The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-04-26
BACKBONE RATHER
THAN W|SHbONE''
Judge William S. Kenyon, New
Senator From Iowa, Neither
Trimmer Nor COMPROMISED

Judge William S. Kenyon, the new
senator from Iowa, has outlined the
course which he intends to pursue
as a United States senator. His
words ring true, and he takes a de-
cided stand on the big questions of
! the day. He isn't worrying about
the preservation of parties. He
wants to do his share toward re-
storing popular government, putting
the burdens Of government on those
who profit most by its protection and
compelling industry to pay it's debts
to the toilers.
In his address to the people of his
home city prior to his departure for
Washington, Judge Kenyon, who for
a year had been an Assistant Attor-
ney- General engaged in the prosecu-
ton of trust cases, said while I
cannot continue in the courts this
battle against monopoly and greed,
shall merely transfer that battle, so
far as | am concerned, to the senate
Of the United States" He declared
himself in favor of an income tax,
and called the decision of the SUI
preme court holding such a tax I'M
o. stitutional zone OF the most Sc
wee blow we have received since
the Civil War" He further declared
himself for a strict corrupt pracvices
act, Federal control of the stock and
bond issues of common carries and
for an amendment to the Sherman
antitrust law that would abolish
fines and send all convicted individ-
ual violators to jail. Concerning the
G.orimer case, the record of which
he had studied, he said:
81 say to you that I shall vote, if
ever given the opportunity-and it is
my Judgment that the case should
be reopcned-to Gust from the sem
ate the gentleman who seems to
have profited whether knowingly or
not, by a general scheme of fraud
and corruption, and if the people #
Iowa do not indorse my vote on the
subject | will be glad to resign my
position and settle down upon my
farm
What was more important, he
took decided stand on a question
which most senators prefer to ignore
aud seldom do more than discuss
automatically. Note these Dol /
words:
In Workmens compensation acts
we lag behind the great nations of
tie world. l have always contonded.
even when a railroad attorney---and
some Of YOU may inadvertently have
heard that | have been an attorney
Tow railroad at one time in my life
that there should be an absolute
liability law as to the men employed
by the great carriers engaged in in
destroyed in the yards of a railroad
company, what is done? 1t is re-
paired. Ana the repairs 80 into the
cost of operation and are paid in
freight rates. If an engl1cer O."
fireman on such engine is manned
for life why should not the only re-
pair That can be mades a. certain
ilNod sum of money, be paid, the
same as n the case of the engine
tna, has been injured or Geslryyc..
u is all part of the general ex-
p"nse account IN the matter of oper-
alton, to be covered by freight nr
passenger rates, and | shall favor
the passage and enactment of sue h
law"
Plainly the new senator from Iowa
Is not compromises, He expressed
his views on the subject of time
serving when he said: Il would
sooner spend the next two years i'll
Tine senate and never compromise or
trim on any public question than to
ROMAN there for twenty years by
process of compromise and trim
milg.' Then came an epigram that
should stick in the minds of those
who think they are right. but are
inclined to follow the lines of least
resistance. And here it is: Back
bone is more essential to our poll
ties than Wishbonc."