boss"
It must be remembered that this re
publican official was talking to hi
neighbors and friends, and the repor
says his speech was received with grea
enthusiasm. As the republican leader
in congress declare they will not revis
the tariff and any railroad rate legisls
tion that will prevent unreasonabl
rates from being charged is likely to b
defeated; these republican reformer
who are largely in the minority in thei
own party will have to join hands wit
the democrats to secure reform legisls
ton.