Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-14
Why CUNN|N& IS
N RAGE AGAIN
The Governor Gives Out An In
terview On the Reasons For
His Candidacy
KEEP CORPORATIONS o
OUT
Desperate Effort Of the Special Inter
'ests to Gain Control of the State
Offices a Reason for Continuing the
Present Regime in Iowa Politics
Other News.
Special to Tlmes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Davenport, Feb. 14.-Governor A. B.
Cummins, while in the city on his way
home from Rock Island where he de-
livered an address on Lincolns birth
day, stopped in Davenport and was in
terviewed by the local press. He gave
some of the reasons why he decided to
become candidate for a third term
He said:
Yes. am again candidate for
governor. Although many will dis
credit the statement, it is nevertheless
fact that l announce my candidacy
reluctantly. l shall publish a letter
about Thursday of this week in which
will give my reasons for again en-
tering the race
Cant you give US hint in advance
as to what those reasons are?" the
governor was asked
Well" he answered, Il think the
policies that have been inaugurated
in this state in recent months ought
to continue to be enforced. l refer
especially to regulation that will seek
to thwart the domination of corpora
tions in, politics. 1t is my honest
opinion that corporations ought to
be excluded altogether from a part
in political caucuses. Understand
me now. ] do not mean the indi-
viduals that comprise these corpora
tions, but the combine itself has COR
porate whole.
Il believe that the big combines
ought to be SO regulated and con-
trolled that they could not WELD the
influence that elects candidates to Of,
Ace. 1t is not right that those very
things that need regulation should
name the men to office who are to
make the necessary regulations.
Corporate Influence.
1T is indeen amazing to witness the
tactics that are employed by some of
the corporations to secure their wants
from those who are elected to repre-
sent the people. At the present time
Des Moines is practically the head
quarters of representatives of the big
railroads who are doing every
thing in their power to defeat the
primary law Yet, this primary law,
If passed, would not affect the man.
agement of their roads. would have
no bearing on their traffic or their
business Their motive for this fight
against the passage of the law can
only be political one.
Fight Primary Law.
'"rhey seem TO think that if the
primary law is passed that they will
iD1, 60
cure in political caucus. The es-
sential feature of the primary law
provides that the people shall ballot,
as they do at a general election, on
candidates who desire to be nomi-
nees The republican votes for his
choice Of the republican candidates
for each office; the democrat does
likewise. The candidate that then
has the most votes is declared the
nominee. The railroads and the COR
porations figure that it is harder to
WELD their influence on each indi-
vidual voter at such an election than
it is to exert their power at caucus
where delegates represent a large num-
Der of the people. For this reason they
are attempting to block the passage of
the bill.
Campaign is Fierce.
I have never seen campaign
and / have witnessed a good many
in which the railroads made such
great effort to block legislation, as
the one they are waging in Des
Moines at the present time. They
have established themselves in suites
at the hotels, and it is safe to assert
that every member of the legislature
has in turn been brought there and
entertained. They are making some
great promises to those members who
will not support the BILL and one
democrat has told me personally that
in an interview with the railroad
he was told that they
would do their best to have the Second
district not rearranged provided he
would help to defeat the primary law.
"The only remedy is to elect men to
office VINO are not influenced by these
corporations and under no obligations
to them. This sentiment will be the
key note Of my letter in explanation
of my candidacy"