Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-21

4
upon senators and representatives
in congress that such treaties should
be promptly ratified.
DETRRCTlON OF TIE THREE GOVERNORS
| The Cedar Rapids Republican thinks
that men like Folk and LnE'olctte are
greatly overrated and not worth the
| money they get AS chautuuqu1 speak
ers. "LaF'ollette, who was ne yer able
to pay his own debts out of the earn
ings of his law practice, went into the
free advertising In the newspapers
and now draws $3.50 for an ordinary
speech" sneers the Republican, and as
to Folk says:
1T is not so long ago when Mr..
Folks earnings were hardly enc thou
sand year. The fact that he enforced
the laws against II few St Louis bood-
lers, did his duty. does not make him
worth $1,000 for ninety minutes. 1t is
not the intrinsic value In the speeches.
1t is simply the notoriety that people
are paying for"
III another editorial paragraph re-
ferring by name to Folk. LaFtllette and
Cummns. the Republican goes on:
But the three governors are still
talking away for $3.50 per delivery -
Folk actually got $1,000 for one of his
speeches in Des Moines. L. pays to
be a reformer and that is about all
that the average reformer IS looking
after. It's the money, money. money"
In the first place it is a matter OF
common knowledge over the state and
should by this time be known at the
office Of the Republican that Governor
Cummins is not accepting a dollar for
his chautauqua work. This fact was
probably we'll known by the editor who
wrote the paragraph quoted. The
backbiter is rarely careful in matters
OF fact.
All this is part Of a protracted and
studied effort on the part Of the Ce-
dar Rapids paper to discredit the three
most notable OF the newer public men.
Scarcely an issue of the Republican
fails to contain some snaering and
scurrilous reference to Felix, LaFol-
lette and Cummins. This in the face
of the fact that no three public speak
ers on political questions are speaking
to larger audiences, and that their ut
terances are being met with the APP
platse and approval Of the sincere and
sensible. The only hypothesis upon
which the attitude Of the Republican Is
'explainable is that the Cedar Rapids
papers fear and hatred of reform ana
reformers have become chronic.
All of the men at whom the Repub-
have been in positions where political
grafters get rich--and all these men
are poor. LaFollette is paying hi
debts with the money received from
chautauquas. Is 1t the opinion of the
Republican that he had better sold
himself to corporation or the agent
of a corporation? Doubtless LaFol-
.lette might have found many such will
ing to indorse his notes and carry his
Indebtedness.
Or, is that the success and popular
ity of such men as the three govern
ors means a new deal in appointive Of
fees responsible for the Republicans
attitude. Des the associate editor
tremble for his $500 or $4,000 post
mastership. the lecturer on Journal
ism feel the sting Of the chautau-
qua lecture? Does the Republican fore
see time when the $4,000 United
States district attorneyships will be
given to men above suspicion, who
will refuse to supplement their salaries
with $4,000 fees from gamblers who
seek pals release from the peni-
tertiary?
Here are three great men against
whom the breath Of political scandal
has never blown, whose skirts are
clear of the contamination Of venality.
who have never taken a dollar that
they did not honestly earn; men who
hold public confidence in their absolute
integrity and sincerity of belief and
purpose. Such men are ever the Shin
ing marks at which envy and malice.
aim the poisoned shafts Of SANDER, and
there is but one conclusion to be drawn
when the Cedar Rapids Republican
bends its bow against them. 1t would
be well for the Cedar Rapids paper
to remember that detraction is
boomerang.
The "RoyaI Muskol<a" Hotel.