Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-05-01
CumminS A Friend TO
The Colored People
A Reply to Mr.. Browns Letter
Which IS Untrue, Misleading
and Contradictory.

Seldom does the editor of the
Bystander ever take time or con.
sumo valuable space to answer
letters sent in expressing ones
opinion, but in view of the fact
! two weeks ago we gave a brief
history of Hon. Albert B. Cum
Minis, present Governor Of the
commonwealth of Iowa, and who
is now asking the vote of the peo-
pie to be elected to the United
State Senate June 2, at the COM
ing state primaries. In which
we stated that Governor Cumnins
had appointed more colored peo-
pie to place of honor and trust
than any other governor or public
man in Iowa has done in seven
years.
And, in view of the fact that
Mr.. Curtis, formerly an Iowan,
but now of Georgia, rightly
classified him one of the greatest
friends our race has in Iowa; and
those who know him intimately
will verify this fact ssea
Mr.. Brown admits that the
governor ''in his eloquent flights"
has said some kind things about
us. You remember when he visit
ed the battle fields in the southern
states dedicating the soldiers
monuments, he was tested by
rebel governors like Vauderman
and others who had him as their
guest, yet he was true to his
convictions and idea; unlike Gen
eral Weaver flop over to say
something against the colored
race to tickle the white south
Again Mr.. Brown says, during
Governor Cum Mus 7 years he
has not appointed single Negro
to a permanent position of my
sort. Then in the next para
graph he says that he (the
governot) found three regularly
employed when he became COVER
dor, and now he has only one
permanently employed, namely,
VIM. Coalson. How contradictory
are these statements. He uses j..
H. Shepard's name to make the
three employed: the fact is MIR.
Shepard never was employed in
the Governors Office or under his
control. The state auditor,
Frank Merrimap, employed Mr.
Shepard, and the present state
auditor, B, F. Carroll, turned
him off and appointed white
man in his stead long after Gov
ernor Cummins was in Office.
Next he speaks of Mr.. John Wal
ker, only employed during the
winter months. The fact is Mr..
Walker was appointed perman-
emily, but he would not accept
it during the spring and summer
months, for he could make more
at his trade, and he asked to be
relieved and only work during
the winter. ~.
In regards to John L. Thomp-
sons clerical work in the archives;
as the Governors term is for two
years he can only be appointed
for two years-hence his appoint
ment is for the full two years, if
he can do the work. r..
The true facts are these, and
the official records will bear me
out. First, Governor Cummins
appointed a colored man State
Dairy Commissioner in the per-
son of A. A. Bland Of Keokuk.
Second, he appointed VIM. Coal
son of Des Moines Governors
messenger. Third, he named
John Walker as assistant fireman
of the capitol building. Fourth,
he appointed Miss Francis Wal
ker and Edward W. Thompson Of
Polk county and Miss Nettie
Franklin of Taylor county as
clerks in the census department.
Fifth, be named young Clarence
Began on the regular force of
capitol help. Sixth he appointed
John L. Thompson clerk in the
Hall of Archives, Historical
building.
In the year 1904 when Presi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt visited
our city and state, the Governor
had a specia1 train to escort the