Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-28

eCOnd. SwensOn's Drr
Cummins. daughter and applause)
ut may be that you think have
some reason for talking as do today.
believe that have good cause. Why
didn't Mr.. Cummins, like any good re-
publican should have done, come be-
fore the republicans of Polk county,
actuated by his ambition to represent
them and ask suffrage for the regular
nomination? He did not do it, but pre-
ferred to stir up sedition and to APP
peal to our enemies for their support.
Gentlemen, he secured their votes.
Well now was there rot something in
the republican platform to move him
to this course? j believe, there was.
At that time Mr.. Cummins was rail-
road lawyer am going to read one
section of the platform of August "a,
1887, and follow It up with the record
as shown in the journal of the house
CT representatives CT the twenty-sec-
ond general assembly. Listen to this
declaration of the republican party,
and you will realize that at times his
tory repeats itself; that the spurious
railroad issues today were fought out,
and fought out to finish in years
gone by.
Railway Legislation in This State.
"'The theory of public regulation and
control of railways and other corpor-
ations,. first enacted into law In this
state, and by the state carried up to
the approval Of the supreme court OF
the United States, we maintain with
increasing favor. We approve the
general principles of the Inter-S
Commerce law and favor such amend
ments thereto, as will make 1t still
more protective of the interests Of the
people, and such state legislation as
will apply its principles to this state.
We further ask that the next legisla-
ture shall abolish the free pass in all
its forms, and that it shall, after
thorough and unsparing investigation,
so revise and amend the laws forming
the railroad code of the state, as will
secure to the people all possible pro-
lection from corporation monopoly
and extortion, as will increase the eff
cheney and usefulness Of a railway
commission and as will secure all fair
and possible reduction in freight and
fares, believing that the first class
roads of the state can afford to reduce
passenger fares to two cents mile.
We are opposed to all unjust discrim-
| ination between persons and places,
and also to any railroad policy or leg
Iislation which will tend to injure our
agricultural, industrial or commercial
| interests, or that will aid in building
up outside cities and interests at the
expense Of the cities and towns of our
own state. We are also opposed to
granting any form Of exclusive rights
! by which any corporation will be pro-
tected from legitimate and honorable
competition, and established as a
monopoly regardless of public inter-
ests.'
Gentlemen, that is the platform OF
1887. Why, may I ask, did not the
honorable A. B. Cummins accept that
platform as the flag under which he
could serve his district? Gentlemen
he didn't do it, But on the other
hand he preferred to play the roll Of
independent republican whiskey
democratic populistic candidate. Well
what is the record? I know what
am talking about, gentlemen. be
cause I worked in that body assidu
ously to carry out the pledges of thai
platform. / felt in honor bound to.
"In reference to the railroad pass
question, believe that republican
representatives were not justified II
accepting passes from the railroad
companies, and l never did during
my legislative service. But now in
that connection, let me ask you tt
PROFOUND the question to the Hon
l. A. B. Cummins, next Wednesday
when he addresses the citizens O
this community, Did you pose as 8
republican when you served in ths
i Twenty-first general assembly, Yes.
il Did you receive railroad transporta
i ito, and did you ride upon passes dur
ing the year 1888; did you during the
i years 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904, whe1
governor Of this state, charged will
the responsibility of enforcing tn,
u laws, accept passes and special car
. from railroad companies, and did yol
J ride on such passes over Iowa rail
road lines during that period?'
. would like to have you put thes.
questions to him to mark his reply
About the first of January, 1905, b,
| concluded he could not use railroa,
transportation longer and returned hi
passes. Gentlemen, wasn't that lik
deathbed repentance? applause.
In my opinion Governor Cummin
should not at any time after he be
came governor, under the act of 1885
and which is still the law, have ac
: cepted or used railroad passes,
: want to read certain sections of tn
Iowa railroad laws, and see whether
am correct in my conclusion. Chapte
: twenty-eight of the act Of the twenty
second general assembly. now incol