Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-07

faith in his future, the young couple
returned to Chicago, where, soon after,
Mr.. Cummins was admitted to the bar.
The hedgling attorney devoted the next
three years to an all round practice in
the Chicago courts. In 1878 he remov-
ed to Des Mones, and entered into a
law partnership with his brother, j. C.
Cummins In 1881 he received from
ex-Chief Justice George G. Wright, OF
Des Moines, an offer of law partner
ship, which he was glad to accept. In
due time he became the senior member
of the firm of Cummins, Hewitt K
Wright, for years the best known law
firm in the state 1t has been his good
fortune to crystalline into practical
value, to his clients as am attorney,
and to the state as its chief executive.
the rich and varied experiences of HE
early life.
These eNperiences-as carpenter.
teacher clerk. express messenger, sur
veyor, railroad builder, ETC., accoun.
for the mans encyclopedia knowledge,
which has been the surprise of many.
His Mental Control.
The mental discipline acquired by
him during those early years, aided by
a retentive memory has enabled him
to pass from one subject and one task
to another without mental friction and
consequent brain-wear Let me give
a recent illustration of this rare quail
ity of mind. In the midst of the hurly-
burly of warning factions on the day
before the recent convention. sur
rounded by friends all eager to have
their word with him, the governor
happened to see state official, who, 4
month before, had been requested to
examine certain plans for the furnish
ing of the states new historical build
ing. Turning at once from the over
shadowing theme of the hour,-con-
testing delegations. committee repre-
sentation. etc.-he proceeded to make
inquiries, which showed that every
detail under consideration a month be-
fore was still fresh in his mind. Fin
ally satisfied, he dismissed the subject
by declaring himself ready to alter
the specifications and sign the con-
tract" The next moment he was deep
in the consideration of another matter
brought to his attention. In every
board of which the governor is an Off
cial member, the same knowledge OF
detail, or insistence on knowledge, IS
apparent.
Career in State Politics.
In 1888 Mr.. Cummins took his seat
as representative in the state legfsla-
ture, having been elected on what was
then termed an prohibition repub-
lican ticket. In all legislation aside
from prohibition he acted with the re-
publicans His belief in high license
as a more practical temperance meas
ure than prohibition, for time alien
ated him from many in his party; but
subsequent legislation seems to have
approved his judgment, for high IL
cense with local option now appears to
be the settled policy of his state.
In 1894 he was a candidate for I'm
tied States senator, receiving more
votes than any one else, except ex-
Governor Gear. In the Mckinley cam
paign of 1896 he was the national
committeeman from Iowa, and in 1899
he was an unsuccessful candidate Tor
the senate. In all these years he was
frequently honored by his party with
convention chairmanships, and by
many and various organizations with
invitations to make addresses