The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-09-05
SEN. CUMM|NS
FOR ROOSEVELT
But is Strongly Against A Third
Party Ticket in Iowa.
ADVISES VOTERS TO SCRATCH
Says Taft Was Nominated by States
That Were Misrepresented, and
That Administration Made
Serious Mistakes.


Des Moines, Sept. S.-Senator A. b.
Cummins issued a statement today
in which he opposes President Tart,
says he will vote for Roosevelt and
goes on record as opposed to the
nomination of third party state
ticket in Iowa at the state cOnven-
ion called for that purpose here to-
morrow, which Roosevelt will ad-
dress. Cummins says the republicans
of the country opposed Tafts renomi-
nation because in his administration
of the Office OF president he had not
done and said the things which the
great body of the people believed he
for president and adds, But it must
be understood that | will do so pro-
testing against the organization of a
new party, and dissenting from some
of the doctrines announced in his
should have done and said" Cum
uIlIS SdSS he Will NOlc IOl iNOOoSNSlI
| platform"
Text of the Announcement.
Cummins' statement follows;
"Thc people of Iowa have a right
to know my position upon all public
questions, and therefore | submit to
them as clearly and briefly as posi-
BILE my views of the political contro-
versy in which we are engaged.
The denomination of Mr.. Taft was
opposed by an overwhelming majority
! of the republicans throughout the
country, simply because in his admin
istration of the Office of president he
had not done and said the things
which the great body of the people
/ believed he should have done and
said. A meager minority succeeded
y in renominating him, and it is vital
to inquire how it was accomplished.
First, his friends controlled the nation
I al committee. Second, we have had
for years a false vicious basis of rep
TeSentatiOn in the national cOnven-
! ton. through which Alabama, Arkan-
sas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mis-.
sissippi, South Carolina, Texas and
Virginia, states that cast altogether
| in 1905 270,6 republican votes, had
! in the convention 2O4 delegates. ILL
nois with 629,932 republican votes had
IS delegates, Iowa with 275,210 repub,
liCan votes had 26 delegates, Mime
sofa with 1875, S43 republican votes had
"a delegates and Ohio with 512,312
republican votes had As delegates,
Mississippi with less than one-third
as many republican votes as are cast
in Polk county, Iowa, had 20 delegates
in the national convention.
These are but instances of the alb
surd disparity in representation The
man who could not see that there
would be a rebellion whenever these
over-represented states forced a nom,
ination against the strong opposition
of the states in which there is real
republican party was blind as a bat
and the man who could not hear the
rumble of the rising storm was deaf
as an added. If the convention which
nominated Mr.. Taft had changed the
system in obedience to the popular
demand, we might have had patience
to wait; but as though wanting to
furnish every reason for revolt 1t at
tempted to faSten it still more firmly
upon us. If this were all we would be
amply justified in Overthrowing the
system by refusing to accept the nom
inee, but this is not all. Third. the
system, indefensible as it Is, was not
enough to overcome the adverse ma
IiOrity in the republican states, and
therefor, the complaisent committee
and following them the convention
deliberately seated Taft delegates
from Washington, California, Arizona
and Texas. who had no shadow OF
title to seats in the convention.
speak of these states because | have
examined the record as to them and
have reached the conclusion after the
most careful study and reflection
And thus, the will of the tremendous
majority was defeated by the power
of bad system and the Vaccinations
of a committee. ...
81 take no pleasure In reciting these
things, for would like to support a
republican candidate for president
There is but one way, however, to
make sure that the system of the Chi
cago convention will be abolished and
its scenes never repeated, and that is
to make 1t plain that the candidate
who is the product of the system and
the beneficiary of the methods can
not reach the office to which he as
lpires. Therefore / cannot support
Mr.. Taft. In so saying am all the
more republican, for it is clear to
me that the existance of the party de.
ponds upon a quick and emphatic
condemnation of the wrongs have
mentioned, and | am in perfect harm
ony with the declaration of the Iowa
republican platform which quote as
follows:
"The Republicans of Iowa be-