Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-08
CUMMINS FLAYS ROADS
(cortinuea From Third Pagea

of the great industrial enterprises can
meet i'll twenty-four hours. They stand
together. They have a direct interest
in the government and it's policies ana
the legislation which the representa-
tives of the people propose. They are
affected by these laws; therefore, their
keen interest. And the people may eX-
pect that they will ever be alert, keen.
eager to mould policies to conform to
their own interests. They can always
be found In the front seats of the ma
ton endeavoring to direct its course
by the iInmeasurable influence which
they possess.
Said the governor:
II have felt it. | know little of
what it is They are not bad men.
Personally they are the most charm
ing men i'm the world. They are the
most delightful companions that one
can meet They are able to appease
the hunger of our representatives. with
diamond backed terrapin and they are
able to allay their thirst with the
choicest of champagne. and they are
able to satisfy their longing for travel
with all the free transportation that
their imaginations can conceive They
are fighting for their interests, and
they fight twenty-four hours day,
all of the time. l think they ought to
fight---in some ways. l do not believe
in the champagne. terrapin and free
transportation argument at all"
He said that argument is proper
to advance and it is the right of these
enormous interests to be heard by the
representatives of all the people in
proper protection of themselves. AS
long as the people are quiescent and
imagine that the government, once
started, can run without their care,
the interests referred to will have
their opportunity. But when the peo-
pie are awake, they have weapons in
comparably stronger than those of their
opponents. They have voices which
can reach Washington Cor any other
center where their representatives
meet) and will be heard above the din
Of any lobbyist feast. The voice Of
votes can be heard above any other
sound, and heard, will be obeyed But
you will not be heard II you do not lift
up your voices" said the governor.
your representatives at Washington
ought not to be permitte. to forget
that way back here in Iowa is a great
constituency which will call them to
strict accounting" And he hoped
that the movement here started would
not be temporary.
The Esch Bill.
Governor Cummins said that the
Townsend-Esch bill now pending in
congress is better than none, tho I'M
satisfactory in the feature of Great
ing a new court especially. He pre-
dlcted its passage. He said that he
wished that the farmers Of the state
could read the report of the hearing
before the commerce committee on the
bill and see the Interruptions by mem
bers of the committee, the scorn and
sneers heaped on the heads of limo
cent witnesses standing for a piece Of
legislation which is right, and then
contrast that atmosphere with the air
which seems now to be circulating
about the capitol at Washington. The
change has been brought about by
the mighty voice Of the people.
In part the governor said:
Gentlemen, congratulate the mem
bers of your association because you
have taken up the greatest, the most
sacred duty of life. l want to fell
citate you because you are coming into
your own. 1t is only once in long
time that the people do come into their
own. Hitherto they have not held
their kingdom long. I hope we are
entering an era in which the people
will In truth rule and govern them
selves.
you are alive. Stay alive. Suppose
that this power you ask is given to
tie Interstate commerce commission
1t will not do you any good unless the
interstate commerce commission is
composed of the right kind of men.
(Applause.) And If you, having ac-
complished an important object that
you have had in view, retire within
yourselves and allow your private
business to absorb all your energies
and all your thoughts it will not be
long until the interstate commerce
commission will be as harmless as {.
dove"
Governor Van SAINT touched on
many branches Of the subject. He re-
viewed the merger in controversy
briefly for the audience He declared
that in his judgment, If the merger had
not been crushed, today practically all
the railroads of the nation would be ,
under a single management.