The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-10-04
HON. JOEL S. ESTES
Democratic Candidate for Conoress
Made a Fine Speech in this City
Last Friday Evening.

ACn. ooOA NJ ASVCo, CtlS ucuOCfaUlC
candidate for congress from the Eighth
Iowa district, addressed fair sized
audience at the opera hall in this city
last Friday evening, and he created a
very favorable impression among the
voters of all parties. Mr.. Estes is a
fluent and brilliant speaker and held
the close attention of his audience dur
ing the entire evening. He did not
waste time in preliminaries but waded
at once into Congressman Hepburn's re-
cord and his remarks were frequently
applauded. Summing up in brief he
said Mr.. Hepburn had been in the pub
lie service nearly thirty years, two
years as clerk Of the house, three years
as district attorney, four years as solici-
tor of the treasury and twenty years as
congressman, during the latter term
having always voted with the railroads
and against the interests of his con-
stituents. The wise founders of this
republic contemplated that members of
the House should be changed often
should move among and be in elbow
touch with the people, for the reason
that under the English government long
terms had formed partnerships between
the officers and the wealthy and favored
few, resulting in the oppression of they
many. The existence of great trusts,
moneyed monarchs, etc., is admitted by
Roosevelt and a majority of the people
irrespective of party. Mr.. Hepburn
came into public life about the time that
the trusts began to be formed-that is
the SOS Of the last century. He has
been under their bewitching in
fluence for more than quarter of a
ceutury. Is he human-like susceptible
of influence? Has his sentiment and
sympathy not been touched and mould
ed by these powers he has grown up
with? With large and respectable
element of his party insisting that the
tariff is excessively high; that it shelf
ers trusts and monopolies, and demand
ing tariff reform, Mr.. Hepburn stands
pat. Long associations make sympathy.
Although you can buy steel rails
cheaper abroad than at home, he stands
pat and proposes to continue present
schedules. Also lumber, coal, ETC., used
by our farmers. He charged Mr.. Hep
burn with voting with the railroads
whenever their interest has been at
stake, and sprung chart on the audi
ence showing Hepburn's record. He
voted for bills
Allowing railroad pooling.
To reorgnize the Northern Pacific Ry
To settle indebtedness of Pacific Ry
To transport armies by land grant
| railroads.
The anti-scalping bill.
| He voted against
Forfeiting railroad land grants.
Interstate commerce bill-three times
River and harbor bills always.
| Is it not passing strange that Mr.
Hepburn's vote has been with the rail
roads but gets his inspiration and ad
vice in preparing bill-not from the
farmers, cattle feeders and merchants
OF his district, but from James Blythe
head counsel for the Reservation an6
other railroad magnates. He said he
had asked Mr.. Hepburn in his speech al
Humeston to state publicly whether he
is in favor of tariff reform and reciproci
ty as advocated by Gov. Cummins, bu
he had failed to answer the question
He appealed to the voters of this dis
trict to throw aside party preiudices
and party lines and vote to retire the
man who has misrepresented the people
of this district for so many years, anc
said if the voters would cast their vote.
interest of the railroads and trus
magnates that Mr.. Hepburn would bt
defeated in November.
1t was splendid speech aud we wisl
that every voter in Decatur count,
county could hear Mr.. Estes. He il
making a vigorous campaign and from
every part of the district comes cheer
ing words of support from men who
have heretofore supported Hepburn
Mr.. Estes will speak at the corn Jubilee
to be held at Club Davis grove, 2
milee northwest of Garden Grove or
Saturday afternoon Of this week, ant
also in the opera hall at Garden Grov,
| on Saturday evening at 7.15 O'clock