Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-04
HEPBURN CELEBRATES BIRTH.
DAY ~ EATING MlNcE PIE
AND TALKING JoYousLY.
REMARKABLE CAREER OF
FORMER IOWA CONGRESSMAN
Misht Have Been Senator From Iowa
Had Governor Shaw Kept His PoIiti.
cal Faith and Pledges Hepburn
Participant in Railroad and othsr
Important Legislation.
Especial Correspondence

tSpec1A CorfeSponoence.J
Washington, Nov. -Four score
years have rolled over the head OF Col.
w. P, Hepburn Of Iowa and Washing
ton, known tho country over as Col.
"Pete" Hepburn.
To-day, Nov. 4. Colonel Hepburn is
celebrating his eightieth birthday. He
said the other day in abiding to the
forthcoming celebration that Tuesday
would be remarkable for three things.
the elections, the fact he was so years
old. and certain plans he had for eat
ing mince pie. The colonel has never
got over the liking he acquired as a
boy for mince pie and hopes that lik-
Ing viii continue with him down to the
end Of his years.
Colonel Hepburns career has been a
remarkable one and he is known as
one of the strongest characters that
ever sat in the lower house. He was
ousted from that body because the
EiRhth Iowa district concluded he was
too much Of standpatter and a reac-
tionary. However. his worst enemies
have never discounted Colonel "Pete's"
brain capacity. Had the currents Of
politics drifted little differently. he
would have been senator from his
state. At one time, as governor, Les
lie M. Shaw had 1t in his power to
make Colonel Hepburn senator. This
was on the death of Gear. Colonel
Hepburn had reasons for considering
himself entitled to get the place from
Shaw but the latter chose Dolliver in
stead.
Railroad Law Bears Name.
AS chairman for years of the house
Interstate foreign commerce commit
tee, Colonel Hepburn took a prom
lnent part in the railroad legislation Of
1906 and his name will always remain
attached to the Hepburn law which
conferred the power of rate regulation
on the interstate commerce commits
sion. This is the beginning of modern
history SO far as the governments re-
lation to the railroads are concerned.
Coming from the region Of Iowa where
the Burlington railroads political pow
Or was strongest, Colonel Hepburn was
long considered hostile to the attempt
TO increase the power Of the interstate
commerce commission. Nevertheless,
with President Roosevelt and other
strong forces demanding the legisla-
ton, he lined up for 1t, gave it intelli-
gent consideration. and helped put 1t
thru.
Hero Of Verbal Battles.
In all the years Of his service in the
house. Colonel Hepburn got into many
a verbal battle. He never ran away
from q debate. He achieved a reputa-
ton in the house as hard hitter and
when he went into a discussion. ham
mer and tongs there were few who
could combat on even terms with him.
The years have not diminished the ca
pacity of Colonel Hepburn to use
choice. terse, forceful and picturesque
English. He is apparently as vigorous
and energetic today as he was twenty
years ago. Since the time when he
went down to defeat because the coun-
try would not stand for the rule Of the
standpat elements that SO long con-
trolled congress, he has lived part Of
the time in Washington and part of the
time In Iowa.
A native Of Ohio, Colonel Hepburn
moved to Iowa in 1S41. He saw the
middle west grow from its pioneer
stage to what It IL today. He fought
thru the war as an officer of cavalry,
going to the front from Marshalltown.
where he then lived. Later he devoted
his time to law and politics, at one
time holding the important Office of
solicitor Of the treasury. Colonel Hep
burn has written his recollections of
public men, It Il understood. II they
are ever published as he tells them.
they will make mighty entertaining
reading.