The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-03
.CUMMINS SAYS
mo- TO PERKINS
Governor Declares that Most Of
the Contests of the Latter !.
Are "Mere Shams." :,
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. st. ss3F.s
Des Moines, Iowa, July 8.-The text
Of Governor A. b, Cummins' letter TO
Mr.. Perkins. declining to- submit j the
in various counties to the national re-
publican committee for solution and
| settlement, is as follows:
Des Moines, Iowa, July 2, 1005.-Hon. George
D. Perkins. Sioux City, Iowa. My dear Mr..
Perkins: have read and most carefully eonsid-
| cred your letter Of the 2sth ultimo and take
the first opportunity at my command to give
you fully and frankly my views upon the sub
| ject of your communication.
/ not only desire with you that the conven-
tion shall be orderly and above suspicion Of
Intentional wrong but I confidently believe
that it will be guiltless Of either Intentional or
| apprehension that the party name Is in danger
| OF dishonor, or that the convention will nomi-
nate nate ticket which the members Of the party
will refuse to Loyalty and unitedly support. You
| and at least should discourage with all the
| influence we have the suggestion that re-
publican convention however earnest, will. eth
er in its nominations or in its platform, give
any republican good reason for the Reputation
OF his ticket l have too much faith in the
| wisdom and fairness Of my fellow republicans
to allow little feeling developed here and
| there in the campaign to shake my belief in
the sober second thought Of our people. I know
that the campaign has been intense. but reason
has not been driven from the seat Of Judgment,
and the convention will be prompt to recognize
the principle that 1t is the privilege of the ma
jority to decide and the duty of the minority
Votes to Spare.
! I cannot concur in your statement that the
pre-convention struggle has not resulted in
clear settlement Of the controversy. SO far as
the nomination I'll for governor is concerned
| that, from my point OF view, excluding every
contest for which there Is the >semblance
of foundation, and without reckoning the two
| counties yet to hold conventions, I have more
| than fifty votes above a majority of the whole
number Of delegates in the convention. I re-
fuse utterly to believe that the republicans of
| this state will tolerate, or that you will ap-
prove. the appearance in the convention of con-
testants from such counties Scott, Delaware,
Carroll and Audubon; or that you will give any
support to the extraordinary proposal that Polk
county should be dsfranchised because its con-
vent1on conferred upon me the right to select
Its delegates; or that other counties should be
| rejected because they happened to hold their
| conventions prior to the issuance Of the call
for the state convention
feel that you are sincere when you say that
you 40 not want q nomination involving a
doubtful title. Is 1t possible, then, that you
would accept the votes of the counties I have
named or take a nomination from convention
resentation, Or that had expelled the delegate
from other counties account Of the time
at which their delegates were chosen7 I know
the high standards which you recognize, and
ask you as a fellow man and fellow republican,
could you In good faith assert before any board
of arbitration or before the state convention
ing the title Of the delegates instructed for me
from the counties to which have referred7
Disputes that call for arbitration must grow
out of circumstances which admit fair differ
ences Of opinion. II should ENTER your news
paper establishment demand it's possession and
then suggest that inasmuch as the controversy
might lead to trouble should arbttrate, what
would be your answer?
Will Not Be Robbed.
have made myself as clear as possible upon
these things, because both you and the public
have right to know that I believe that the
greater number OF contests made and proposed
In your behalf are mere shems and manufac-
tured in the vain hope that thru them a major
ity can be turned into minority. am willing
more than wtiling--to do VIVA ever tItcans to
4 reach q peaceful conclusion upon every fair
and honest controversy, but we will not be
a robbed of the victory we have won by the pre-.
7 tense Of contests where none exist. =,
| l cannot, however, accept your proposal with
respect to such bona-hde contests as may have
arisen during the course Of. the campaign, for q
variety OF reasons.
shadow Of right to enter into any
arrangement for the purpose of determining the
The contesting delegates have the primary In
terest, and nothing that you or I might do should
or could deprive them Of the privilege of sub
hitting their title to the convention itself Not
only 80. but all the delegates who have beer
chosen to represent the party have right to de-
eide for themselves who shall constitute the con
vention. The interests Of large number OF
| candidates for other Offices are involved and the
policy of the party it may be declared in it,
platform, may also be directly at issue. W.
have at least two candidates for Leutenan
governor, three candidates for secretary Of
state and number of candidates for RAILROAD
commissioner, and they are just much con
cerned in the contesting delegations as we are
Even, therefore, If it would be wise under an!
IOirO Gro 10
dates for governor ought not to- assume the pre-
negatives which belong, in part at least, Il
Others - -"
Dangerous Practice.
| Secondary firm conviction is that party peac
) and harmony would not be secured by referring
committee. The practice would be full of dan
ger and discord. In the end the committe
would become the master Of the party as to it
state policies and nominations, and our republ
cans would so resent the interference that
would disrupt organization and tend to on
~ defeat. 1t is far better for us to adjust GU
own troubles. We have been able to do thi
with high success in the past, and am sur
that do it in the future. I doubt yer
much whether state convention should unde
g any circumstances. ask the aid Of arbitrato
i In the adjustment of controversies which ma
e come before it. 1t may be Influenced by part
, zanship and may not always do perfect justice
- but its decisions concerning its membershi
! will be more apt to bring good feeling than tn
ment seems to require that contested seat
Il a legislative assembly shall be determined by tn
J. legislative body itself, and the reasons whic
d support this practice apply with still create
a force to political convention.
a Believing that 1t would be unwise to adol
V your suggestion, I am still heartily in acco1
with your desire to promote the strength an
- harmony Of the party. I want the convention
\ do its work in the time honored way, and altt
a I cannot agree to the withdrawal Of any part {
81 its responsibility. there Is method thru whie
IA you and can allay much OF the bitterness
"a which you refer and insure a convention tn,
81 will be full Of enthusiasm and begin campaie
"a that will end IN complete victory In Novembe
a Let from this time forward put away tt
a thought that the convention will be unfair. Il
"a us stamp out the idea that 1t may termina
" in disunion. Let us make friends and folloy
81 ers understand that we will not resort to tee
N nioalites Of procedure and that the DELEGATE
Ea who have been selected by a majority Of Il
81 republican voters, in substantial compliance wi
& the custom Of the party, shall take their sea
M unvexcd by opposition. In this way you and
8S can render good service to the party and c.
Il remove every trace Of i'll feeling that has be-
Rg aroused.
% With high regard, am yours very truly,
.-. a. ..' Albert B. Cummins
= COUNTY CHAIRM AN RESIGN