davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
BREAKING A MONOPOLY
TO AID THE FARMERS
Part Taken In Great Barb Wire Fight
BY Cummins, As Told BY
Herriott.

John Herriott In Marshalltown address.
1901: Let me relate bit of Iowa history
tnat may not be familiar TO the younger
generation of republicans. About twenty
one years ago federal court in Chicago
decided that syndicate had monopoiy
OF the manufacture OF barbed wire.
There was CONSERVATION among Iowa
farmers. Such wire was deemed neceS-
slty and the trust advanced the price
nearly 80 per cent. In January follow
ing some prominent agricuituralists met
az supper at the Slavery hotel in Des
MONIES, among whom were our "Tama
Jim Wilson, now secretary of agricul-
ture at Washington; Col John Scott,
Lieut.. Gov. h. n, Cue; that old wheel
horse OF our party, Levi ). Coffin; that
vigorous writer. Henry Wallace, and that
Odd Spartan, Father GARRISON.
The result of their meeting was the
formation OF the Farmers Protective as
ISOLATION to fight the trust by manufac-
turing barb wire on their own hook. The
membership was placed at 1000, each to
pay dollar to create 'hghting fund"
They bought patent and started In.
Then the war began. Fast and furious
was the fight the trust made on them
In the courts. Trickery and chicanery
and all the corruptest means We're re-
sorted to to circumvent that band OF
fighting farmers. At first treachery sue
ceeded; they were sold out; those they
first employed played them false. But
they kept up the fight
They got new attorney to look after
quote charter member still living. then
"a comparatively young man who threw
his whole soul into the work and de-
Tended the farmers at every point with
consummate ability, and to whom II is
admitted on all hands that the final sue
cess of the association was largely due, y
The struggle continued TO wage not
only In the courts, but before and In
the legislature, and although the odds
were heavily against the farmers they
got the upperhand of the trust and their
wire at or near cost.
Rejecting on these events years after
wards, the same writer In accounting
for the wonderful success" OF that band
OF farmers, in their long struggle with
huge monopoly, observed: 1T Is clear
to us that the secret of success was not
merely the justice of the cause, but the
absolute confidence the people OF the
state had In the answering integrity OF
the members of the association, its Of
ficers, the manufactures of the wire and
the attorney who had charge of the liti-
gation-an attorney of such well known
integrity and high sense OF honor that
no man In his senses would dare APP
proach him with a bride either directly
or indirectly, and who believed absolute
ly In the justice OF the cause which he
was employed to defend"
That attorney, my fellow citizens, is now
the candidate of the republican party fol-
the high office OF governor of Iowa, AL
bert b. Cummins of Des Moines. Need
we fear what his future course will be-
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18

A large part Of the campaign which Is
being made by the democrats and their
allies in the present campaign In Iowa Is
directed to creating prejudice against the
republican party by an effort to show
chat republican administration of Iowa
affairs has in recent years been grossly
extravagant, wasteful and unfair. and
that especially In the matter of assess
ment and taxation the railroad corpora
lions have been favored as against the
owners of farm property.
The primary complaint, as 1t appears
from the speech Of Mr.. Porter, standard
bearer for the neutrality-suspicious. al
liance, Is that there has not been a suf-
dcient increase in the assessments OF rail-
road property In Iowa and that farm
property is valued too highly. Mr. Por-
ter makes the bald assertion that In "a
years the assessment of railroad proper
ty has not been increased $1,000 mile,
when as a matter of fact the assessment
has been increased by more than $1,000
mile since Governor Boes, only thirteen
years ago, fixed a value on the property.
The valuation of railroad property In
Iowa is matter of record open to all
and the facts are well worth considera-
eion. The following table shows briefly
the changes in mileage and assessment of
the Iowa railroads under the last seven
administrations. The date given is the
last assessment of each administration,
showing the valuation of the railroads as
passed over into the next administration.
with this is given the mileage, the in
crease of mileage over the previous pc
Rod, the per cent of such increased
mileage, the total assessment and the
assessment per mile, with the increase
made by each administration over the
preceding one and the per cent of In
crease or decrease.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
CONFIDENCE AND ESTEEM
FOR l0WAS GOVERNOR
Administration of State Affairs Com
mands Respect Of All the
People.

Congressman b. p. Birdsall: We enter
the campaign in Iowa tnls year as the
prelude 10 the national campaign OF
l9S. AS state We have been singuiarly
fortunate in the administrations with
which we have been blessed, irrespective
of parties, from the days OF Governor
Grimes down to and including the add
mlnistration of Governor Cummins. No
other commonwealth has in sixty years
OF history been so free from scandal in
Its public life, no other commonwealth
in an equal period of history has builded
more wisely or better the foundations OF
a great society, where, under benehcent
laws. wisely administered, security is al
forded to life and property, the chief
purposes for which governments are in
stituled among men. 1t should be a
source of pride to every citizen of the
state that the republican party can and
does present so ciean and faithful a rec
ord OF its stewardship and that under
the leadership of our able governor the
laws have been administered for the COM
mon good of all the people. Albert Il.
Cummins has met the expectations of his
friends and of the people in his admin
istration OF state affairs, and has grown
in their confidence and esteem. lie has
brought to the consideration of public
questions mind rich in resources and
a heart that is in touch with all that
Is best, purest and noblest in public life
To doubt his reelection is to question the
good Judgment and sound common sense
OF the people of Iowa. No such hope is
seriously entertained by the democracy
of Iowa, and the earnest battle they are
now waging is only for the purpose Of
impugning if possible the republican adj
ministration and thereby influencing the
coming national campaign. The republic
cans of Iowa will look beyond men to
principle, and no appeal to passion or
prejudice, no domestic difficulties will
blind them to the vital issues involved
In this campaign, the questions involved
are the maintenance of the protective
principle and the support OF President
Roosevelt, and a decreased republican
majority in Iowa this year will be herald
ed abroad as a reflection upon BOTH
Men may become the incarnation of prin-
ciple, as Lincoln of peace and gentleness
as Napoleon Of war and destruction.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
IOWA TAXATION AND ASSESSMENTS
and THE REPUBLICAN RECORD
EXPOSITION OF THE ISSUE OF STATE AFFAIF
BY THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
Raising in owaThe
Railroads.&c.
Collections

crease state taxation. The executive
council, of which the governor, auditor,
treasurer and secretary of state are MEM
bers, fixes the state tax levy each year,
but under the law must fix 1t to raise a
sum of money which with fee collection
and other sources OF revenue will yield
the sum declared by the legislature 10 be
necessary for state use. The fixing OF the
levy is therefore little else than a clerical
act. The tax levies in recent years. how
ever, have been as follows:
In 1898, 80 mills.
In 1899, 90 mills.
In 1900, 26 mills.
In 1901, 81 mills.
In 1902, 3.5 mills.
In 1903, mills.
In 1904, mills.
In 1906, 3.2 mills.
In 1906, mills.
Under the five assessments OF the rail-
ways of Iowa made by the present state
administration the railroads have paid in
taxes in Iowa, s10,445608.
1t is true that because local assessors
have fixed valuations of all other kinds
OF property higher than before, the gem
eral local taxes are higher. It Is true that
the state of Iowa Is averaging now about
100000 annually more In taxes received
from county treasurers and that large
part OF tnlS increase COliicS uAiOSS iAO'ii
the railroads or from taxes on personal
property. But it Is also true that the
railroads are paying In taxes In Iowa
more than $4,000 year more than they
were when Governor Cummins came into
office, so that for every additional dollar
of tax collected for state purposes from
all sources, including railroad taxes and
personal property, the railroads are pay
ing, as the direct and unavoidable result
of the increase of their assessments under
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18

Accepted as Republican.
Upon his return to the city, Mr. Cum
Minis was waited upon by a committee
and was prevailed upon to accept the
nomination for the legislature and in n
letter accepting this domination he said
II enter upon the discharge of the duty
you have placed upon me as a republi-
can, earnestly devoted to the success
of the principles OF the party to which
I have always belonged"
The next day after this. Mr. II. s. Will
cox candidate of the greenback and
union labor parties for representative at
the same time, published challenge to
Mr. Cummins for a joint discussion In
which he said:
IT am prepared to assail your position
on local option and your position as
defender of the principles and practices
Of the republican party,
The names of Cummins and Baker went
upon a ticket which was headed by Will
liam Larrabee for governor, j. A. T. Hull
for lieutenant governor, Henry Sabin for
superintendent, and @. s. Robinson for
supreme Judge. Mr. Cummlns worked for
and voted for this ticket. and he was
elected by the largest majority OF any
candidate on the ticket in Polk county
The democrats did not make any noml-
nation at their convention for represen-
tative but the county central committee
placed the names of Cummins and Baker
on the ticket, after a number Of leading
democrats had opposed this action and
denounced the committee for consenting
to the election Of republicans to the leg
islature. Mr.. Cummins took his stand
In the legislature as a republican, en-
tering the republican legislative caucus
and took part therein upon all party
questions, with the single exception Of
prohibition. Mr. w. H. Redman of
Poweshiek county was elected speaker by
the republicans over l.. ID. Hotchkiss OF
Davis county, the democratic nominee.
Mr.. Cummins voted for Redman, as he
did for all other republican nominees for
positions In the house.
Voted for Senator Wilson.
Mr.. Cummins entered the republican
caucus for the election OF United States
senator and participated therein, and on
the election OF senator he was one of the
ffty-nine members of the house to vote
for James +. Wilson.
AS a member of the legislature, Mr..
Cummins introduced a bill 10 grant the
Iowa railway commission the power 10
regulate rates. The Commission at that
time was in much the same condition as
the interstate commerce commission has
been the past fifteen years, having au-
thority only to recommend. and little real
power to do things. Mr.. Cummins OPP,
posed the alternative plan which was
presented In the same Legislature of hav-
ing the legislature itself fix railway rates
in Iowa. He took very active part In
the discussion of the railway rate bills
before the legislature; had much to do
with perfecting the bill which finally
passed the house and senate unanimous
ly, and upon recomm endation Of Govern
or Larrabee, he was made one of the
house members OF the conference com
mittee which prepared and perfected the
bill an It today stands upon the statute
books of Iowa Governor Larrabee has
recently testified to tine ract that he re-
Continued on Last Page.)
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
Bourbons and Radicals.

Perhaps the best Justification OF tho
course which In the national government
we have been pursuing In the past few
years. and which we intend steadily and
progressively TO pursue In the future 10
that II Is condemned with almost equal
rancor alike by the reactionaries-the
Bourbons on the one side, and by the
wild apostles OF unrest on the other. The
reactionary Ii bitterly angry because we
have deprived him OF that portion OF his
power which he mlsuses to tho public
hurt; the agitator is angered for various
reasons, including among others the fact
that by remedying the abuses we have
deprived him OF the fulcrum OF real
grievance, which alone renders the lever
of irrational agitation Formidable
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18

We have actually accomplished much
But we have not accomplished all, nor
anything like all. that we feel must DO
accomplished. We shall not halt: we shall
steadily follow the path we have marked
out, executing the laws we have succeed
ed In putting upon the statute books with
absolute impartiality as between man and
man, and unresting In our endeavor to
strengthen and supplement these by fur
Their laws which shall enable us In moro
eificient and more summary fashion to
achieve the ends we have In view
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18

Continued on Last Page)
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
IN LINE WITH ROOSEVELT.
secretary James Wilson

Secretary James Wilson:
II Is said that Governor cummlns
Is too radical. He has been advo-
eating things that congress, with
encouragement from President
Roosevelt, has been enactina along
trust and transportation lines.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
State Tax Levies.

The democratic campalgners would have
che voters believe that the tendency I'M
der republican rule in Iowa in the past
few years has been to enormously in
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18
REPUBLICAN MODIFICATION.


policy that the duties
a
profit
domestic
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-18

Under a wise and far seeing interpreta-
ton OF the interstate commerce clause of
tional government should have complete
power TO deal with all OF this wealth
which in any way goes into the com
all of II that IS employed In the great cor
porations does thus go in. The national
legislators should most scrupuously avoid
any demagogic legislation about the bus
mess use OF this wealth. and should real
lie that II would be better to have no
legislation at all than legislation couched
either In a vindicitive spirit OF hatred to-
aries. But. on the other hand. It, shall
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
GOOD CRAFTSMANSHIP
REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT OF
GUNNERs IN UNCLE SANS NAVY.

The record made by Lieut.. Brady's gun
crew on the Pennsylvania in hitting the
target, distant 1 200 yards, seventeen times
in minute and half, while the ship was
flying along at ten-knot gait, was natu-
rally a source of qualification to naval
men here. Fine as was that performance,
1t is said that there are many others fit to
be written down with it. But for pruden-
tial reasons the Navy Department has
adopted the policy of keeping these records
secret as far as possible, SO 1t is not
deemed advisable to let the world know
how the Pennsylvania record with SIX
inch gun compares with the shooting on
other ships.
However, on one point the officers of ex-
perience here are agreed, and that is. that
this magnificent shooting of United States
bluejackets is due in great part to the men
themselves. 1t Is admitted that the great
Improvement in the guns turned out at the
Washington navy yard has much to do
with the improvement in the target prac-
tice, but, after all, the painstaking training
through which the gunners are being put
is believed to be the secret of success.
That training can be had only by the ex-
penditure of ammunition in actual practice.
Though useful in degree, dummy practice
cannot replace actual firing of the big guns
with full charges.
The heavy shot and cartridge cases must
be handled in order to develop the muscles
of the gunners. The amount of physical
energy expended in this record shooting is
almost incredible. In the case of Lieut..
Bradys gun, one man of the crew was
Obliged to lift q shell weighing 1O1 pounds
seventeen times at the rate of one eleva-
ton per second. That would approach the
development of a theoretical horsepower in
the person of that particular sailor. More
over, he did not only lift the shell from the
deck, but threw it bodily three feet into
the loading tray and breech of the gun.
Muscles able to do that kind of work can
be developed only by much actual prac-
tice.
The result of this improvement in gunnery
In the United States navy is startling when
attention is directed to the fact that eight
years ago 1t was the regulation that just
one shot must be fired from six-lnch gun
In the period of time-ninety seconds-in
which the Pennsylvania gun crew fired
seventeen shots. That means that one gun
now, as manned by a trained crew, would
be equal to a whole broadsde of guns in
the days before the Spanish war.
With this showing for the money they
have expended behind them, and the in
surance afforded the country in mind, the
naval experts here are chagrined at the
decision made by the House committee on
naval affairs in prparing the annual naval
appropriation bill that the item for target
practice shall be cut in half. In fact,
while the department asked for 81 200 coo,
the appropriation has been fixed at only
Congress in that shape 1t viii mean that
naval target practice must be reduced in
like proportion with probable loss of eff
ficiency on the part of the gunnerS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
EXODUS FROM MOSCOW.
American and British Families Con-
tinue to Depart.
Special Cablegram to The Star

Special Cablegram to The Star
MOSCOW, April 21.-The exodus of Amer
lean and British families from this civ
continues undated, and the foreign COL
ony lCses some Of it's numbers almost
every week Many of the families have
long been residents In Moscow. and they
are leaving Russia for good, owing TO the
unsettled political conditions
Extraordinary precautions are taken to
prevent attempts on the life OF Admiral
Duvasso3 who has been Condemned by
tho reyolutionaries because of the afro
cities alleged to have been perpetrated I'M
der his orders last December.
Last week two students dressed as girls
raraded the neishborhood of his official
residence in the 4-ope of obtaining a chance
to Kill him. rs one very tall and the
other very short. the homogeneous pair
attracted notice, which soon deepened into
suspicion. and they We're placed. under ar
rest. 1t Is alleged that two bombs were
found on them and that the pair were
hanged the following night in the secret
chamber of the political police depa rtment
Foreigners driving to the Anglican Church
on Sunday complain of having rifles leveed
at them for no other reason than that
their cabmen do not carefully hug the
opposite eurbstone while passing the off,
eial residence which is on the same street
as the Anglican Church.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
TO DISTURB SPANS PEACE.
No Importance Attached to Rumors
In Circulation.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
MADRID. April 21.-The Duke of Almo-
dovar does not attach much importance to
the rumors set af1oat by the Catalan press
concerning an alleged conspiracy of Cata-
Ian Carlists to disturb the peace Of Spain.
Nevertheless the Barcelona authorities have
been put on the alert. and the civil gov
ernor, the Duke of Bivona, reports that the
police in domiciliary visits at Callella have
seized arms. ammunition and uniforms
similar to those discovered at two other
places The Madrid newspapers say that
The government Is really anxious to dis
cover the origin OF this scare, as the war
material already seized shows an outlay of
several thousand dollars. Though there Is
an evident inclination In Barcelona to at
tribute the agitation to Cariists, the civil
authorities believe it more probable that
INSCRIPTIONS bourse SPECTATORS are behind
these preparations, desiring to foment dis
turbances with the object of checking the
recent buoyancy of the Spanfsh funds and
money market.
The. government has FASTENED the depart
ure OF the new captain general of Catalonia,
Lieut.. Gen. Linares, for Barcelona. Meas
ures Of precaution are being taken by the
civil and military authorities of Catalonia
and Aragon, and the general impression Is
that they are disposed to use suf1ctent
means to maintain tranquility II the use of
force should be necessary.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
Harmful to Trade.

Consul McNally writes from Liege stating
the complaint OF a Belgian importer Of
shoes who sells to the dealers from SAM
pies. The importer ordered in July last
from an American shoe manufacturer a bill
of goods amounting to S7I2, the goods to
be shipped IN the ordinary course. The
complainant says that the goods did not
arrive until March. 1906 He was first
notified by local bank that the amount of
the purcb Sc had been drawn for against
the bill of ladlng. The importer refused to
pay until he examined the goods, but did
pay the freight from New York to Liege.
When the shipment of eleven cases arrived
at the Iiege custom house he made an ex-
animation and says that the goods were not
equal to sample; that he found eighty pairs
OF low shoes which he did not order, be-
cause the low shoe Is not worn there. He,
however, communicated with his clients
who informed him that as the goods did
not come earlier they would not receive
any even II the order good. and that.
furthermore, they old not care to deal with
a man who could not live UP TO his agree
rent. Thus he says he has lost two good
customers besides his commissions. lie has
written the shippers that he holds their
goods subject to their payment of the
freight. The American shoe holds unique
reputation abroad, says the consul, but IL
the incident above mentioned Is of frequent
occurrence not only shoes. but other of
American products will be tahooei.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

various committees have furnished dinners
during the month. An Easter breakfast
was provided by Miss Mary Jebb and her
friends.
The Sigma Lambda Phi was entertained
at the residence of Mrs. Hopkins. 1884 Bit
more street, on the evening of Apr l6. The
twenty members played six gam $ Of pro-
gressive euchre, four prizes being awarded
to the successful contestants. Later the
members and additional guests d1ucad, and
refreshments were served.
The I'VE" Club gave an Easter party at
the home of Miss Clabaugh OF 9Th street.
Those present were the Misses L. l. Cla-
baugh, E. J. Balrock, E. NJ. Daniel, F. S.
Harper, L. e. Hartmann. NJ L. Hoge, CT f.
Irwin, f. NJ. Wise and MeSsrs. Z. A Moore,
]. w. England, e. S. Evans, a. II. Kean,
G. A. Woodwork, b. T. HiXon, n. q.
Eiker and 7. T. McGrath.