Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-10-28
TOOK THE TEETH OUT OF ONE
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Senator Cummins has been de-
nounced by his democratic opponent
| for opposing the Wilson policies" and
especially as to "the administration"
program of antitrust legislation. The
'me too" candidate has let it be known
that at least he has never tried to i'm
prove any of the bills pending that
were approved by the president. Sem
ator Cummins spent months and years
| working to secure an antitrust law
that would be effective. He fought
the majority cabal in the senate al
most alone to put teeth into the anti
trust bill and before it went to the
conferrees it had in it many of the
strong features that Senator Cummins
forced upon the democratic managers.
But when the bill came back to the
senate after having been fixed up as
"the administration" would have it,
Senator Reed, democrat, described it
by referring to its previous appearance
as a raging lion with a mouth full of
teeth and saying:
at has degenerated to tabby cat
with soft gums, a plaintive new, and
an anemic appearance. 1t is sort of
legislative apology to the trusts, de-
livered hat in hand, and accompanied
by assurances that no discourtesy Is
intended"
Senator Clapp, of Minnesota, assail-
ed the conference report on the bill,
declaring that "the invisible govern
ment" is tightening its hold on this
administration and described Presi-
dent Wilson as "an amiable man sur
rounded by men who know what they
want and how to get it," He held the
president could not know the trust
question as Senator Cummins and 9TH
ers who had studied 1t for many years,
knew it.
"Take the senator from Iowa, Sena-
tor Cummins," said Senator Clapp.
For more than a quarter OF a CEN
fury he has studied the trust question
until he has almost sacrificed his
health to his country's cause. Shall
1t be said that man fresh from aca-
demic halls knows more about this
subject than he?"
Senator Clapp later referred to SEN
ator Cummins as "the senator from
Iowa who has literally sacrificed his
health If not shortened his life in this
great struggle"
Senator Bristow took the position
that the president was not supporting
the conference report through ignor-
ance but because he knew what was
in 1t and had surrendered to the inter-
ests. Senator Clapp agreed that 1.-The
invisible government" is Tightening
it's hold on the administration" but
said he believed the people had sacri-
feed too much in the fight for indus
trial liberty to give it up now.
at has cost the life of that great
and grand man from Iowa, Senator
Dolliver, who as truly sacrificed his
life to the cause OF industrial liberty
as any sacrifice that was ever offered. |
It has cost the health of that great
senator from Iowa, Senator Cummins,
and | greatly rear IL mas cost the
health and strength OF another sena-
tor who is unable to be with us now
Tia Follette). but who has also sacri- !
feed himself to industrial liberty"
And yet there are self-seeking poll
ticians going about Iowa today attack !
ing the senior Iowa senator for having
dared to have a mind of his own, for
having dared question the infallibility
of the president for having refused to
do as his opponent says he would do
and surrender his right Of free judg- |
ment to another.