Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-21
BOOMERANG FOR
SIANDPAnERS
Recoil of Gilliland Resolution
Likely to Prove Uncomfort-
able to Originators
THE TRUTH MAY ALL COME OUT
Some Who Would Be Affected There
by Are NoticeabIy Nervous at the
Capital and They Are Not cummins
Men = cummins Letter stirs the
Lobby to Rage.
IBy Ora wiliiams.l
.cial to Times-Republican.

Des Moines. Feb. 21.-Whatever
may be the effect of the letter of Gov
ernor Cumlnins on the voters of the
state, whether they believe he was
talking of facts or dreaming, the rep
resentatives of the Blythe lobby in the
legislature have taken it seriously and
have started ont to make a fight. The
Gilliland resolution in the senate is
accepted by all <as an effort to break
the force of what the governor said
1t was at once the cry of rage of the
lobby and the defiance of few to the
governor.
But it became evident after the res
olution had been sprung that a good
many of those who might be affected
thereby We're nervous over it and fear
ed that if the resolution was passed
it might draw out entirely too mucn
information and that of nd they
would not relish. The Cummins me:
did not turn pale and begin to tremble
as had been anticipated by few
LII ldCI SOlIle VI ll0ill bCSdh " say
at once that the resolution was all
right and might as we'll be passed.
Then there were others who felt
that the right way to get at it would
be to have a committee clothed with
power to get at the facts, and this
caused some membe to turn to other
subjects.
One senator declared that he had
the evidence to substantiate what the
governor said and others declared
frankly their belief that he did not ov-
erstate the matter.
The governors address or letter was
ii the talk of the day. 1t was more
severe and more pointed than anyone
had anticipated, especially anyone OF
the Blythe crowd. That letter and the
resolution of defiance accepting virtu-
ally the issues as the governor has
made them, will be sufficient to fix the
status of the campaign.
The resolution in full follows:
Whereas Governor Cummins in the
address to the Republicans of Iowa"
issued in this mornings papers, makes
the alarming statement that the rail-
way corporations are 'exerting every
ounce of strength which money and
organization can create to defeat the
primary election BILL that they are
hunting it to it's death with a per-
sistency and a vindictiveness I have
never seen surpassed';' that these
masters of intrigue who are now en-
deavoring to thwart the will of an ov-
erwhelming proportion Of the voters
of Iowa (and for this purpose) are
spending the winter in Des Moines,'
and,
whereas, The gravity Of this charge
is such that, if believed by the people,
it will seriously reflect on all legisla-
tors opposed to state wide plurality
primary no matter how conscientious
their opposition may be, and will lead
the people to believe that all such are
being influenced in their action by the
'exertion of every ounce Of strength
which money and organization can
create Now, therefore, be it.
Resolved by the senate, the house
concurring, that in fairness to the
members of the legislature, and that
only those (if there be any who are
really culpable may be pointed out, the
governor be asked to communicate in
writing to the legislature such specific
facts (as distinguished from mere as
sertions) as to
First. How the money is being used
by the railroads to defeat the primary
bill.
Second. What legislators. if any.
have been the recipients of this money.
Third. Who are the masters Of
intrigue that are spending the winter
in Des Moines" and where are they To-
Gated"
It was said late yesterday afternoon
that an effort was being made by some
of the corporation crowd to have Gill
liland not urge his resolution at once,
as they feared that too much informa-
ton might be got.
At any rate the governors sletter to
the republicans of Iowa stirred up the
biggest kind of sensation. and the
answer of the lobby is regarded as
Joining of issues fairly and sauarely
just as everybody knows they are
Joined in the fight for governor.
"If the governor has not the facts at
hand to substantiate what he says.
have" remarked one very able and
earnest senator.
Perhaps they know all about it,"
said Senator Crossley, "but I know
that the railroads are here fighting
the primary bill"