Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-11-19
DEATH Of FORMER
GOVERNOR LARRABEE
Died at His Home in Clermont on
the 18th Inst at the Age Of
Eighty Years.

VIM. Larrabee, Iowa's grand old
man, died at his home in Clermont
on the 18th inst. at the age OF
eighty years. Mr.. Larrabee was one
of the old school of public men and
did as much for the people of his
state as any man in it's history. He
came to Iowa from Connecticut in
1853 and taught school for a num-
Der of terms. In 1856 he engaged
in the milling business in Clermont
and was very successful. He invest
ed his surplus earnings in land and
at the time of his death was ac-
counted a very wealthy man.
In 1868 Mr.. Larrabee was elect
ed to the state senate and at once
became one of the leaders in that
body. His record as legislator was
satisfactory and in 1885 he was
elected governor of the state at the
end of holly contested campaign.
He was reviled and traduced, just
as all men of force and purpose are
reviled and traduced, and his major
ity for governor was very small, the
people not approaching the manner
of man he was. AS chief executive
he inaugurated a number of reforms
and led in the fight for railroad reg
ulation. He was the pioneer in
that movement and studied the rail-
road problem with such intelligence
and painstaking care that he Could
cope with the trained attorneys of
the road and defend every step he
took against the encroachments of
the roads upon public rights. When
he was elected the railroad compan-
les, which had been exercising great
influence in Iowa politics, thought
they had friend at court, but 1t
was soon demonstrated that the peo-
pie had chosen a governor who was
able and willing to look after their
interests. Mr.. Larrabee once told
the writer that the policy of the
railroads in charging all that the
traffic would bear was what made
him take up the fight SO earnestly
and vigorously against them. He
found that the railroads were charg-
lA OF 10 fn,. In
from Ottumwa to Glenwood, Iowa,
than for carrying it to Council
Bluffs, longer haul. He thought
this established the dishonesty of
the management and from that time
he had little confidence in the ver-
acity and honesty of purpose of the
average management of public SER
vice corporations. He went after
the roads rough shod and succeeded
in arousing the public to the unfair
and indefensible methods used to Sc
cure unfair charges. OF course Mr..
Larrabee did not escape the charge
of demagogue and hypocrite. He was
abused and denounced as an enemy
Of the state and the standpatters oil
that day were sure his policies would
result in great damage to the bust
ness interests of Iowa. But LARA
bee was firm. He knew he was right
and had the courage of his convic-
ton. When he retired from the gov
ernor's Office the principle of state
regulation of public service corpor-
atoms was fully and firmly estab-
Iished
So thoroughly did Larrabee under
stand the railroad question as af-
'ecting public rights that a book he
wrote upon the subject is now re-
yarded as authority, and Wisconsin's
great senator, Robert NJ. LaFol-
ette, declared it was the most COM
and reliable treatise up
On the subject ever put in book
'orm.
A year or so ago Mr.. Larrabee
gave to the people of his home town
for the construction of a
school building and the new struct-
Ire, which is a model and is fire.
proof throughout, is now nearing
He was a public spir-
ted man, capable, honest, and above
III, a real friend of the common peo-
,le He always had opinions upon
III public questions and never hes
tated in expressing them and in de-
ending them. He was a positive
haracter and Of the type of men
Who help make great state and a
reat nation.
To keep the heart -unwrinkled, to