The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-26
HOT SHOTS FOR ELKINS Spicy Letter of Iowa's
 Governor. REPLIES TO THE SENATOR Declares That He is Owned by
 Corporations. Cummins openly Attacks the West vir~ Eiutan As Representative of Rail- roads In American House
 Of Lords.

ernor Cummins has mailed to Senator Elkinss of West Virginia, a reply to the Senator's letter in which ha crttI- cized statements made by the Governor in speeches to voters of Iowa. regard@ ing his examination before the Sem ate committee on interstate commerce. when it had under consideration the railway rate bill.
 The Governor says that the Senator accused him of falsehood in declaring that his cross examination was hos- tile, that an attorney of the railway companies sat at the right of Senator Elkins during the examination, that Senator Elkins appeared to be in com- munion and sympathy with this attor- ney and that the attorney handed to Senators Elkins questions to be asked the Governor.
 'Tf." says the Governor in his lettar to the Senator, you understand your duties and obligations as chairman of a legislative committee to be similar to those of an advocate, have no crit icism to make of your conduct, except to say that you were on the side of the railways instead of on the side of the people. l 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 sidep patiently without bias or prejudice and then to decide impartially without fear or favor. You heard patiently but 1t was clearly Yap- parent in your cross examination, that you had decided the case in favor of the railroads and were determined ta shatter my evidence IT you couh
 The cross-examination shows con- clusively that you had made m your mind that the proposed authority ought not to be given to the Tnter@ Ess the power sought to be given waa un- necessary. dangerous and dlisd with disaster to commerce. 1t is from ba~ ginning to end just such q cross-ex- animation as an attorney for the rall- way companies would have condueted, An9 4 was unseafusy for xn1s tn asS sumo that attitude
 Railroad Attorney Advised.
 ''rhe scene in your committee room is sharply stamped on my memory and it is impossible that can be mis- taken about 1t. Sitting sauarely at your right hand. just a trihe behind you. sat a gentleman, who as I was afterwards informed. is Ex-Senator Faulkner. l inquired what relation he hore to the investigation and was told that he was an employe of the railway companies to resist the pro- pose flaw. do not know whether tho other Senators saw him or not. for their faces were turned toward mo and. therefore away from him; but ! do know that you saw him. first bee cause he was so close to you that you could not turn your head without see- ing him; second. because you were in conversation with him a part Of the time: third. because saw him with his hand on your shoulder. pass to you questions which you read and then put to me. There can he no mistake about a ffuk then as human faculties can be.
 You may believe that an investl- gation carried on in this manner Is In accordance with fairness and decency. ] do not You may continue in your belief if you like hut I shall continue in my denuncation.
 "It appears to me that you pro- pose to assail all persons and papers and magazines that have admitted your loyalty to the railroads and questioned your fidelity.
 'People you should give some atten- tion to the attacks that come from points nearer Washington than Iowa
 'The truth Is. Senator, that you have fairly established the reputation of standing for the railroads in the United States Senate It is most unfortunate than any Senator should acquire such a reputation among the people of tho country. It is in the highest degree
 
 are a member shall enjoy the fullest public confidence. The gravest prob lems which confront us are those which relate to the regulation and restric- ton of corporate power These prob- lems will not be successfully solved by those whose lives have been SO molded bv corporate thought and cor porate influence that .hey instinctively turn to corporation officers and man. agers for information and guidance. It Is with profound regret that have condemned your course but my regret disappears and another feeling takes its place when I observe that you are not only persisting in your indefensi- ble attitude, but are endeavoring Co reach over a thousand miles of space md advise the Republican voters of Iowa how to select Governor. The burden is too heavy for you; you can- not lift it. The task Is too great for you; you cannot accomplish It."