Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-12

further personal ambition. 1t would
seem to me as unbecoming chief
executive of any state not to return to
the people the Office they gave him
for two terms. For the first time in
the history of this state. extending over
period of sixty years, has an execu-
tive of state assumed that the people
of the state needed him. An 'emer-
gency' has arisen. In order to save
you he will sacrifice himself for anoth-
er two years.
Perkins Not the "only Man."
81 am glad that I am not the only
man. am too modest to appear here
and make the claim that in this great
and glorious state of Iowa that am
the only man. know you will be glad
to hear that. For might die and then
what would become of you? II there
is anything I prize in this state more
than another, it is that we are rich in
men. In all the ninty-nine counties in
this state, there is not one but would
in an emergency-turn out a man
for governor. 1t was generous state
ment on the part Of the governor that
not one word Of derogation should be
spoken against me and yet the objec-
ton Is filed to the company keep. l
certainly have very good company to-
night 1t Is said that the corporations
of this state want man for governor
who will do their will. what they think
is right, and not what the man thinks
is right and, therefore, won't do.
Therefore, the governor, reluctantly,
against his prediction. is compelled
in behalf Of the honor Of Iowa, to sac.
rifice his preference and be candi-
date again. repudiate that charge.
If had been good and lined up on the
governors side could have had the
nomination hands down II had put
on Cummins tag; If would be the tool
of Cummins; if | would help pull the
Cummins machine, I could have had
the nomination. do not want it at
that price. If could not be governor
in my own right, would not be COVER
nor at all. If could not be free to
render services to the people Of this
state, I would not be their chief execu.
tive. If on me there must be mort
gage that can be foreclosed by either
a corporation or Governor Cummins,
then | would have none of the office.
I am here as a plain citizen, with no
power back of me save that of my citi-
zenship. l have no organization out
side of that improvised here and there
by a few friends and the republican
party of Iowa.
The cummins Machine.
81 am compelled to meet in this
campaign the most powerful machine
that has ever been used in the republi-
can politics of this state. A private
citizen conserving to the use of his
name for this Office, is met by all the
executive power of the state. am not
running against Cummins, but am
running against the whole state of
Iowa. do not think that the execu-
tive power of this state should be used
in this way. But there is an emer-
gency. And therefore the executive
power of the state should be employed
to tide the people over the emergency
We are engaged in campaign Of false
pretenses. If the door of the United
States senate should open tonight, and
there should be a reckoning finger to
our handsome governor, the 'emer-
gency' would disappear. He could sep
arate himself from this suffering peo-
pie without any conjunction of con-
science. Now/then why don't the COVER
nor debate the only question in this
campaign? The governor objects to
the company IEkeep, but all my life
have been in the company Of good re-
publicans and the republican party.
Can Cummins say as much? But the
governor insists that he is no stand
patter. On that proposition endorse
him. I wish could make my endorse
ment more general but to that l meet
opposition, and that opposition Is rela-
tive to the governor. I think that he
ought to abide by the rule established
by Washington at the foundation Of
this country, the rule of returning to
the people the Office given you for two
terms. This rule has been in good re-
pute and in all these years up to this
hour, 1t has not been violated In Iowa.
1t should remain SO that the executive
power might SO fix itself to dominate
the will of the people. But the COVER
nor is not a standpatter.
Where Was cummIns?
MANY of you will remember the
campaign of 1887. In this the impulse
of leadership was upon the governor.
The following year Boies was elected
chief executive by the aid of nobody
but Albert B. Cummins. In 1890 and
1891 where was Cummins? A leader
in the Instruction of politics in Iowa
The republicans held their convention
in Cedar Rapids in 1891. 1 was chair.
man Of the resolutions committee at
this meeting. did not see Cummins
In 1893 in the city Of Des Moines,
Judge Harlan sounded the keynote.
He resolved the republican party into
a working body and Frank D. Jackson
was nominated for governor. The tide
had turned. The republican party
came out united, not by the aid OF
Cummins but by the work Of Others
Cummins, after remaining lost for a
period of over four years, came out, as
If prepared for the transition, and
was made temporary chairman Now
/ have never appeared in good stand.
ing with the democrats. The governor
has the advantage over me this year
1t is the record Of 1887 repeated. The