Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

get into office. (Laughter). But
In the lobby of the hotel here at that
convention, that being the first year
that the party was called upon to
nominate candidates for railroad COM
missioners. Some Of you will remem-
Der we had Frank T. Campbell,
Spencer Smith and Peter A. Dey as
commissioners under Larrabee. They
had been seeking to enforce the new
law. The railroad people were in
censed. They hadn't so much objec.
ton to Dey because he was demo-
crat, but Spencer Smith and Frank
Campbell must CO. They said they
could bring 10000 votes in this state
to defeat these men If we nominated
them. I heard it. But l was not
entirely alone. therefore, was strong
enough not to yield. (Applause).
We went into the convention and
nominated those men, and they went
into the democratic convention
week later with the same PROPOSE
ton and the democrats yielded, and
then we had campaign In owa. IL
was presidential year. mind you.
cummins Was Absent.
Benjamin Harrison was the candidate
of the party, but the railroad ques-
ton was the absorbing issue in this
state. was on the stump. didn't
see Cummins. l presume he was
working effectively in some other
way. (Laughter) Certainly l wanted
to vindieate his law. | don't know
what he was doing, but we had a
great campaign. But what was the
result of 1t? We elected Spencer
Smith and Frank Campbell by ma
5ority of $1,000 and Benjamin Harri-
son for president Of the United
States had but 10000 plurality. 1t was
in that time what might be called an
emergency such as we have never
had since. We have never since, in
this state, had such locking OF
horns between the people of Iowa
or the republican party Of Iowa and
the corporations until now. Now,
there is great danger daughter and
applause). l don't know what they
are going to do with us but they have
something in mind 1t may be alto
getheY in the mind Of the governor.
Uaughter). Why, you know | am
not very good in committing things
to memory, but / pretty nearly know
the governors speech. | have read it
SO many times to see if there was any
thing new in it. Uaughter.) Those
narrowing scenes-why. the gov
ernor was nominated in 1901 by
coalition with corporations. There was
some feeling in this state between
some Of the stronger corporations.
Convention of 1901.
The governor had been strong so
long that he caught most of them,
and, therefore, he pulled through on
q narrow margin. Among others sup
porting him was the Chicago, Rock
Island road. might incidentally
mention the Milwaukee & st. Paul,
the Chicago Great Western and
few others. He has lost some OF
them. l Judge not all of them from
the report / see in some of the news
papers about the trouble one OF his
appointees got into on the G. B. &
@. daughter and applause) 1t is
frightful to have such accidents
happen. 1t Is embarrassing to
the cause Of reform. (Laugh-
ter.) don't suppose there was any
way discovered by which his mileage
could be charged up to the contin-
gent fund. (Laughter)
Now, among his narrowing scenes
is the one he had with an attorney
for the Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific Railroad Company who
visited his Office and wanted him
to sign bill that was offensive to
public interests. The legislature
had passed--,what is it we call it
the Molsberry bill. The legislature
had wickedly passed it with seven
negative votes in the Senate ana
thirteen In the House. The legis-
lature was probably composed OF
men of my kind who didn't know any
thing. (Laughter) And this attor-
ney remembering how many passes
had been issued to his friends and
representatives, thought that as be-
tween friends the governor should sign
the bill. 1t gradually dawned upon the
governor. He got glimmering after
awhile Of the diabolical purpose In the
mind of that railroad attorney and then
he got up and wanted to know OF that
man If he thought he should sign
that bill on the score OF friendship.
A Narrowing Scene.
The man Is reported as having said
that he had some such OPINION as
that. Then Cummins declares he
said, "This room Is large room but
BY the eternal 1t Is not large enough
for you and me and ! intend to stay
here" Applause and laughter.)
Well, now. that seems to me
little discourteous. So far as the
record goes the man left. Laugn-
teri / suppose he was scared. And
on that issue the governor seeks ex-
tension of his term to seven years.
It seems that 1t made a difference
who called. Here is letter the gov
ernor wrote March Sth to a young
and innocent fellow out here in Floyd
County by the name Of Trigg who
was devoted to reform. He wanted
an explanation as to one point In the
governors record.
1T am very glad you have put this matter
before me as to give me an opportunity To
paign OF 1901 Thomas A. Way was strong,
helpful supporter. He gave great deal OF his
time for my benefit
so did the Rock Island-(Laughter)
''and was naturally very grateful for his
support He asked me TO take enc thousand
dollars of stock in the Way-Johnson-Lee Com
knaw nothing about the COmpany.