The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-10-25

proclaiming on every possible occasion
the weakness of the law under which the
commission might determine all matters
and enforce nothing-could point out the
remedy for evils, but could not apply the
remedy. One OF the chief factors in
ment in favor of reform OF the inter-
state commerce law was the Interstate
Commerce Law convention. At notable
convention held in st. Louis two years
ago the sentiment for reform was crys-
talliZed into a formal demand on con-
gress for affirmative action. Ex-Gov.
Larrabee's address before the convention
was circulated in all the state and did
much to shape sentiment.
Early Advocate Of Reform.
Previous to this. however, Gov. Cum
minis had been doing much work to fur
ther this reform and in a great speech
before the Upper Mississippi River I'm
provement association at Dubuque he had
declared that what we need now more
than any other one thing Is some tri-
bunal of the general government having
authority throughout the length and
breadth of the land which shall be in
vested with the power to supervise and
revise and recreate the rates established
by the railways for interstate COM
merce." Gov. Cummins spoke before the
Corn Belt Meat Producers association
and before other bodies OF shippers and
business men earnestly advocating the
giving of power to the Interstate Com
merce commission, or similar body, Of
the power to regulate rates; and what
he did had a great deal to do with the
making of popular sentiment in Iowa to
back up all who might be engaged In
this laudable work.
Saw the presldent
Such was the high standing Of the gov
ernor OF Iowa that he was selected as
one Of a committee to go to Washington
just before the opening OF congress in
1904 to speak for the Interstate Commerce
Law convention and for the shippers and
farmers of the country, and to do that
which seemed to be necessary to get this
matter before congress. This committee
called upon President Roosevelt and
found that his attention had already been
called to the subject and that he had
prepared q tentative statement for his
message then nearly completed. On be-
half of the Interstate Commerce Law
convention Governor Cummins suggested
some additions to the statement to make
II stronger and especially to make IL
plain that what was wanted was law
that would enable the Interstate Com
merce commission to decide what Is a
reasonable rate and to put such rate
Into force and effect without waiting for
the courts to consider It President
Roosevelt did make additions to his mes
sage and mako It more nearly meet the
wishes Of those interested in the inter
state Commerce Law convention. That
message which went to congress In De-
cember 1904, was the basis OF the entlre
railroad rate program OF the admins
tratIon, which resulted in the passage
OF the present law.
II is to the credit of Iowa men, Iowa
Renuhl,cans. that they stood back of the
nres,dent in his demand for effective rate
regulation and that they recognized the
strong sentiment in Iowa and the west IN
favor OF real reform.
Fought BY the Railroads.
NO more bitter fight was ever put up
against any legislation than was put up
by the railroads against the presiueht
rate regulation programme. In the SEN
ate the bill was sent to a hostile COM
rn,t+ae which spent a large part OF last
year securing material with which to de-
feat the bill Such was the strong hght
against the bill that the railroads, under
the direction OF Samuel Spencer OF the
Southern railway. organized an lntorma-
ton or literary bureau with headouar-
ters in Chicago, for the purpose OF ofrset-
II was this bureau which, according to
senator Dolliver, spent 5000 600 In one
yeor AqhtIng the president. This bureau
established a branch in Des Moines' from
which place editorials and arguments IN
imIcal TO the president and his programme
were sent out to Iowa newspapers and
those articles were published widely and
paid for by the railroad bureau.
To Back Up the President.
Such was the fierceness Of the fight that
the American shippers became alarmed
last wear for fear the entire programme
~ directive rate regulation would be de-
feated. and another meeting or the IN
terstate commerce law convention was
called to meet In Chicago in october last
for the purpose Of backing up the presi-
dent and his friends. This convention was
called by the men who represented the
large shippers of the west. especially the
live stock interests, and II had for It's
,rrnose a further expression of sentiment
IN regard TO railroad rate regulation and
such action as would do most to counter
act the work being done by the railroad
bureau to discredit President Roosevelt
To Defeat the President.
In order that the influence Of the inter-
state commerce law convention might De
nullified, SO far as possible the railroao
bureau with headquarters In Chicago and
branches In Des Moines and elsewhere, or
ganized what is popularly known as a
"rump convention which was featured
nv them under the name Of the Federal
regulation association" This was called
to meet in Chicago. In fact it was plan
ned to pack the interstate commerce law
convention with men who were under OBJ
IIeations TO the railroads or whose infiu-
ence would be with the railroads. and to
get the Interstate commerce law conven-
tIon 10 condemn the work being done by
president Roosevelt. When the men sent
To Chicago for this purpose were refused
admission to the regular convention they
went to another hall and organized the
.'Federal Rate Regulation association"
The Interstate commerce law convention
took action which greatly strengthened
the hands of President Roosevelt and the
men In charge of the rate regulation bills
and demonstrated that the great mass Of
the shippers and farmers Of the country
are favorable TO the reform