Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-23


blouse, entered the factory of the in
dependent barbed wire makers. took
his place at the machine and learned
all the details Of the business. AT the
final trial in the U. S. courts at keo-
kuk the monopoly concerns appeared
with a great array of eastern attor-
neys, while Governor Cummins alone
represented the Iowa farmers.
When the trial was ended and
verdict rendered in the farmers
favor, one of the owners Of big east
ern concern approached Attorney
Cummins with proposition to go
east and become counsel for them
with a salary many times larger than
what he earned in Iowa. Mr.. Cum
Minis replied to this offer by saying
he would conduct no legal fight with
out regard to right or justice.
The year 1887 was very dry one In
Iowa. So dry that many sections of
the state were very short of hay to
feed their live stock; this county had
good crop and was able to supply
some of the other counties with hay,
but owing to the railroads not being
willing to make short haul rates, it
to counties that needed it. The
writer made a contract with some
stockmen in Boone county, early in
the winter, to supply them with hay,
and commenced to press the hay. But
| the railroad would not let him have
cars to ship it before the first OF
March, thereby causing great loss to
him and much suffering among the
cattle in Boone county. So unreason-
able had the railroads become that
| the following year Governor Larrabee
started a movement to give the Iowa
railroad commissioners authority to
fix just and equitable railroad rates
and to forbid discrimination. In this
fight Mr.. Cummins was chosen by
Governor Larrabee to carry the meas
ure thru the legislature. The record
of that legislative session shows that
Mr. Cummins took an active part in
perfecting the bill which is now law.
Mr.. Cummins' activity along these
lines won the hostility of one of the
most powerful railroad Hobbies that
ever pestered a general assembly OF
our state.
For many years 1t has been my priv
ilege to represent the farmers of our
county in several state gatherings
| called for the express purpose of cor
recting some of the unjust conditions
imposed upon the wealth producer, and
several times have been chosen to APP
pear before legislative committees IN
behalf of the farmers.
On such occasions I have had goo6
opportunity to see who was really the
| l. of M irof
when the Corn Belt Meat Producers
association has called upon Governor
Cummins for advice or assistance but
what they have got it, and at times
when it was quite a sacritlce Tor MN
to do So The Iowa State Farmers
Elevator association asked me to ap-
pear before the general assembly o.
our state to urge it to pass law com
pelling railroad companies to make
Joint freight rate with each other
When 1 was there, Governor Cummln
gave me all the assistance possible
Governor Cummins has been lnstru
mental in passing the 2-cent fare la"
/. anti-pass law, joint freight rate law
, prohibiting corporations from contrib
. uting to campaign funds, law prohib
, iting watering corporation stock II
Iowa. Is it not natural then that tn
!, railroad influences and corrupt poll
ticians of our state should oppos
him9 1t is seldom in contest for
public office the lines are so closet
t drawn between people on the on
hand and corporation influence o.
: the other as now in this senatoria
v fight HEINZ FAho1->s9'
, Manson, April %, 1908.