The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-20

Hawkeye Executive Will Give
Out, in Similar Form,
His Views.

Chicago, March 20. Raymond, in a
Tribune, says:
Senator Elkins of West Virginia has
the reputation of being exceedingly
thick-skinucd from a political point OF
view
He has been assailed and denounced
Wlthdlt number, from the star-route
days even up to the present period OF
railroad agitation. He has been called
creature of the railroads and been
held up to the scorn Of the community
by so many people and in such diverse
ways that even he has lost interest in
the proceedings.
He has headed the fight for the rail
roads in the United States beyond per
adventure. He voted with the other
four republicans against the Hepburn
bill, and he has consistently and brave
ly acted in opposition to the president,
with whom he never has been in politi-
cal sympathy. He was the author of
the Elkins law, which, it was said, was
devised for the sole purpose Of elm
mating the penalty of imprisonment
from the interstate commerce act.
Fought the Rate Bill
Few people have had any doubt as
to where Senator Elkins stood on the
rate question. He has fought the whole
idea of the regulation of railroad rates
from the beginning. and he has man
aged the hearings before his committee
in such way as to delay action as
long rs possible
In the eyes of tens Of thousands Of
people in the United States; Senator
Elkins has represented the incarnation
the wonder of it all was that he never
lost his temper, never rose to ques
ton Of personal privilege, and passed
all the criticisms in contemptuous
silence, showing, whatever else he was,
that he certainly possessed an admira-
bic quality, of coolnesse and self-re-
straint under fire in the most trying
circumstances.
Joint in His Armor.
But Senator Elkins had joint in
his armor after all, and it was Gov
error Cummins of Iowa who found it.
The result has been d remarkable open
letter written by Stephen r. Elkins
and sent to Governor Cummins under
date of March 10. It was written for
publication and was given out in
printed form yesterday to such CORE
spOndents as were willing to make use
of it. and. furthermore. was mailed
thruout the country, in the belief that
the serious allegations made by Gov
ernor Cummins in his speech at Fort
Dodge.
What Cu,nmins Said.
During the course of that speech
Governor Cummins more than insinu
ated that the senate committee on in
tcrstato commerce, under the manage
ment of Senator Elkins, was not con
Quoted wholly in the interests OF tht
people. Then he went on to hurl hi:
armor-piercing spear when he said:
''Sitting on the right hand Of The
chairman Of the interstate commerce
commit tee-so close to him it seemed
to me their arms were intertwined il
loving association and embrace-wa
the general counsel, as 7 was informed
for all the railways in the country. Ell,
ployed for the specific purpose Of OBJ
structing and defeating measure tina
had been recommended by the prcsi
dent Of the United States and for which
moment SO valiantls' fighting. ] say
that man. don't care much abou
that. as YOU know would Just as 500
be cross examined by an attorney o
the railroad companies upon this sub
ject as by the chairman of the inter
state commerce committee of the sen
ate. There is no difference betwee
them.
The Railroad Lawyer.
''I saw that man pass to your chail
mani said your chairman becaus
every. senator in that legislative trit
unal represents all of the people o
the land, and he had sworn to do hi
duty faithfully and with fdelitv-I sa7
that man pass up to that chairman
score of questions to be put to me.
was not, my friends, the cross-examins
tion, it was not the difficulty of tn
Inquiries that were put to me, but whe
I saw that man sitting side by side,
complete communion, in utter and Ell
tire sympathy with the counsel of tn
companies that it was the duty of tt
United States government to regulat
and restrict. my Indignation overcan
my discretion, and | said then. and
have oftJimes since, that SO long as &c
gave me voice and strength [ would d
nounce that infamv from one horde
Of our country to the other.'
Stirred Elkins to Reply. H.,
Tt was this that stirred up Elixir
at last and resulted in the extensi'
open letter to Governor Cummins whit
was given out Monday, without co
sulting the recipient and also witho
consulting number Of the membe
Of the committee, including Senat
Dolliver and Senator Cullom, both /
publicans, but neither Of whom
been in sympathy with the person
views Of the chairman Of the col
mittee.
The particular thing which disturb
Senator Elkins was the charge that
attorney for. the railways sat on /
.rieht-hand side and assisted him
rropounding- questions to Govern
Cunimins. In answer to that, Senat
Elkins says in his open letter:
''You say that a railroad lawy
sat on my right hand so close til
it seemed our arms were intertwin
in loving association and embra,
Senator Cullom sat at my right, as
and l and several other members of
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