Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-10-25


The movement grew out OF tho actual
needs OF the people. For years the inter-
state commerce law convention had been
proclaimlng 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
bringing to a head the prevailing senti-
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.
Larrabees 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
Their this reform and in 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
revise and recreate tho rates established
by the railways for interstate COM
merce." Gov Cummlns 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 tho
making OF popular sentiment In Iowa to
back up all who might be engaged In
this laudable work.
Saw the President.
Such was tho high standing OF the gov
ernor of Iowa that no was selected as
one OF n 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 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 II
plain that what was wanted was law
that would enable the Interstate Com
merce commission TO decide what IL
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 make II more nearly meet the
wishes of those interested In tho Inter
state Commerce Law convention. That
message, which went to congress In De-
cember, 1904, was the basis OF the entire
railroad rate program OF the admins
tration, which resulted in the passage
OF the present law.
1t Is to the credit OF Iowa men, iowa
Republicans, that they stood back or the
president in his demand for enectlve rae
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 M
against any legislation than was put up
nv the railroads against the presidents
rate regulation programme. In the SEN
ate the bill was sent 10 hostile com
n,ittee which spent n large part OF last
wear securing material with which 10 de-
faat the bill Such was the strong nght
against the bill that the railroads. under
the direction OF Samuel Spencer or the
Southern railway, organized an lniormh-
tion or literary bureau with headqnar-
ters IN Chicago. for the purpose OF onset-
ting the popular demand for some acuon'
70 mas +bIs bureau which, according to
senator Dolliver. spent 100000 In one
,,e,r aphtInc the president. This bureau
established a branch in Des Moines, from
which place editorials and arguments IN
innical TO the president and his programme
were sent out to Iowa newspapers ana
these articles were published widely and
paid for by the railroad bureau
To Back Up the President.
srob was the ferceness OF the fight that
the American shippers became alarmed
las, year for fear the entire programme
m effective rate regulation would be de-
feated and another meeting OF the In
tnrstate commerce law convention was
called 70 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 Its
nurpose a further expression OF sentiment
In regard 10 railroad rate regulation ana
srch action as would do most to counter
act the work being done by the railroad
bureau 10 discredit President Roosevelt
To Defeat the President.
In order that the influence OF the inter
state commerce law convention might be
nulHGed. so far as possible. the railroad
bureau with headquarters In Chicago and
branches in Des Moines and elsewhere, or
ganized what is popularity known as
'.rumn convention which was featured
bv them under the name OF the Federal
regulation association" This was called
10 meet in Chicago. In fact II was plan
ned To pack the interstate commerce law
convention with men who were under OBJ
lIeations 10 the railroads or whose infiu-
euce would be with the railroads. and to
YET the interstate commerce law conven-
tIon 10 condemn the work being done by
President Roosevelt. When the men sent
IN Chicago for this purpose were refused
admission to the regular convention they
went 10 another hall and organized the
Federal Rate Regulation association
Tba interstate commerce law convention
,ook 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
~ the reforua.