Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-26

senses were as alert just then as human
faculties can be.
You may believe that an investigation
carried out i'm this manner Is I'm accordance
with fairness and decency. / 90 not. ,nOu
may continue in your belief IL you IKE
but 7 shall continue In my denunciauon'
BE careful TO understand that appre1
ciate the latitude of honest conviction. !
have never said that a man could not
cOnsCientiously oppose the regulation which
think YOU have men on your colnmttee
who are honestly opposed to IT, My criti-
cism related entirely to the unsecmy way
In which YOU sought to destroy the state
ulent that was offered In support Of the
regulation. / rarely challenge any man,
motive and until now ! have not chal-
1 have assumed that YOU faithfully repre-
scented the views with which YOU entered
the senate. I am trying to convince the
voters of Iowa that men with environ,
mcnts such as yours ought not to hold
public Office for the obvious reason that
corporations should not make the law, but
should be regulated by the law.
Not In Good Faith.
ventures now upon the proof that your
letter to me Is not in good faith, but rs
intended to aid the men who are opposing
me for a nomination
your conduct at the time appeared before
your committee ever since | returned from
Washington. II has been a part OF prob
over the state of Iowa. and yet IT seems
not to have come to your notice or eN-
cited your interest until now
Second Your fidelity has been repeatedly
questioned from places much higher than
] occupy FOR months past, and yet you
have been dumb as an oyster. | believe
| am right in saying that the governor OF
your state is republican and II would
be natural TO expect that IL he desired 10
communicate anything to the senate. OF
which YOU are member. he would select
you as the medium. II appears, however,
that about a month and a half ago when
your governor desired to protest against
the tyrannous practices of the railroads in
West Virginia he sent his complaint to
Senator Tillman.
Quotes Press Correspondent.
On the day following the publication Of
this letter from the governor OF west VIZ
ginia to Senator Tilman a correspondent
Of the Chicago Daily Tribune, who justly
occupies most honorable station in the
concerning you as follows:
This feeling was shown by the extra
ordinary interest which was manifested IN
the senate today when Tillman read q
letter from Governor Dawson of West Nir-
ginia, which was remarkable document
because Il was in effect a reputation OF
Senator Elkins and his notorious devotion
to the interests Of the railroads. It is
not often that governor publicly takes
issue with senator OF his own state. but
this is exactly what the chief executive Of
West Virginia has done. and his letter Is
more than likely TO be an impelling cause
ing investigation of the relations between
all eastern trunk line railroads.
On February 10, 1906, the Chicago Daily
Tribune published an editorial upon the
incident mentioned i'm the preceding eX-
tracts, the first paragraph Of which quote,
follows.
1T is something novel for a republican
governor 10 appeal TO the national senate
through the medium of a democratic sena-
tor. for relief for the people of his state
when both Of his own senators are repub-
licans. Governor Dawson addressed the
senate through Senator Ttllman in regard
to the railway and coal trust that has
West Virginia by the throat. because he
knew the relations Of Messrs Elltins and
Scott to that trust would cause them, II
he sent his letter to them, TO feel more
Ike burning IT than reading 1t to their
fellow solCns.'
Here is an impeachment upon your in
tegrity of more gravity than Won can posi-
bly, find in my speeches. and yet / have not
heard OF any letter written TO either the
governor Of your own state or to the ed-
tors and publishers of the Chicago Daily
tribune calling them to account for their
indictment for your failure to faithfully
represent the interests Of the people OF
your state. 7-.
From other Sources.
In the March number Of McClures Maya
zine there is an article by Ray Stannard
Baker who, | have been told. was pres
Ont at many Of your hearings, in which
there Is a much more graphic description
of the way in which your examinations
were managed than could possibly COM
pose He assigns ex-senator Faulkner to
his true place, and among other things
'''The downright dAaE truth is that this
senate committee is a railroad committee
ton, therefore, has brought out such rail
road facts as Senator Elkins Crailroad
PENNSYLVANIA railroad and other corpora
| tions). Senator Aldrich STANDARD Oil and
railroads) and Senator Foraker (railroadsl
wanted brought out--and no more. Several
nfurlf
have made an honest investigation if thew
had not been in the minority, and II they
had not been affected with the trembling
palsy which attacks politicians who are
called upon to ask uncomfortable questions
of railroad men. These are hard things 10
say, but they must be said II ever this
| country comes to clear understanding of
| how its public opinion is manufactured and
| its laws are made"
| assail all the persons and papers and mas
| azines that have admitted your loyalty Il
| the railroads and questioned your fidelity
ton to the attacks that come from points
nearer Washington than Iowa.
| The truth Is, senator, that you hav,
! firmly established the reputation OF stand
| ing for the railroads in the United States
| 1t Is most unfortunate that any senator
| the people of the country. II is in tho
! highest degree important that the body
! Of which you are member shall enjoy
/ the fullest public confidence The graves
| problems which confront us are thos,
| which relate to the regulation and re
| striction of corporate power. These prob
! lens will not be successfully solved b,
| those whose lives have been so moulded
by corporate thought and corporate inhu
ence that they ipstinctively turn TO cor
! poration officers and managers for in
| formation and guidance. 1t Is with pro
found regret that have condemned you
course. but my regret disappears and an
other feeling takes it's place when l oh
| serve that you are not only persisting II
an indefensible attitude, but are endeavor
ing to reach over a thousand miles of spac
1 and advise the republican voters OF low
how to select governor. The burden 3
/ too heavy for you; you cannot lift II
| The task is too great for you; you canno
| accomplish il. Yours very truly,
! ALBERT S. CUMMINS.