Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-05
CUMMINS REPLIES TO BRYAN
Extract from Churaan Speech. j

/, ways / am not able to agree to this
| remedy for either the ills We suffer or
| any that we may suffer. | regret ex-
| ceedingly that it is even proposed, for
| it is obvious that if the democratic
| party. under such a platform, were in
| power--that is TO say, with this alter
native proposition; regulation first and
| it ii fails, government ownership -
| regulation would inevitably fail. l am
| not willing to coneede the possibility
OF failure of the government to bring
into subsection either the railways or
any other form of corporate power. l
know that there is Intelligence enough
and virtue enough in the American
people to command justice at the hands
of transportation. 1t would be inter-
esting to hear from MIR. Porter upon
this subject. l am sure you would
like to know whether, if he becomes
governor of this state,' he will begin
his crusade for the change in the con-
stitution and in the laws necessary to
enable Iowa to buy the railroads,
which. under this scheme. the state IL
to own and operate. 1t involves, as
understand It, the ownership OF some
railways by the general government,
and of others by the state. l am cur
ious for information as to which OF
the railways within our borders Mr..
Porter thinks the state should buy
and operate. and which the United
States should buy and operate. Wheth-
er he IL willing to expound his views or
not, say unhesitatingly that ! am for
the republican plan of strict and In
creasng regulation and supervision 10
the end that every railway shall fur-
nish It's facilities at fair rates; 10
shippers In the same community at
the same rates, and to shippers IN Gill;
ferent communities at fair relative
rates.
, / believe that in this state the time
has come for a reduction in passenger
, fares and also for a reduction in the
freight rates upon commodities that
will give producers and manufacturers
In the state an even chance with their
competitors elsewhere.
Passing from transportation to So
called industrial corporations, we meet
problem not less vexatious not less
difficult, than that which attends the
moving of our products. There is, and
has been for years, manifest ten
forms. not only for the purpose OF de-
creasing the cost of production, when
is legitimate and to be commended, but
for the purpose also OF suppcesslhg
competition In commercial life Inc
latter is vicious, and should be met
with all the restraining powers o.
government. The republican party mas
not hesitated to attack this evil with
all the energy that can be crowded IN
to the administration of the law. 1t
enacted a rigorous statute prohlpltlnS
such combinations, and during Theo>
dore Roosevelts' time offenders nave
been relentlessly prosecuted. 1t is not
to be said that the law is perfect one.
1t will be long time before we are
able to combat with entire success the
invasions of greed and avarice. but we
are moving steadily forward. Each
year finds us more effective than the
preceding year, and while progress Is
slow, it is sure. We will finally divorce
the unfoly alliances between favored
producers and manufacturers and the
transportation companies, and when
we destroy the discrimination so fatal
to the independent producer, monopoly
will become impossible
Theodore Roosevelt is making gall
liant fight for these reforms. know
how entirely you are in sympathy with
his efforts. There is but one way you
can strengthen him and encourage
him, one way in which you can make
him lnvincible, and that is to surround
him with a republican congress more
Jealous than ever before, and a repub-
lican majority that will express your
appreciation of his heroic work.
shall, at another time, enter more
fully into the discussion of the rela-
lions between the government and the
trusts, the people and the corporations
but for the present hour ! must be
content with the bare outline have
drawn