The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-10-18

AAoIu MT.
MI. Cummins did not seek reelection
70 the house. and he did not take part
in political campaigns Of the next few
years.
Republican Leadership.
When the republican state central COM
mittee met in 1892 to select temporary
officers OF the republican state conven-
ton, Cumming was named to be tenn
porary chairman and to sound the re-
publican keynote for that year. This Sc
lection was upon the earnest recommen-
dation OF ]. 8. Clarkson, then Iowa mem
Der OF the republican national committee,
and Senator John III. Gear. At this
time an effort was made by some per-
sonal enemies Of Mr.. Cummins to show
that he was not q loyal republican, and
In proof of this the. offered an extract
from the Des Moines Leader purporting
to give a report Of a speech by Mr. Cum
minis less than five monIns previous, In
which It was alleged that he recommend
ed and urged the election Of Governor
Boies. The republican state committee
at that time Investigated and found that
this was not true, and that the report in
the democratic organ of the state was
unjust to Mr.. Cumm,ns. The republican
state committee at that time, and the
republican state convention, accepted
AsAA. SuAA41Ail6 Do u REPUBLICAN, ana no
further question was raised as to his
party loyalty.
This report In the Des Moines Leader
In 1881, forms the basis Of the attack
upon Governor Cummlns at this time.
He made one speech In that campaign
upon the personal solicitation Of his life
long friend. w. A. Park, who was then
an Independent candidate for the legis-
lature. and 1t was In report or this
speech that he was misquoted. The
managing editor of the Leader at that
time has since made written statement
to the effect that the report of Mr.. Cum
Minis speech which was brought to him
by reporter, contained no reference
whatever to Governor Boies, and that he,
the managing editor, wrote into the
speech, without authority and without
knowledge Of what had actually been
said at the meeting, the references to the
Endorsement of Governor Boies. No other
newspaper of Des Moines reported that
Mr. Cummins in the speech referred to
made any reference to Governor Boies.
Was the Party Standard Bearer.
The republican state convention of 1892
held less than five months after 1t is
alleged Mr.. Cumm1ns was supporting the
democratic ticket in Iowa, not only lis
tened attenttvely ard approvingly to
what Mr.. Cummins said, but that con-
vention elected him to be an alternative
delegate at large to the national conven-
ton at Minneapolis, which renominated
President Harrison Mr.. Cummins was
also made that year a republican candi-
date for elector at large, to which po-
sitfon he was elected. and he cast his
vote for President Harrison. He was the
standard bearer of the party in Iowa
that year, and held a Notable series Of
Joint debates in the state with the head
Of the democratic electoral ticket, the
tariff being the ISSUE
In 1893, Mr.. Cummirs stumped the state
for Frank d. Jackson for governor, and
was largely instrumental in securing his
election.
On the National commltte.
In 1896 Mr.. Cummins was permanent
chairman Of the republican state conven-
tion of that year, and was sent as dele
gate to represent Iowa republicans in the
national convention at st. Louis, where
he was q factor in securing the national
platform advocating the gold standard,
and the nomination OF Major Mckinley.
The Iowa delegation to that national re-
publican convention elected Mr. Cum
minis to succeed James S. Clarkson as
member of the republican national COM
mfttee. and he was invited and urged by
Chairman Hanna to become member Of
tHe executive coInHnItee. lie could not
do this, but when the campaign got to
the stage of uncertainty as to what the
agricultural population of the middle
west would do. Mr.. cummins was called
to Chicago and there placed by Chairman
Hanna in charge Of the western head
quarters Of the national committee, with
special reference to the agricultural vote,
and he rendered great service to the
national cause.
The effort to discredit Governor Cum
minis with the republican party because
Of his having at one time been elected a
member of the legislature as an inde-
pendent republican, was made in 1901
when he first ran for governor, and the
republican voters Of the state that year
placed their seal of condemnation upon
this unfairness, as they did two years
later. when he was reelected.