Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-22
His Birthday Demonstration
Left the Iowa Legislature
in Friendly Mood
THEY LIKED HIS SINCERITY
The Whole Affair Was of Much Bene-
fit and Emphasized the Need of Pur-
ity in the Government of the State
His Endorsement of Cummins'
Message Unqualified.
LBy Ora wtlliams.l
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines. Jan. 22.-The Larrabee
birthday demonstration was a fitting
close of the first two weeks of the leg
islature, and it was altogether so
pleasant and harmonizing that it will
go far to make the session one of good
will and good work. Everybody is
| feeling good over the incident. The
address of the distinguished eX-gov-
ernor was entirely informal-he merely
talked from the heart and said that
| which came first to his mind, and it
| was all so plain and straight forward
that no person who heard him would
ever have the hardihood to question
his sincerity and aside from that which
appeared in public and was of record
there was the pleasure which all had in
visiting with Governor Larrabee, and
not least with Mrs. Larrabee, for she
| is quite as popular as the companion
in whose career she has always taken
the greatest delight. The whole affair
was in perfect good taste-the intro
duction in fitting words by Speaker
| Cummings, the few remarks of Lieut..
Gov. Herriott, the eloquent words of
ex- Governor Jackson and of Governor
| Cummins, and even the poem of Major
| Byers. What Governor Larrabee said
| on the anti-pass bill will probably at
tract greatest attention, and it was in
line with his own record and we'll rec
ogniZed principles. He did not mince
matters, and when he said he would
have impeached amy judge of a court
| in Iowa found making use of q free
pass everyone knew he meant just
what he said, no matter how it might
hurt the feelings of persons who accept
petty bribery as q condition to be toll
Grated. His references to the message
of Governor Cummins, his complete
Endorsement of everything therein,
caused no surprise among those who
know the sturdy and unchanging re-
publicanSm of the ex-governor. His
Endorsement of the plan to have the
state care for the tuberculosis patients
will give that movement big boost
AS illustrating the purely nonpartisan
character of the demonstration for
Governor Larrabee it was noticed that
Cato Sells, the distinguished Fifth dis
trict democrat and former United
States attorney, was present in the
hall of the house, and he took deep in
terest in the proceedings
II came to Des Moines,' he said,
Especially to attend the demonstra-
ton in honor of the birthday of Gov
ernor Larrabee. 1t seemed to me TO be
such an appropriate thing to thus do
honor to one who has had so much to
do in the making of Iowa that desired
to participate. 1 regard Governor
Larrabee as a type of the very best
Iowa citizenship. He is the ideal public
officer. In his own field and in his own
way he represents here in Iowa just
what the late Marshall Field represent
ed in Chicago in his particular field
the honest, upright. public spirited and
patriotic citizen The Iowa legislature
has done itself great credit by this
recognition of the services of William
Larrabee."
The Lundt resolution to require the
lobbyists to report to the governor and
to do their work in the open will pro-
badly be called up during the week
but it is regarded as huge joke. Just
now there is but little visible of a
lobby. The plan Of Mr.. Lundt would
hardly do any good. The only service
it has been is that of calling attention
to the fact that legislators are annoyed
by some lobbyists.
The week opening today promises
much more legislative activity than
either of the last two. While the pre-
liminaries were quickly disposed Of
yet it is impossible for the legislature to
do much real business until there is
an accumulation Of bills and some real |
committee work. Thus far about the
only things possible have been the
passing of legalized acts, of which
there is an increasing number each |
year. Now there will be committee
work. The insurance committees will |
meet this week and hold several ses-
sons. The minor matters will be dis
posed of first. as there are number of |
small amendments proposed to insur-
ance laws that are in the nature of |
correcting the code; then will come the
more important question of a COM
mission for the revision of the insur-
anee laws and general investigation Of
the needs of the state in the matter of |
additional legislation, which includes |
the plan to compel companies doing
business in Iowa to provide securities. |
At present the Iowa companies furnish |
by far the best security The matter
of the investigation of the companies
themselves may also receive much at
tention this week. The elections COM
mittees will also get action this week,
and the completion and perfection of
the primary bills will be taken up.
The fractional fight over the printer
and binder came into the game at a
time when it forced delay in the matter
of perfecting the primary law legfsla-
ton. 1t is expected that the resolution
for the date for the joint assembly to
elect printer and binder will be passed
during the week, and thus the incident
be closed. The joint convention will
be about February L. The Judiciary
committees of both houses have been
doing sufficient business already so
that there may be a formal calendar
for the working Of the legislature this
week.