Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-09-08
cation which came to me through your
hands The monument suggestion in

cation which came to me through your
hands. The prominent suggestion in
your statement is that the present
session Of the general assembly
should be adjourned until the 9th day
of November In order that it might
elect senator for the unexpired term
in accordance with the choice Of the
Republicans of the state as expressed
in the primary to be held in connec-
ton with the November election In
response to the suggestion and, as the
candidate of the Republican caucus
for senator, desire to say that l am
in full accord with the proposition
that the Republicans at large should
select their senator. 1 have been
fighting it for years, against the de-
termined opposition of many Of the
men who insist upon holding another
session of the general assembly in
November.
Gives Three Reasons for Stand.
There are three reasons which
seem to me to be conclusive against
postponing the election until Novem-
Der and l beg 20 state them.
First: The constitution of the
United States makes it 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 or
ganization of the general assembly.
believe in obeying the law, without
| regard to consequences
Second: I believe that II the gen
eral assembly were to adjourn until
November there could be no legal
election or adjournment of sessions
To hold otherwise is to give the legis-
ture of Iowa the power to annul a
statute of the United States. My
opinion of this respect is reinforced
| by that of he attorney general.
Third The reassembling of the
Legislature in November would entail
an additional expense, which in view
Of what l am about to say is wholly
unnecessary.
| 'I have given you briefly, but
| hope plainly, my objections to an ad-
| journment of the session until Novem-
| Der | want, however. all the repubi-
can members Of the general assembly
who signed the statement, to know
and especially / want the republicans
Of Iowa to know that my attachmen,
to the principle that senators should
be chosen by the votes of the indivi-
| dual members of the party is profound
| and lasting
Would Resign if Beaten.
Therefore, l make this positive, un-
eouivocal statement in writing both
to the republicans Of the general as
sembly and to the republicans Of the
state of Iowa. that If I am elected
senator for the unexpired term at thi:
time. and am not the choice of the re.
publicans of the state as expressed al
the primary in November. If one II
provided for, l will Immediately after
it is known that the republicans have
been successful in electing a republi
can candidate for senator for the long
sembly resign the office of senator, ant
use all the influence I have to secure
the appointment for the short term, o
the man who is chosen as the republi
candidate for senator for the Ions
term beginning March /, 1909. In this
way you can, without casting any
doubt on the legality Of the election
or without imposing any additiona
expense upon the tax payers, nak'
certain that the republican choice 70
the full term will also hold the offic,
for the unexpired term. l deplore tn
differences in the party and am Willing
to do all can do to make it sure tina
5 every republican candidate shall re
ceive the old time republican majority
With kind regards, I am,
Yours very truly,
u Albert B. Cummins."