Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-05-14
Senator Delivers Speech at Des Moines, Iowa.
April e, 1903.

now is assuming credit for the work. Tt
seems to me that some of these self
classed reformers are little late in
catching the contagion-an unusual thing
in our state Think of it, countrymen,
the anti-pass law credit being claimed
by a man who never paid railroad fare
for twenty five years, riding on pass
when old John Hughes was trying to get
reform measures through the Iowa legis-
lature. As reformer our esteemed gov
ernor may be all right, but he ought to
go slow as offering his services as an
evangelist.
Other Reform Measures.
"Then there was the two-cent fare bill,
and more particularly to the point, the
primary law. Some seem to criticise me
and declare that am not in sympathy
with the primary law. Pardon me for
moment while | nail that one. l never
saw the time in my life when l was
afraid to submit my chances for an Of
flee to the people. Without public ac
cord and sympathy the best of efforts
will ofttimes fail. I have said that we
would have to work hard to make it a
success. 1t is pretty complicated. / have
always felt that it takes as good man
to be honest at a primary as it does in
an old fashioned Republican caucus.
"For some reason | have been singled
out as a buffeting post in this moral re-
generation series which is being claimed
as the complete and sole attributes of
some of our friends. i have been urged
to get into line, to affiliate myself with
a hero worship system. But let me tell
you here that purpose of action is what
counts. Honest effort has it's reward just
as much as political intrigue. l want to
protest against this assumption of vir-
tues and pay right here little tribute
to Senator Crossley of Winterset, whose
law is as complete and as creditable as
any legislation along the primary elec
ton line. | want some of the credit
placed where it belongs.
an a fight which has been character
lied as one against corporations, | don't
care to see an effort which is nothing
more than an attempted monopoly of
the moral worth of the commonwealth
in any one man.
Governor Cummins' assistants have
been going up and down the state de-
flaming Congress. Congress is Just as
good as its communities. | wish to de-
fend it. 1t is the concentration of our
governmental institutions, and he who
belittles our Congress belittles our coun-
try and our institutions. The same thing
holds goods about the old Senate. The
Senate is conservative. 1t hears indis-
tinctly. 1t is absorbed in its own bust
ness. Yet when it does hear, there is no
governing body in the world more quick
ly to respond.
Look Into History.
81 have heard it declared by politicians
that the interstate commerce commission
had been robbed of its power by adverse
decisions of the supreme court and that
it had appealed in vain for ten years for
assistance. | heard at the same time
that there was one man out here in Iowa
who was wandering up and down the
streets, alleys and byways, devouring
public opinion and advocating the vitali-
cation of the interstate commission.
Lets look into the history of this
affair. During the Spanish war, after
the decisions were rendered, did you hear
anyone talking about the interstate com
merce laws? Who was walking up and
down Iowa, then, when Senator Allison
was asleep2
81 for one do not see the wisdom of
claiming the false credit of stirring up
the people. When did Cllmmins start
this TRADE against this terrible govern
mental tool of which he is striving so
hard to become partH Not in the Nc
kinley election in 1900. Not in the
Roosevelt election in 1904.
Calls Turn on Cummins.
81 have a clipping here that fixes the
time beyond question. This clipping is
from the press of the state and tells of
young man who, during the presidential
campaign in 1904, in an interview after
meeting of stock growers association,
asked Colonel Hepburn, whom he dubbed
as the bad man, and me, the not. alto
gether-bad man, that we get busy.
WAS Cummins walking about filing
the ears OF the people with the great
wrongs then? l have read all his mes
sages and his communications to the gen.
eral assembly. Not a word about the
interstate commerce commission. Not a
word can be found about railroad wrongs.
He did call convention for the purpose
OF rewriting the constitution of the
United States. He did advocate that we
throw down the barriers to Canada at
the expense of the Iowa farmer to slim.
ulate trade in moving machines.
IF | were posing as a paragon of
moral courage at this time, / would at
least restate my views upon the subject
in truth and fact.
Il was in Iowa some months ago and
there made a statement for which | was
a a IlpnnnI rAfn % L. Il.
l will restate my challenge again. | will
wager that $1,000 | didn't get, after
proving my statements true, to any 800
II Governor Cummins ever said a word
about the railroad rate and interstate
commerce commission question prior to
the time he read the statement of the
young man who was heading the stock
growers interests in this state
True Story of Visit.
while / do not recall any citizen
ever approached me on unis railroad rate
question, l am told that the great Con
gress remained painfully silent and left
it to this one lone gigantic figure to adj
vocate. Why, | am told he even went
down to Washington and influenced
President Roosevelt to write it i'm his
message.
"The truth is that when the governor
| visited President Roosevelt on the sub
ject, the president met him with smile.
pulled out a drawer in his table and
showed the governor of Iowa the mes.
sage which he had prepared after. con.
sultation with some of those deaf old
public servants down in Washington
months before the governor of Iowa set
sail for Washington. All, truly, it was
great exploit. Nothing reminds me
SO much of an old fashioned side-show.
81 was member and still am mem.
Der of the interstate commerce commit
tee of the senate and claim to know
with more accuracy of what bannenad