Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-26
EIkins Regarding Lat-
ier's Recent Criticisms
! Formers Speeches in Iowa
on Railway Rate Bill.


.ummins has mailed to Senator Elkins
4 West Virginia reply to the latter's
otter in which he criticised state
Hents made, by the governor in
kpeeches to the voters of Iowa regard
ing his examination before the Senate
kommittee on interstate commerce,
when it had under consideration the
railway rate bill.
The governor says the ser tor ac-
cuses him OF falsehood in declaring
that his cross examination was hostile.
that an attorney of the railway COM
Epany sat at the right of Senator Ell
fkins during the examination; that Sen
fator Elkins appeared to be in COM
and sympathy with the at
storney and that the attorney handed
to Senator Elkins' questions to be ask
ed the governor.
"If," says the governor, in his letter
to the senator, you understand your
duties and obligations as chairman OF
the legislative committee to be similar
to those of an advocate, I have no
criticism to make On your conduct ex-
cept to say that you were on the slde
of the railways instead of the side OF
the people. have thought, however,
that as chairman of such a committee
your duties and obligations were more
nearly like those of a Judge; namely.
to hear both sides. without a bias, or
prejudice, and then to decide Impair
TALLY, without fear, or favor.
"You heard that evidently, but 1t
was clearly apparent in your cross
examination that you had decided the
case in favor of the railroads and were
determined to shatter my evidence if
you could. The ross-examination
shows conclusively that you had made
up your mind that the proposed au-
thority ought not to be given to the
Interstate commerce commission and
that the power sought to be given was
unnecessary, dangerous, and filled
with disaster to commerce.
"The scene in your committee room
is sharply stamped on my memory
and it Is impossible that can be mis-
taken about it. Sitting squarely a
your right hand. just a trife behint
you, sat a gentleman who, as l wa:
afterwards informed, is Ex-senator
Faulkner. ] inquired what relation h
bore 10 the Investigation and was tolt
that he was an emplOye of the railwa!
companys to resist the proposed law
I do not know whether the other sen
ators saw him or not, for their face!
were turned toward me. and therefore
away from him; but 1 do not know
that you saw him, first, because HI
was so close to you that you could no
turn your head without seeing him
second, because you were in conversa
tion with him a part Of the time
third, because l saw him, with hi
hand Oh your shoulder. pass to yo,
questions which You read and then pu
to me. There can be no mistake abOu
this, for my senses were as alert jus
then as human faculties can be.
'Yeu may believe that an investigation
carried on in this manner is in accordanc
with fairness and deccncy. I do not
You may continue your belief If you like
but shall continue in my denunciation.
1T appears to me that IL you propos
to assail all persons and papers and ma 6
azines that have admitted your loyalt
to the railroads nd questioned your fidel
itY 10 the people. you should give som
attention to the attacks that come fror
points nearer Washington than Iowa.
Tho truth is. senator. that you hav
fairly established the reputation of stand
ing for the railroad in tho United State
Senate. 1t is most unfortunate that an
eenator should acquire such a reputatio
among the people Of the country 1t i
In the highest degree important that tn
body Of which you are a member sha
enjoy the fullest public confidence. TIL
Eravest problems which confront us ar
those which relate to the regulation an
restriction of corporate power. Thcs
problems will not b. successfully solve
BY those whose lives have been so molde
by corporate thought and corporate in
fluence that they instantly turn to cor
poration officers and managers for infor
nation and guidance.
1T is with profound regret that I hav
condemned your course. but my regre
disappears and another feeling takes it
place when I observe that you are nc
only persistipg in your indefensible att
tude. but are endeavoring to reach
thousand miles of space and advise tn
Republican voters of Iowa how to salec
q governor. The burden Is too heavy 70
you; you cannot lift it. The task is to
great for you; you cannot accomplish it.