Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-10-26

bringing 10 Q neao the prevailing senu'
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 q formal demand on con-
gress for affirmative action. Ex-Gov.
Larrabee's 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 Inn
provement association at Dubuque he had
declared that what we need now more
than any other one thing 10 some tri-
bunaI Of the general government having
authority throughout the length and
breadth Of tho land which shall be In
vested with the power to supervise and
revise and recreate the rates established
by the railways for Interstate COM
merce." Gov. Cummins 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 great deal to do with tne
making OF popular sentiment In Iowa 10
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 he was selected "A
one Of a committee to go to washington
Just before the opening Of congress IN
~ y,to ctofA
Law convention AID for the shippers ana
farmers Of the country. and to do that
which seemed to he necessary to get this
matter before congress. This committee
called upon President Roosevelt ana
found that his attention had already oeen
called to the subject and that he had
prepa red a tentative statement for his
message then nearly completed. On De-
half Of the Interstate Commerce Law
convention Governor Cummfns suggested
some additions to the statement to make
Il stronger and especially 10 MAKE
plain that what was wanted was IA"
that would enable the Interstate Conn
MERGE commission to decide what -
reasonable rate and tosput such q rate
into force and effect without waiting f"r
,he courts to consider It. President
roosevelt, d,d make additions to his mes"
sape and maize II more nearly meet me
wishes Of those interested IN the in.er-
state Commerce law convention. Tna'
message. which went to congress IN ne
c.rher 1904 was the basis OF the entire
..,,,o.a r.te program Of the admin's-
trat,on witch resulted In the passage
~ the present law.
n Ia 70 the credit Of Iowa men. low"
pa,uh,,cars. thai thew stood back ~ 'he
nres,dent IN h's demand for enec'"e rye
.eeu,at ,on ard that they recoen'2en INC
sar.,-rert IN iowa and the west IN
favor ~ ran, reform.
FOUGHT BY the Railroads.
,,,,er rrh. was ever pvt IN
s.,,,st arv ,e~'s,a+ion than was MT up
r., ~. railroads ae,'n.t the nre"tdenrs
M. roc,,,.t,or programme In the GEN.
80. ~. hi, was sent ~ h"sfl" co"n'
-,,.,a. rt,ch a,ent large rarf or 'ast
,eor acquiring material with when 70 ne.
soo, me h,ll Such waa TIE srronk ne's
o,.,rs, the hi'l that the railroads uhder
,he a,rect,or ~ Samuel Snencer NJ mo
Southern rnilway. nrgan'zeh an '"'"''""
.,o, ~ literary bureau with headr"ar'
INV. IN Ch,ca on for the nurpose ~ ""s"t'
t,rv the rorr,ar demand for s"me a""on.
7, wa. th6 bureau which arcn ~, ="
Senator Oo'i'ver. amen! $780," ".,
,,.., ovr,,ng m. president This bureau
..,o,,,.bed a h-anch In nes Moinea, from
-..,.A ,,oce editorials and argnnenfa m.
,r,,c,i - ,he rres,de,t ana his rr"gram"e
,,ers sent on, tn iowa newsran"rs IN"
49,. .r,,cJes were published widely ana
,a,a sor nv the railroad bureau.
To Back Up the President.
o,,., u.. ,he nercenesa ~ the nght that
the American shippers became A'Hr"1'
lao, vear ror fear the entire rroera NINE
~ effective rate regulation "ooi" ne oe-
re,,ed and another meeting ol tne IN
,ers,ate commerce law convention VIZ
,,,,.d n NEE, IN Chicago In October 'aat
~ ,rrnose NJ hacking Up the pres'.
sa,, ond hi. friends This convention was
..,,.a nv the men WIN represented the
!, 20. SINNERS ~ the west espec'al'v tne
w,,a stock interests and II had rnr 10
,urnose a further expression or sentimen!
e., r.1,rd ~ railroad rate regulation ana
such action a. would do most to counte!
:. -, m. work being done by the railroad
susan n d,scredit President Roosevelt
TO Defeat the President.
:, ,rd., tina, the Influence Of the inter.
.,ate commerce law convention mien' oe
,,,,uf,ed so far as possible. the ra'lro"o
hureau with headruarters In chicago ana
va nche. IN Des Moines and elsewhere. or
..",,nnn convention which was featured
nv them under the name Of the Federal
regulation association" This was called
~ No., IN Chicago In fact II was plan.
ned to pack the interstate commerce Jaw az
conven,ion with men who were under OBJ
uyations to the railroads OF whose 'nnu-
800 vou,d he with the railroads. and to
GO, the Interstate commerce law conven-
-, 70 condemn the work being done by
pr.s,den, roosevelt When the mon sent
- chicago for this purpose were refused
s ~ to the regular convention they
a,s,, To another hall and organised the
"Federal Rate Regulation association.
The interstate commerce law conventlon
..,, or,,on which greatly strengthened
~ hand. NJ President Roosevelt and the
mon In charge Of the rate regulation bills
onc dernonstrated that the great mass OF
,ns SINNERS and farmers OF the country
ara favors BILE to the reform