The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-26
Opposed Reform Legislation.

Cedar Rapids Republican: In view
of the -than-thou attitude which
has been assumed by A. b. Cummins
particularly as to Geo. ID. Perkins
the record OF the two men in 1883,
when Gov. William Larrabee was
making his fight against railroad
domination. Is of particular interest.
1t may be news to some of Gov.
Cummins' admirers that by his influ-
ence and his vote in the Legislature
he opposed the governors efforts to
secure reform In railroad matters
that he was one out of only twelve
members Of the legislature who OPP
posed house file No. 374, prescribing
q maximum schedule Of rates as
prima facte evidence of reasonable
charges.
While Gov. Cummins was voting
with the opposition. TO railroad reform
legislation Mr.. Perkins in The Sioux
City journal was holding up the
hands OF Gov. Larrabee in no uncer-
tain way, the EDITORIAL columns of
that paper being full of articles COM
mending the governors efforts and
urging support ON the part of the leg
islature.
Anti-Prohibition Democrat.
The Hon. A. B, Cummins first en-
tered practical politics in the year
1887 as the anti-prohibitonist, inde-
pendent, Democratic, populist and
railroad candidate for the general
assembly for Polk county, 10.
At that time he was practicing
lawyer, a member of the firm OF
Wright, Cummins e. Wright, and was
one of the attorneys OF the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific railroad. He
was also a director and attorney for
the Des Moines Northern and West
ern Railroad company and the Des
30 a
candidacy was prompted by the cor
porations which he represented in
order to defeat the regular nominee
of the republican party, James G.
Berryhill, who as member OF the
house of the Twenty-first general as
sembly had rendered himself obnox-
ious to the railroad and corporation
the following bills:
One providing for the election
of railroad commissioners by direct
vote of the people.
g.. bill to clothe the railroad
comm on of Iowa with power to-
make maximum schedule of rail-
road } J for the transportation OF
proper which schedule should be
prifna Gle evidence of reasonable
charges
8. D Ter bills looking to the regu-
lation of railroad corporations.
State Convention Slapped Him.
AS result of the agitation follow
ing the adjournment OF the Twenty
first general assembly which failed
to pass the bills in question, the re-
publican state convention which met
during the summer of 1887, declared
in favor OF the enactment of laws for
the election Of railroad commissioners
by popular vote and for the reduction
OF passenger fares over the first class
railroads OF the state to 2 cents per
mile.
II was Mr. Cunmins' intention at
first to be a candidate for the repub-
lican nomination, but for some reason
he was deferred therefrom, probably
ny reason OF the attitude of the re-
publican party upon the railroad ques-
tion4-and the anti prohibition move
ment was organized in order ~ give
him am opportunity to secure standing
before the people az a candidate for
the general assembly This aflti-pro-
hihition party WAS organized and de-
veiopod BY Mr. Cartel Wright. OF that
. Line - .&.&<....1G1. h Mr.. CurnmiuS II