New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-05
IOWAN PRAISES LEE
". {. BROWA SPEAKS.
Tells Diners Ioscd ITor YET
Grams FGTOr Statue.

Il can assure my friend Judge Oscar r.
durdley. Of Alabama. that of the IS 900
soldiers who went forth from the State OF
Iowa 10 defend the Union | do not believe
one "f them living or dead, would object
10 the statue of Robert f. Lee. the Con-
federate general. being placed In Statuary
Hal II the Capitol, i'll Washington, said
". & Brown. president of the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad, in an
address to three hundred sons and daugh-
tiers OF his native state at their annual
dinner in the Hotel Aston last night
James s. Clarkson. president of the So
ciety, was the POSTMASTER, and the diners
sang I'm his honor paraphrase Of a popu-
lar song Has Anybody Here Seen Clark
SOM which was cheered to the echo
Secretary James Wilson of the Depart
ment of Agriculture had been expected.
well as Senator Jonathan Z. Doiyer. The
latter wrote. however. that his health was
50 shattered that it was impossible for him
to come. while Mr. Clarkson remarked that
the present condition OF affairs at Wash
ington prevented Secretary Wilson from
leaving the capital The Senator counted
only friends in the gathering. as was evil
denced by the gusto with which the diners
sang the following verses and rose to cheer
at the close:
-double-l-l-v-e-r spells Doliiver.
Pride OF all the Iowans East and West.
Divil man say a word agin our best,
-double-li-Vc- you see
It's name that only fame has been connected
Deliver. that's he
The Song of Iowa" to the tune of
Maryland Ny Maryland" was another
favorfte and W. {. Brown was SO i'm
pressed that he insisted ON having the last
verse repeated, as follows.
Go read the story of thy past.
Iowa, . Iowa,
What glorious deeds. what fame thou hast,
Iowa. q Iowa.
So long Times great cycle runs.
a. nations weep their fallen ones,
Thoult not forget thy Patriot sons.
Iowa. - Iowa,
President Taft. who had also been in
vfted. wrote among other things:
The work before me- is such that il I
were to accept any more such engagements
it would be flying in the face of public
duty
Governor b F Carroll of Iowa and
former Representative ". P Hepburn also
wrote letters Of regret.
". G. Brown recalled the early history
Of Iowa and the difficulties encountered by
the fathers and grandfathers of those who
were present. and the other sons and
daughters of Iowa all over the world. He
dwelt on the part played by the state in
its early days in the abolition of slavery.
The first railway, built without a charter
and without any very well defined route.
without officers and with only conductors
and engineers as employees. had been
growth of the wish of the people to further
the escape of slaves
After referring to the glorious Part played
80, Hfr
Brown painted a vivid picture of the pros
perity which, thanks to proper transpoTta-
ton facilities now reigned throughout their
home state. With the grain waving on her
hillsides and the saloon swept from her
valleys Iowa, he predicted. would continue
her march of prosperity.
MI Brown recalled that Iowa was one OF
the pioneers in legislation for the regula-
ton Of railroads. The bitterness ensen-
dered by somewhat prolonged and at
times rather acrimonious discussion has
long since been forgotten he said. Iowa
was right in her contention that the state
possessed the power to regulate corpora
items she had created. The railroads were
mistaken in opposing this fundamental pro
pCsal. Neither would for moment con-
slider going back to conditions which pre-
vailed prior 10 the enactment of the law
of 1883.
Mr.. Clarkson recalled that. as conductor
on the railway referred To by Mr.. Brown,
he had been instrumental in helping five
hundred human beings to escape from
slavery and reach Detroit. where they
crossed to Canada.
Other speakers were +. r. Harlan. Of
Des Moines; George Z. Roberts, president
Of the Commercial National Bank. Chi
cop,- Samuel Strauss and Rupprf Hughes
Among other guests were Frederick D.
Underwood. president Of the Erie Railroad:
the Rev DR.. Newell Dwight Hills, Judge
oscar r. Hundey. OF Alabama; Judge John
r Dillon and the Rev. J. F. MasChman.