Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-12

VI imperfe and required man
future changes and amendments, an
In some cases an entire repeal an
re-enactment.
My association with members {
the legislature for period of eigt
years, served only to confirm in m
the opinion that In no state in thi
Union can there be found NOR
conservative, high.minded and ger
timely patriotic body of men tina
those who meet biennially in De
Moines to deliberate and legislat,
for the state of Iowa. And this
know, despite any insinuations as t
the power, influence or numerics
strength of the lobby in Des Moines
no matter how respectable or higl
in official position may be the sourc
of the insinuation. sincerely trust
then, that the coming Legislature
will be able as a result of their unit
ed elaboration and wisdom, to worl
out anu enact into law fair, jus
and reasonable primary law.
How peculiar it is that while oul
Governor is now SO active in pro
claiming his faith in the common
people, that 1t has not always beer
beer so. Like on some other propo
sitions, his conversion is SO recent
chat 1t scarcely reaches beyond the
period of probation of our Methodist
brethren.
When member of the legislature
and the bill was up to change the
law and make the railroad commits.
sion elective by the people in place
of appointive by the governor, ne
was not then in fafvor OF their nomi-
nation or election by the people and
voted against the bill. Contrary to
the vote of Governor Cummins, a
railroad commissioner must now pre-
sent his record in office TO the voters
of this state, and ask their approval
The last affirmative demand of the
"Cummins republican platform" not
yet mentioned by me. is In reference
to the domination of corporations in
politics, including our own state. AS
this is such new and novel discov-
cry for our republican brethren to
make. 1t is worthy of more than
passing attention. Iowa, more than
most oil the states, is,as we all know,
an agricultural state. Its citizenship
10 hiaue up VI Wudl Jul 6OSSTuOT VI
late so fondly terms the common
people," There are within its borders
comparatively few large Industrial
corporations worthy of mention ex-
cept the railroads. We understand,
then. of course, that when the gov
ernor speaks from the platform in
reference to the corporations, he h,.s
in his mind the railroads. Is not
this also new and rather novel
role for our Governor to assume? Let
us see. remember quite well when
a little more than ten years ago the
people of my county selected me to
represent them for season in the
lower house of the legislature. l was
at that time, no doubt, rather I'M
sophisticated youth. having not then
or at any time since enjoyed the SEN
sation OF representing any railroad as
a local or general attorney, yet, with
all my youthfullness and inexperl-
ence. In common with many others,
did not have to be in Des Moines
very long to ascertain that the rail
roads of the state did manifest some
interest in state poll
tics. After a season, my people sent
me to represent them in the state
senate, and was still member
when the Governor was serving his
first term. During this session,
bin, of which shall speak later,
was before the senate to change the
law in reference to taxing railroads,
and that the railroads were then con.
siderably in evidence, was patent to
The most casual observer. But did
any of you ever hear, during the per-
od of his nrst term in Office, of the
discovery on the part of the Governor
Of the fact that the railroads were
in politics? AT that same session,
Hughes in the house
was battling for his anti-pass Dill, as
he had at previous session, but
even it's importance failed to attract
The Governor, and Mr.. Hughes was
the assistance of his elo-
luent voice. Whether the Governors
prior large clientage, or the assist
nnce rendered HIM by the railroads
In his nomination tended to obscure
his vision, am not here to say.
That he had some assistance of this
character we nave the evidence from
a reliable source. Whatever else the
"Cummins republicans" may say OF
the Honorable Leslie NJ. Shaw, Sec
rotary of the Treasury, not one, to my
knowledge, has ever said that he
spoke without knowing whereof he
spoke. or that his reputation for truth
and veracity has ever been called in
question.
In a public speech delivered in
,nr. Enl Pol
lowing statement: There are six
trunk lines of railroad extending
across the state from east to west,
and in 1900 there were three extend
ing across the state from north to
south. The principal Iowa attorneys
for two of these systems, the Chica-
go, Burlington & Quincy, and the
Chicago & Northwestern, were under.
stood to be opposed to the successful
one of the said roads was
neutral. The principal Iowa attorney
for another was the successful can
didate himself, and the principal at
norneys for five of the others sup.
ported him. And the president OF
one of them came to Iowa in his pri-
vate car to assist to secure a dele
cation from a certain county for the
successful candidate" In 1903 the
Governor was accorded unanimous
by his party in conven-
tion assembled, and assuming that
even lie two railroads mentioned by
Mr.. Shaw were against Governor
Cummins the first time, they must
have been either silent with their
objections or favorable to his renom-
ination.
In his first inaugural address, no
mention is made of the Governors
discovery at that time that the RAN
roads were dominating Iowa politics.
Nothing in reference to them was
said IN that address beyond the mere
fact of asking for Legislation that