The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-10-22
HEPBURN IS
OUT OF ACCORD.
Not in Line With Improvement
Program Of Immediate Future.
nppneEe RoT4TAETAMnR pyAN
OPPOSES BOTHTAFT AND BRYAN
Would Not Aid River Improve
1nent at All.

One of the most vital questions COM
ing before congress during the next
two years will be with reference to
the improvement of the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers. The improve
ment of these rivers to make them
navigable would enhance the value
of all Iowa farms at least SIS per acre
on an average. Iowa would be bene-
fitted by this more than any other state
and one would naturally expect to see
our congressman actively pushing this
project, yet we find Colonel Hepburn
in the interests Of the railroads, open
ly and bitterly opposing the improve
ment of these natural waterways. One
of the grounds for such opposition is
that the cost will be great but the
question of economy never cut much
of figure with Colonel Hepburn
when he was voting millions Of the
money of the people to the railroads
under one preteXt and another. When
Roosevelt, in his message to congress,
urged these Improvements it had no
effect on Hepburn except to increase
his opposition thereto and he carried
this opposition SO far as to make
speech in congress denouncing and
ridiculing the whole scheme. That
there was some strong and Interior in
ducement and motive causing him to
oppose the interests of his constitu-
ents and his state in a matter OF such
Importance was generally understood
and believed in Washington and
throughout the country.
We find the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
one of the leading Republican papers
of the west, last February referring
to this strange spectacle in the fol-
lowing language:
"The speech of the Hon. w. P. Hep
burn of Iowa on the waterways in the
house last Saturday is, all things con-
sidered, about the most astonishing
utterance ever made there by Repub-
lican with a reputation for common
sense.
For reasons best known to him
self, Mr. Hepburn is ayerse to the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river and
its tributaries. His argument against
improvement consisted of the bold
statement that the steamboat as a
means of transportation is a thing of
the past, as it could not compete with
the railway.
Nov, they have good common
schools in Iowa, and every intelligent
school boy in Mr.. Hepburns district
knows that water transportation, so
far from being method of the past,
is one of growing Importance, and in
point of low cost excels all others.
"Mr. Hepburn has figured considera-
bly, in the framing of railway rate
regulation bills He ought to know
what is the regulating effect of the
great lakes on railway charges be-
tween Iowa and the seaboard.
'And he has no excuse for denying
the self-evident fact that to have fur
Their waterway competition through
the Mississippi river system would
greatly benefit the people whom he
represents in congress.
From a congressman of the Mis-
sissippi valley, supposed to represent
the interests of it's people, Mr.. Hep
gear with the times. He trifes with a
serious matter"
Judge Taft in his speech at the re-
cent Chicago conference strongly
committed himself to the early i'm
provement of these waterways and
Bryan is enthusiastically in favor of
such improvements.
ca ic Coroto, WY n AZ
Democratic candidate that Colonel
Hepburn opposes for congress in this
district. 70 matter who is elected
president, Hepburn, if elected, will be
there opposing these improvements in
which our people are so vitality inter-
ested and on the mementous question
he will be out of touch with the ad-
ministration and by every means pos
sible thwart all legislation on this
overshadowing issue.
On the other hand Senator jamie
son will vote and work for this legis-
lation no matter who is elected pres1-
dent. Hepburn will be in with Can
non and that ilk opposing and defeat
ing the expressed will of either can
didate successful and the interests of
the people of this great Mississippi.
Jameson would be advocating these
improvements and would be with eth
er Taft or Bryan and with the inter-
ests of the people of his district. Hep.
burn is behind the procession His
clock is striking midnight while the
dawn is bursting upon the Mississippi.
He is behind the times. He is not liv-
ing in the day of progress and i'm
provement. He is not getting us what
we should have to give us full enjoy
ment of the boundless opportunity of
this great valley. Under the circum-
stances, voters of the Eighth congress
sional district, should you not vote for
Jameson and full participation in
{ the opportunities of this great valley.
Had Colonel Hepburn had his way
an anti-pass bill would never have
been placed on the statute books of
Iowa. Senator Janojeson voted with