Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-31
THE REAL ISSUE IN IOWA.

IAN congressman, legislature and state
officers equally as certain, there re-
mains but one resl struggle for Iowa
republicans in next Tuesdays election.
rhe selection of a United States sena-
or by popular vote is given to them
~ indirection. Fly voting their pref
erence between two men and by elect
Ing a republican legislature, the legis-
iature will elect as senator the man
they choose. This privilege has come
to. the voters of Iowa this year for
the first time. 1t is product of seven
years of Cumminism.
Some men are tired of the name,
some have grown weary OF the strife,
but it has brought results which few
men realize entirely. 1t began ten
years ago. Cun1mins had once been
an attorney for railroads. He was
elected to the legislature and offended
mis- former clients by refusing to favor
them with his vote. He ran for sem
ator against the venerable Gear. It
was railroad fight with the political
attorneys of the 90" railway and of
The G. & N. w. in command. Gear
was falling in health and decrepit, but
by ways which have since been de-
elared unlawful, he was elected, only
to die before he could take his seat.
s People realized that they had been
& deceived as to his age and decline, but
Governor Shaw refused to appoint any
one except someone acceptable to the
railway BOSSES. 1t was not Cumnlins.
State Treasurer Herriott had been
Exposing favoritism in the matter Of
.ailway assessments, and he showed
hat the railway attorneys We're get
ing assessment favors from the men
whose nominations they were able to
control in conventions. Two Cummins
men, G. S. G1bertson and w. M. Mar
lin. we've nominated and elected to the
/ executive council. Their votes, to cor
\ rect favoritism in railway assessments
were blocked by the votes of Governor
Shaw and Auditor Merriam, the latter
has since left the state in haste. This
assessment matter became an issue.
l.ummins WIS nominated for governor
after terrific fight. When elected
his vote made it possible to change
assessments and today the railroads
of Iowa pay taxes on "A millions Of
property more than they did before
he became governor
He has been governor for seven
years, having been the only governor
in Iowa's history to serve three terms.
But what have we to show for it all?
In the first place, a clean and able
and fearless administration against
which neither democrat nor factional-
list dares 40 complain.
& Then the railroad pass, which once
corrupted public officers from legisla-
tor to constable, has been abolished
by law. -ummins did not suggest it
or abolish it, but he led the movement
which finally brought the statute.
The convention which the office
holders. machine bosses and railway
ATTORNEYS could control was made to
give way to the statewide primary
in which voters choose their party can
didates by direct vote.
The practice of corporations contrib
uting money to campaign funds in re-
Z turn for political influence was abol-
1shed by law.
The public which had long paid
90 cents per mile for railroad fare,
Y while commercial travellers paid cents
Der mile and politicians rode free, was
given one third off on its railroad tray-
ell, and the 2-cent fare established by
law for everybody.
Then laws We're passed compelling
corporations to invest in their business
dollar for dollar, actual value for the
stock they issue; forbidding the adul-
teratiop of foods or seeds, compelling
banks 10 pay interest on deposits of
state money. appropriating money for
almost the rebuilding of our state coll
leges and for erecting monuments on
our southern battlefields.
These are actual results for Cum
sminisnl in Iowa. During this time
This man as governor has become a
national figure. When President
Roosevelt was crying for help to have
railroad freight rates regulated il was
+. l.un1r ms whose preaching made resu-
4sation popular in the west. When the
saenate committee was holding hear
Ing OF. regulation which was becoming
farce, IT was Cun1rnins who appeared
before, it as witness for the public
and it was Cumlnins who came back
TO Iowa with bitter letter from Steve
ITikins, the senatorial attorney for syn
Aicat.d RAILROADS. barking at his heels.