Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-17
CUMM|NS OUT
AS CANDIDATE
FOR SENATOR
IN REPLY TO TOR.
BERT LETTER CONSTITUTES 1T
AS A REFUSAL TO MAKE A
PLEDGE.

Des Moines. Dec. Is. Gov. Cum
Minis yesterday formally announced
his candidacy for the United States
senate in a signed statement. includ-
Ing a denial of the charge that he
pledged himself not to be a candidate
against Senator Allison. His state
ment is brought out by the quotation
by Senator Dolliver of letter writ
ten by Governor CumInins in 1906 to
Mr. w. H. Torbert Of Dubuque.
The announcement makes detailed
denial Of the conversation said by
Torbert to have been held between
him and the governor, and in which
the former says that Cummins posi-
lively pledged himself not to be can
didate for the senate.
Interpreting the Torbert letter
itself. the governor declares that he
actually refused to pledge himself not
to be candidate for senator against
i Allison In answer to demand to
make the pledge.
Says Allison Promised to Quit.
Governor Cummins statement fol-
| lows:
With regard to an alleged CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Torbert in the fall of
1905, have this to say:
That while have often spoken
kindly of Senator Allison to Mr. Tor
bert, and inasmuch as Senator ALI
son had said to me that he did not
intend 20 follow the example certain
senators whom he named, and remain
in the senate after impairment Of his
strength and vigor, I undoubtedly told
Torbert, as told scores OF other
friends tat I did not expect to op
pose Senator Allison. I assert with
the utmost directness and emphasis
that | never promised Torbert or any
body else. either directly or Indirectly
that would not become a candidate
against Allison. make this assertion
broad enough to cover everybody and
every day OF every year.b. ,s,
q Not Pledged Tor tffe. z
4 Respecting the Torbert letter
have this to say:
Il stated the exact truth In an ex
act way and none save those who ar
hunting an opportunity to pervert m.
meaning can find in 1t pledge tina
would never oppose Mr. Allison.
1t pledged me to Mr.. Allison In 1909
1t would I suppose. pledge me TO
1915 if lie lives until then, and SO OF
during his natural life. 1t is absurd t.
put such a construction upon 1t and II,
fairminded man would dc It, The lette
was written In April, 1906, | was no
a candidate for the senate. was
candidate for governor. A year passe,
and still l was not a candidate for tn
Allison succession.
Attack Determines Candidacy.
, For the last three months I hav
been thinking seriously of becomin
candidate and have said that e1
pected to enter the primary; but ur
til now the matter has not been absc
lutely settled. This incident brings tn
subject to conclusion. My enemie
, announce that cannot with homo
be candidate. accept the issue an
1t shall be submitted to the repu.::
can voters Of Iowa. am quite willin
to have them say who Is guilty of ba
: faith
This is not the first time my mt
, tives have been maligned and .. m
words distorted. and it will probabl
. not be the last time, for my opponent
y are both persistent and resourcefu
+ l have learned that the tom-tom Ia nc
very destructive in political warfar.
and am not much disturbed by tn
opening strains Of the concert.
ITO my friends | beg to send thl
message. I am fighting on for tn
same things in the same way and wit
n the same confidence as in forme
year. The outcome is with the peopl'
albert B. Cummins.'