Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-31
CANDIDATE FOR RAILROAD COM.
MISSIONER REPLIES TO COR
PoRATIoN ATTACK.
BALDWIN MAKES SWEEPING
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Railroads Attempt to Prevent Support
of Thorne by Henry Wallace
Thorne to Answer Baldwin Attack
Fully in Speech at Emmetsburs Next
Friday.

-
Thorne, progressive candidate for state
railroad commissioner. made the fol-
lowing statement:
81 am glad that the railroads at last
have come out in the open in their
fight. Heretofore their work has been
on the quiet, behind the scenes. The
editor of the DEBORAH News stated in
his issue of last week that a represent
alive of one Of the large western rail-
way companies was in DEBORAH for two
or three hours, .busily posting the rail-
way employees that they must work for
Colonel Palmer, and to pass that word
on down the line. Then Mr.. Salinger,
another railroad man, has been carry
ing on statewide correspondence in
behalf of this same opponent and fellow
townsman of mine.
But the article by the vice president
of the Burlington railroad, Mr.. w. w
Baldwin, in the State Line Democrat OF
last week is the first open attack on
me; and it may be only a foretaste OF
what can be expected now during the
closing days of the campaign. j am
simply amazed at the sweeping mis-
representations Mr.. Baldwin has re-
sorted to- in his efforts to discredit me
My friends at Keosauqua have made
arrangements for me to- speak there
Friday, June 3, and upon that evening
I shall make formal reply. 1t will be
very easy task to show that Baldwin
has juggled statistics in the most glar-
ing and uunpardonable manner. HE
attempts to show that during recent
years the net earnings of American
railroads, above expenses, have de-
creased, when the truth is precisely the
opposite. He misquotes me and he mis-
quotes the interstate commerce COM
mission. I will take my documents
with me and prove what shall have
to say about the earnings and expenses
Of the railroads.
Working Against Him.
1.-THE influential representatives OF
the railroads have done a vast amount
of private personal work against me
For instance, the very day made my
announcement the general attorney of
one railroad went in person to Mr.
Wallace and tried to induce him not
to support me. doubt not many other
prominent men in Des Moines were
interviewed in similar manner on the
same day. Later they tried their very
best to bring out another progressive
LAWYER as a candidate, hoping that he
would divide my strength and thereby
encompass my defeat. 1t has been
long conceded that the character of the
work Of the commission makes the
service of one attorney on the board
almost imperative. The present lawyer
member of the board is not candidate
for reelection, and it is this vacancy
I aspire to. Had the other gentleman
1 referred to consented to make the
race, his former associations would
have effectually split my strength, and
undoubtedly brought about my defeat
But they failed finally in their efforts
to bring out that gentleman.
"This Charming Letter"
snow comes this charming letter
from Mr.. Baldwin calling me dema-
COG, and a muckraker, and few
other pleasant, pretty names. I shall
take great pleasure in my talk Of next
Friday evening, for on that occasion
will carefully, quietly, gently but firm
ly remove the skin from this gentle
man and hang it upon the fence to dry
.But / want to hasten to assure my
many friends over the state who have
so kindly thrown all their support to
me, during the past few weeks, that
none of the methods which these gen
tlemen have resorted to, and none OF
their falsehoods will serve to embitter
me against the owners Of the railroads
whom they represent. am simply
sorry for the laundering shortsighted
things these representatives do now
and them Nothing they have said or
done will serve to warp my judgment or
sense Of justice when their interests
are at stake, should be elected rail
road commissioner. The true Ameri-
can loves fair play. They shall have a
square deal, so far as I am concern