Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-26

West Virginia are subordinated to
the interests of these others; ana
our railroads, upon which we are
dependent. are controlled by an
alien corporation, practically IN
competition with us.
con the day following the publication
of this letter from the governor OF
West Virginia to Senator T1llman, a
correspondent of the Chicago Daily
Tribune who justly occupies most
honorable station in the newspaper
world at Washington wrote concern
ing you as follows:
"sThis feeling was shown by the
extraordinary interest which was
manifested in the senate today
when Tillman read a letter from
Governor Dawson of West Virginia.
which was a remarkable document
because it was in effect repudia-
tion of Senator Elkins and his no
torious devotion to the interests or
the railroads 1t is not often that
governor publicly takes issue
with a senator from his own state,
but this is exactly what the chief
executive of West Virginia has
done, and his letter Is more than
likely to be an impelling cause in
the direction of an immediate and
sweeping investigation of the re-
lations between all EASTERN trunk
line railroads.
"On Feb. 10, 1906, the Chicago Daily
Tribune published an editorial upon
the incident mentioned in the preced-
ing extracts, the first paragraph OF
which 1 quote:
"It is something novel for re-
publican governor to appeal to the
national senate thru the medium
of a democratic senator for relief
for the people of his state when
both of his own senators are re-
publicans. Governor Dawson adj
dressed the senate thru Senator
Tillman in regard to the railway
and coal trust that has West Vir-
g.nia by the throat, because he
. knew the relations of Messrs. Ell
kins and Scott to that trust would
cause them, If he sent his letter to
them, to feel more like burning 1t
than reading. 1t to their fellow
soions.' y
.,Here is an Impeachment upon your
integrity of more gravity than you can
possibly find in my speeches, and yet
/ have not heard of any letter written
either to the governor OF your own
state or to the editors and publishers of
the Chicago Daily Tribune calling them
to account for their Indictment for
your failure to faithfully represent the
interests of the people of your state
Magazine there is an article by Ray
Stannard Baker, who, as l have been
told. was present at many OF your
hearings, in which there is a mucn
more graphic description of the way IN
which your examinations were man
aged than / could possibly compose.
He assigns ex-senator Faulkner to MS
true place. and among other things
says:
1.-The downright final truth is that
this senate committee is railroad
committee mean the majority.
And this investigation, therefore,
has brought out such railroad facts
as Senator Ellsins (railroad owner
of West Virginia). Senator kean
pennsylvania railroad and other
comparatively, Senator Aldrlch !,
:, (Standard Oil and railroads), and
Senator Foraker (railroads). want
i !, ed brought out--and no more Sew
eral of the senators on the commit
tee might have made an honest in
yestigation If they had not been in
the minority, and If they had not
been affected with the trembling
palsy which attacks politicians who
are called upon to ask uncomfoft-
able questions Of railroad men.
These are hard things to say, but
they must be said if ever this coun-
try comes to clear understanding
,of how it's public opinion is man
ufactured and it's laws are made.
eft seems to me that if you pro-
pose to assail all the persons and pa
pers and magazines that have admit
ted your loyalty to the railroads and
questioned your fidelity to the people,
you should give some attention to the
attacks that come from points nearer
Washington than Iowa.
"The truth Is, senator, that you have
firmly established the reputation OF
standing for the railroads in the Unit
ed States senate. 1t is most unfortu-
nate that any senator should acquire
such reputation among the people
Of the country. 1t is in the highest de-
gree important that the body of which
you are member shall enjoy the full
est public confidence. The gravest
problems which confront us are those
which relate to the regulation and re-
striction of corporate power. These
problems will not be successfully
solved by those whose lives have been
so moulded by corporate thought and
corporate influence that they instinct
lively turn to corporation officers and
managers for information and guild
ance. 1t is with profound regret that
/ have condemned your course, but my
regret disappears and another feeling
takes its place when observe that
you are not only persisting in an in
defensible attitude, but are endeavor-
ing to reach over a thousand miles Of
space and advise the republican voters
of Iowa how to select a governor. The
burden is too heavy for you; you CAM
not lift it. The task is too great for
you; you cannot accomplish it.
yours very truly,
(SigneO ALBERT B. CUNNNIINS.
A II n * ;