Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-26
''Why not elect a Level-Headed Care
full Business Man for Governor"

Inc manchester GreSS mas DeeIl
whipped into line and is now ad-
vocating the election of Cummins.
For the past four or five years un-
til since his denomination a few
weeks ago. the Press in season and
out Of season, denounced him as
unfit for governor of this state:
Why this change of base? Is it due
solely to the party lash, vigorously
applied by the whippers Of this
party? If not, to what may its
somersault be attributed? In an
editorial in its issue Of March %,
1906, the Press after asserting that
Cummins, is disqualified by lack Of
business capacity, for the office Of
governor, queried, "Why not elect a
level-headed, careful business man
for governor The question is
just as pertinent now as it was when
asked by the Press. The democratic
convention has made the nomination.
suggested by the Press. Why does
not the Press give him its support
instead of the man it has repeatedly
d ,nounced as unqualified? Echo
answers, why the following is the
editorial referred to:
"The farmers Of northern Iowa
have no love for the elevator trust, of
which Tom Way, the political mana
ger Of Gov. Cummins, stands at the
head. Some time ago Mr.. Cummins
took stock in the trust, despite his
adherence Of corporations, and q
few weeks since the matter came to
light, at Farmers Institute at
Mason City. Much indignation
was expressed over the fact that the
governor was member of the trust,
in the face of his wholesale con-
demnation Of trusts and combines,
and in order to square himself the
governor wrote the following letter
to the Rockford Register:
Des Moines, L., March 81 am very
glad you have put this matter before
me 30 as to give me an opportunity to
state exactly what the facts are. In my
campaign OF 1901 Thomas A. Way was
. strong and helpful supporter. He
gave great deal OF bis time for my
benefit, and was naturally very great
ful for his support. He asked me to
take 81 900 Of stock in the Wsy-John-
son-Lee company. l knew nothing
about the company; did not know even
that 1t was doing business in Iowa. l
took the stock simply because Mr.. Way
asked me to do 80. am sure was
not q director. never gave the slight
est attention to the business and never
attended meeting. did not know
that l was advertised as having any
connection with the company. II 1
had known this would have stopped
It. A year or two ago Mr.. Way told
me that he was going out of this COM
pany and wanted to sell my stock also.
told him he could do so, for had
never known about the value of the
stock. SO my stock was sold, and am
not now In sny way connected with the
company. Mr.. Way asked me If he
could put the proceeds In another COM
pany, the name of which do not now
remember, and told him he could. l
have had nothing more to do with the
latter company than l had with the
first. II was simply an Investment
that made under the circumstances l
have stated.
Yours very truly,
Albert B. Cummlns.
Now, what do you think of that?
Here we have the governor Of
Iowa, who does not hesitate to in
struct everybody else in the universe
as to duty and principle, going in
to combine directly affecting the
interests of the Iowa farmer, and
then claiming not to know anything
about it! He claims to have paid
$4,000 for stock in concerns If
which he said he knew absolutely
nothing. He didn't even know
what they were organized for, could
not remember their names and
didn't know they we're doing bust
ness in Iowa. just think of it! A
governor Of great state like Iowa
making such confession as this.
What would be said Of an ordinary
business man if he conducted his
business in such a way as this?
What if Mr.. Cummins was United
States Senator? Who knows but
what he would take stock in any
thing and everything that came
along, without even stopping to in.
quire the nature of its business or
where it was located.
Why not elect a level-headed care
full business man for governor" 9 q