Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-10
|OWA|S NOT DOUBTFUL
"That's a Foolish Idea," Says
Col. Pete Hepburn.
REPUBLICANS ARE UNITED
And Their Votes Will Be Cast for
Taft and Sherman.
NOT SENATORIAL CANDIDATE
I'm Too DID," Mr.. Hepburn Ex-
plains and Then Gives Other Rea-
sons for Preferring the House.

All this talk about Iowa being in the
doubtful column as far as the rresl-
Dental election is concerned is entirely
without foundation and is. in fact. quite
foolish. according to Representative
Pete Hepburn of that state. Cod. Hep
burn returned from Iowa this morning.
He left here last week to attend the
funeral Of the late Senator Allison.
Political WiSeacres. and those who pose
as such. have been saying all sorts of
things about Iowa since the death of
Senator Allison. The principal rumor has
been that the death of Senator Allison
has reopened the big senatorial fight out
there which was brought to close by
Allison's victory last spring after merry
row in the republican party Of the state.
and therefore the democrats will have a
good chance of carrying the state for
Bryan in the fall.
Are One for Taft.
How can this be-" asked Col. Hep
burn this morning. as he sat at his desk
in the rooms of the House committee on
interstate commerce. of which he is chair
man. THE republicans of my state may
be divided or local issues. on the SEN
atorial question. for instance. buty they
are one in their enthusiasm for Taft.
THE normal republican majority in
Iowa is from 10000 to 10000. 1t gave
10000 for Roosevelt, and it will give at
least $4,000 for Taft next November.
am sure of it,
Col Hepburn would not talk for publi-
cation about the senatorial situation, ex-
cept to say that he had no aspirations to
succeed Senator Allison. On account of his
influential position in the House and his
political strength in his district in Iowa a
<-;@
wondering why he does not become a
senatorial candidate. Here is what he
had to say about that question today:
Prefers House to Senate.
II am seventy-five years of age and
can't expect to live indefinitely. l know
that even If l were elected to the Senate
it would be a long time before 1 could
amount to much in that body. Frankly.
I prefer my position In the House to the
position / would have in the Senate.
Therefore, shall never try to get to the
Senate. Before Senator Dolliver was
chosen l was urged to make the race,
but declined for the reasons l have just
stated"
One thing that Col Hepburn was very
willing to discuss was. the local street
railway situation Ever since he has been
in Congress he has taken a deep personal
interest in the conduct of the local roads
and has been the strongest kind of an ad-
vocate of regulation by the Commission
ers and of legislation that would compel
better service on all of the lines.
He's With the I. C. C.
He declared today that ne believed the
interstate commerce commission was act
ing entirely within the purpose and letter
Of the recently enacted street railway law
when it named a subcomnission of citl-
zens of the District to investigate COM
plants against the railway companies and
recommend improvements.
The law certainly did not contemplate
that the commission should give personal
attention TO the details of this work, he
said. "Of course. the commission has the
power to name its assistants.
THE local street railways he added.
ought TO be regulated. and they are go
ing 10 be. too