The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-05-10
A Voice From the Reservation

A Voice From the Reservation
The Charlton Herald, a republican
paper whose editor Sam Nj. Greene, is
chairman of the Lucas county republic
can central committee, prints the fol-
lowing editorial on the governor con-
tests between Albert B. Cummins and
George ID. Perkins: 1--WE are surprised
that some republican editors, particu-
larly in this part of the state, are so
bitterly factional in the present con-
test for the nomination for governor, in
the party, that they are resorting to the
publication of Misrepresentation Of the
grosSest sort in their effort to defeat
Governor Cummins for denomination.
The contest lies between Governor Cum
Minis aud Editor George d. Perkins, of
the Sioux City journal, and it is every
editors right to be honestly opposed to
one or the other, but for an editor to
resort to the publication of statements
that he does not know are true, and
could easily find out are false, smacks
of the demagogue and does not I'M ure
the candidate attacked, but only furn-
ishes ammunition for the democratic
party to use after the nomination is
made.
For instance, it is charged that Gov
ernor Cummins is democrat, that he
failed to make good his pledges to raise
railway taxes in Iowa, that he favors
free trade with Canada, that he wants
the tariff schedules revised, that he has
raised farm taxes in Iowa, and that he
has already had two terms and now
wants third.
Governor Cummins cast his first vote
for Q. S. Grant for president, and active
ly campaigned for every president from
Hayes to Roosevelt. In 1887 he was
elected to the Iowa legislature, and
worked with the republicans throughout
the session, voting for James f. Wilson
for United States senator. He is accus-
ed of helping Boies to become governor
in 1891, but he states positively and
unequivocally that it is a falsehood, and
was manufactured for campaign pur-
poses by his enemies. In 1892 he was
unanimously chosen chairman of the re-
publican state convention, and made a
speech for which the Burlington Hawk
Eye praised him as zone in the front
rank of the republican orators of Iowa.
In 1894 he stumped the state for the re-
publican ticket, in 1896 he was elected
a delegate-at-large to the national re-
publican convention, was chosen nation
al committeeman for Iowa, and spent
three months speaking in different
states for Mckinley. In 1890 he spent
three months speaking for the republic
can ticket. In 1901 and 1903 he was
nominated by the republicans for gov
ernor of Iowa, and each time received a
larger majority than any other man in
the state ever received before. Such is
the record of the man whom some of the
papers are now calling democrat.
Governor Cummins advocates strong
ly all the primary principles of republi-
canism, especially protection for home
industries, but he is opposed to tariff
schedules that allow trusts to sell their
goods here at an enormous profit, and
sell the same goods abroad at a much
lower price, even after paying the
freight across the ocean. And until
that condition is satisfactorily explain
ed, we will agree with Governor Cum
Minis that some tariff schedules need re-
vision, and the sooner the better.
Governor Cummins does not favor
free trade with Canada, and never did.
He is in favor Of reciprocity with that
country on iron and lumber, in order to
help destroy the grip which the steel
and lumber trusts have on the people
Of this country. If that is crime, it is
a crime in favor of the interests of the
people as against the trusts.
1t is also claimed by some editors
that Governor Cummins failed to raise
railroad taxes in Iowa as he promised
when first candidate for governor
During every year of his administration
he and the executive council have rails
ed railway taxes in Iowa, until now
they are % per cent higher than they
were four years ago. The railroads pay
into the state treasury 100000 per
year more than they did then, in taxes
and still another raise will probably be
made this year.
The charge that Governor Cummins
raised farm assessments in Iowa is so
absurd as to be ludicrous, but it is used
by some editors who hope to prejudice
a few ignorant minds with it. The
township assessors fix the farm land
assessments. The state officers have
nothing to do with fixing them.
Another charge that is made against
Mr.. Cummins is that he has had two
terms as governor, and therefore should
not have third. This charge is adj
VduCeu ny me same men VINO lnSlSU LnaU
all other state officers shall have three
terms each, and who fought bitterly to
elect state printer and binder this
past winter for fourth term. 1t is
true three terms is longer than any
other man was governor of Iowa, but
so is eleven terms longer than any
other man was ever congressman from
the Big nth congressional district, yet
no one is objecting to Colonel Hepburn
for twelfth term on that ground.
The third term talk and the other ex
cravagant talk against Mr.. Cummins is
being pushed forward to obscure the
real issue of the campaign, which is:
"Shall the corporations be returned
to the control of Iowa politics or shall
the people ruler
Five year ago the Herald editor wa
against Mr.. Cummins for governor be
cause we were told he was bad ant
dangerous man. He was not then il
public life, we had never met him, ant
we had no chance to find out for our