Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
FOES OF COMMON PEOPLE
Record on Railroad Legislation Is
Analysed.
PARTY PLATFORM SET ASIDE
Republicans Mission to Make Men
Free, Not to Make Millionaires,
Says the Iowan.

LAboD1, kan., July Ex-senator
Albert b. Cummins Of Iowa, in his
speech before the ,Chautauqua here to-
day, asserted that Senator Aldrich and
Speaker Cannon were traitors to their
party, il not to the country, when they
gave their support to the Wickersham
railroad bill as it came from the Attor-
ney Generals Office and demanded that
it go through Congress.
Ihat bill was direct Reputation of
the republican party platform of 1908
1t was directly in the interest of the rail-
roads. and not in the interests of the
great common people of the country"
Senator Cummins said
Mission Of Republican Party.
Speaker Cannon and Aldrich and men
of their, class seem to think the republi-
can party was formed to make men rich,
think it was born to make men free.
They think it was born to make men
millionaires. 1 believe it was born to
drive misery out of this country.
Senator Aldrich has vigorously op-
posed all regulation of the railroads by
Congress ever since the bill to create the
interstate commerce commission was in
troduced in 1887. 1 was born, and always
have been, a republican, but l cannot and
will not follow the leadership of traitor
to his party and the people"
Senator Cummins spoke in a big tent
where the heat was intense. He con-
tinu.d his address for two hours to a
large audience.
II am q recruiting officer" he said,
"for the army that will destroS the
political leadership of Speaker Cannon
lp,oh 7 Mt TO Hot
men and women In this army, for it's best
work will be done In the homes.
II am not here to talk to men who be-
lieve as 1 do. 1t Is only the sick that
need physician.
The people have found that competi-
ton is impossible in gas, electric light.
water and other public utilities. So you
have decided that this monopoly shall be
vested in the government Of the city
itself and not left to the individual In
terest.
No Foe Of Railroad.
Il am not opposed to the railroads. No
man who values the public welfare can
be hostile 90 the railroads. But Justice
to all means to pay the righteous dues
as fixed by the laws Of trade by COM
petition or through society.
THE railroads of the country are cap
italized at seventeen billion dollars. The
highest estimate have ever heard placed
on the actual amount of Independent cap
ital put into the railroads was eight bill
lion dollars. There is nearly nine billion
dollars of impure and adulterated water.
You have to pay more than you ought
to pay for the service you get In order
to pay dividends on this vast capitaliza-
ton. The railroads charge excessive
rates and accumulate surplus This
they put back into the roads in improve
ments They now ask you to pay addt-
tional interest on this surplus, secured by
extortionate rate.
"In ten years the railroads added three
and one-half billion dollars to their cap
italization in betterment and extensions
without the investment OF q single penny
Of Independent cash: We must pay in
represents no actual value, through extor-
tiOnate rates.
First Regulative Law.
THE first legislation to regulate rail-
roads came in 1887. with the passage
of the interstate commerce bill. Speak
er Cannon was in the House then.
He made no effort to restrict the
growing power Of the railroads or enact
legislation in favor of the nation.
"He was silent then, and he has been
mot a single instance can be shown in
the congressional record when Cannon
mon men and women. Cannon has been
SO busy trying to look like Abraham
Lincoln that he has forgotten what Lin
coin was trying to do for the people OF
this country. He has never been able to
convince the people that his heart was
right for them.
'The work of Bristow, Madison, Muir
dock and others will be remembered long
after Cannon is forgotten.
Senator Aldrich was a senator in
10 not q viD0r~
ously opposed the interstate commerce
bill Ever since he has opposed every
bill that attempted to regulate and re-
strict the railroads.
I'm 1897 the Supreme Court decided
that the interstate commerce commission
did not have the power to make rates.
There was an instant demand for the
prospect of q law that would permit
this.
Prevented Legislation.
Cannon, Payne and Dalzell. in the
House, and Aldrich and Hale. in the Sen
ate, were the leading spirits that prevent
ed a law passing until the session of 1904.
Then the voice Of the American people
became so strong that they could not
longer ignore 1t, and they were forced to
admit that the law needed Strengthening.
"a bill was passed, as harmless to the
railroads as 1t was possible to make 1t.
Cannon and Aldrich never helped in the
passage Of that bill and they opposed 1t
with all their power.
THE question that Aldrich and Cannon
always seem to ask when a railroad
measure is up is: VIII 1t hurt the rail-
road? If it seems that the law will hurt
these men oppose 1t, honestly maybe, but
they seem to believe that tie railroads
are to be exalted rather than regulated
and controlled.
THE republican platform OF 1905 de-
clared for more amendments to the rail-
road bill. The platform declared in
favor of the traffic agreement by the