Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-24

effective power, and from That Tine III
became u joke and an object of de-
rision by the railroads of the country.
Immediately upon this decision, the in
terState commerce commission asked
congress to amend this bill, and clear
ly grant them this power. The presi-
dent of the United States in a strong
and fearless message recommended
such action. From that time until 1906
the commission begged for power. Bills
We're introduced in congress comforting
it. but the railroads of this country
had the power to prevent them from
ever getting out of the pigeon holes
of the committee room. They seemed
to have congress hypnotzed
Where were Allison and Doliver dur
ing that time? Senator Allison was in
the senate during all of the time and
Senator Dolliver was there during five
years of it. and / defy either one OF
them to show a word that they said
in the halls of congress or upon the
stump, advocating the granting of this
power TO the commission. They We're
as silent as CLAIMS. There was just as
much necessity for this law In 1900 as
there was in 1906. But where did they
ever raise their voices for it? Our bold,
courageous and fearless Cummins was
making speeches not only in Iowa, but
over the entire United States on this
| question. Where was that man, that
now vaunts his courage, during these
exciting campaigns? Still silent Who
was it that went to Washington to ask
the president of the United States to
| include that recommendation in his
| message to congress? Who was 1t ap
peared before the interstate commerce
committee when the hearing had
| grown into a farce. testified in favor
of the people and turned the whole
course of the investigation. resulting
in the famous Fixing letter. Was it
Allison? Was it Dollver? No. 1t was
that friend of the masses of the peo
pie, the governor of Iowa. When Gov
ernor Cummins was making this fight
in Iowa, did Deliver or Allison help
him? To be perfectly fair and candid
with these gentlemen. 1t was not until
after the president of the United
States had espoused this cause; 1t was
| not until the wave that had been Gre
ated by such men as Governor Cum
Minis had swept across the country: 1t
was not until the deluge of popular
opinion had engulfed the national
capital that these brave men stuck
their heads up thru the foam, and
blowing the mists from their nostrils.
said, We. too. are in favor of 1t
Il give them credit to which they
are entitled, and they are entitled to
credit; but say without fear of sue
cessful contradiction that Governor
Cummins by creating public sentiment.
| did more to secure the passage of that
bill outside of the congress than both
of these gentlemen did in congress.
Il trust that the people of Iowa will
not repeat the fiasco of 1900. when in
response to this Doliver's) beautiful
sentiment they elected to the United
States senate, a man Is years Of age.
SO enfeebled in body and mind that
every one knew he was not capable OF
properly discharging the duties Of SEN
! ator. He died before the beginning
of the term for which he was elected.
This deprived the people of their right
| to choose the representative to that
high office, and vested that right in
the then acting governor of this state.
'.They are now appealing to this
same beautiful sentiment to re-elect
to the senate a man 80 years of age,
decrepid and enfeebled by disease, not
that they might show him greater
honor, but that they might preserve
their power.
But this force makes use of this
beautiful sentiment when they need it
and turns it aside with a sheer wher
it does not serve their purpose or de-
sign.
Not a Contest Beteen Men.
But, gentlemen, this is not con-
| test between men, 1t is contest be-
tween forces. This is contest be-
tween the progressive and the reac-
tionary forces of the state and nation.
1t is contest between the people and
the powers, and this mighty contest
must be continued regardless of SEN
timent or men. The mighty reforms
started by Theodore Roosevelt must
not be stopped and turned back. The
great wrongs that he has uncovered
must not again be covered up
Senator Deliver spent two hours
at Council Bluffs ina showing what
Senator Allison had done IN thirty
five years. He could have spent three
days in stating what he had left I'M
done. The mighty evils of this coun-
| try against which the president is now
battling, grew UP around him with his
full knowledge; and if we accept their
oft repeated declaration that he was
the leader of the American congress,
we are forced to say, with his con-
sent.
when the railroads of the country
were combining to extort unreasonable
rates to pay dividends on watered
stock; when they were using their
passes and money taken from the peo-
pie, to stife legislation in the nation
and in every state; when the great
trusts were forming to levy tribute
| upon the labor and resources of the
nation; when the great insurance
companies were taking millions from
their policy holders to be squandered
in bribing officers, corrupting legisla-
lures and dominating politics, state
and nation; when the Standard Oil
Company was running it's competitors
and robbing the masses of the people
/, in open defiance of law, where was AL
/ lison? Where was he using his mighty
| influence in congress or out of it to
curb or abate them? What word ever
fell from his lips denouncing them, or
/, even censuring them? Let the distin-
guished senator from Fort Dodge an
swer.
| EY,oJJ1-. Thic "Forca that last