Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-07


by the vote of a majority of all the
republican members OF the general as
semblv, has nominated me for the Of
fee of senator In congress to fill the
vacancy now existing.
II may, therefore, with propriety,
make further reply to the commun-
ication, which came to me thru your
hands. The prominent suggestion in
your statement IL: That the present
session OF the general assembly should
be adjourned until the ninth day Of
November in order that 1t might elect
a senator for the unexpired term in
accordance with the choice Of the re-
publicans of the state as expressed In
the primary to be held in connection
with the November election.
While They Opposed.
'Tn response to the suggestion and
as the candidate OF the republican eau
Gus for senator, l desire ito say that
I am In full accord with the PROPOSE
tbon that the republicans at largo
should select their senator. have
been fighting for 1t for years against
the determined opposition of many OF
the men who insist upon holding an
other session OF the general assembly
In November.
"There are three reasons which
seem to me to be conclusive against
postponing the election until Novem-
Der and beg to state them.
'First--The constitution OF the I'm
tied States makes 1t the imperative
duty of the Legislature to fill the va
cancy; and the statute of the United
States. which is just as binding as the
| constitution, declares that the duty
shall be performed on the second
Tuesday after the meeting and organ
ization of the general assembly. I be-
lieve in obeying the law without re-
gard to consequences
"Second--I believe that if the gem
eral assembly were to adjourn until
November there could he no legal cleo
ton at such adjourned session. To
hold otherwise is to give the legislature
of Iowa the power to annul statute
Of the United States. My opinion In
this respect is reinforced by that of the
attorney general.
'.rhird-The d'eassembling of the leg
islature in November would entail an
additional expense. which, in view OF
what l am about to say Is wholly un-
necessary.
Faith in the People.
Il have given you briefly, but ] hope
plainly. my objections to adjournment
Of the session until November. I want
however all the republican members
of the general assembly, who signed
the statement. to know, and especially
want the republicans OF Iowa to
know that my attachment to the
principle that senators should be chos-
en- by the votes of the Individual mem
bers Of tlhe party Is profound and last
ing.
Therefore, make this positive. un-
| equivocal statement in writing, both
| to the republicans of the general as
sembly and to the republicans Of Iowa.
! that If / am elected senator for the
unexpired term at this time and am
not the choice OF the republicans OF
! the state as expressed at the primary
in November, IL one is provided for, l
| will Immediately after 1t is known
| that the republicans have been sue
cessful in electing republican ma
jority in the 'Thirty-third general as
sembly, resign the office of senator,
and use all the influence have to
secure the appointment for the short
/! term, Of the man who Is chosen as
| the republican candidate for senator
for the long term, beginning March 4,
| 1909.
! In this way you can, without cast
| ing any doubt upon the legality OF the
election, or without imposing any ad-
ditional expense upon the taxpayers,
make certain that the republican choice
| for the full term will also hold the
office for the unexpired term. de-
plore the differences in the party ana
am willing to do all i can do to make
1T sure that every republican candi-
date shall receive the old-time repub-
lican majority.
"With regards, am yours very truly,
"ALBERT b. CUMMLNS."
The Dilemma.
"A prominent republican who has
been conspicuous around every repup-
lican convention for the past ten
years sized up the situation tersely
| today, when he said:
"They've now got Cummins where
he is going to be damned If ne does
and damned If he doesn't. 1t has been
made clear that the standpatter is
going to do anything to beat Cummins
|af Cummins had appointed, some
friend to this vacancy they would have
made that .appointee their. candidate
They would have said to the people;
.Cummins is the only thing that keeps
up factionalism. Here's a good pro-
gressive, Curnrlins' own friend, let's al
unite on him. and have harmony. ana
the thing would have looked plausible
enough to. beat Cummins In the next
Legislature. ~ !.
+ "If Cummins had resigned and had
been successful in getting Garst to ap-
point him, as hundreds Of standpat-
ters told him to do. they would have
made a. great cry about his selfish
ness. and would have either defeated
Eenough progressive republican nom
| |inees for the legislature to carry the
Republican caucus or enough to throw
the Legislature democratic.
"cummins, had to call special
session to save the republican legisla-
ture and to save himself If he had told
| his friends in this legislature to elect
somebody else for the short term while
! he got ready to run for the long term
these standpatters would have told the
people that this man Cummins was
such a democrat and such disturber
that even his own friends in the leg
| islatrre did not dare to elect him
when they had a chance. They would
have turned in to support the pro-
| sresstye thus elected arguing that If
he was good enough progressive Tor the
short term he ought to be good enough
II II n n M at