Evening times-Republican., 1920-10-22
SHOWS [ I [ c''UNNMINs IS
LAB0R'S FRIEND
EX-GOVERNOR WARREN GARsT
POINTS TO RECORD OF
SENATOR.
AUTHOR OF SEVERAL
IMPORTANT LABOR LAWS
Drafted and Secured Passage Of Fed
eral Boiler Inspection .Bill-cum-
mins-Esch Bill Nonpartisan Meas
ure and Entitled to Support Of Men
Of Both Parties.
Special to Times Republican.

special TO 1lIneS-RepuOlCdu.
Des Moines, Oct. Eek Governor
Warren Garst, whose high standing
and strict integrity will not be ques-
toned any where in Iowa, has ad-
dressed a letter to friend in the
railway service in which he states
clearly his position on the senator
ship as follows:
Dear Sir:--We are in the throes
of a great political contest. So far
as the national and state tickets are
concerned there seems to be no I'm.
easiness on the part OF republicans;
but as the enemy have concentrated
their efforts against Senator Cum
minis, it seems necessary for his
friends (and this should include
every republican man and woman in
the state) to make special effort in
\ his behalf.
THE opposition are criticising the
railroad bill, and their first effort is
to Influence, against Cummins the
railroad employees and organized la.
Dor generally. All this seems strange
in view Of the fact that Cummins has
been the friend and helper of organ
ized labor In every way possible. 1t
was Senator Cummins who drafteo
and secured the passage Of the fed.
eral boiler inspection bill. measure
which means much for the protec-
tion of railroad employees and the
travelling public. It was men Of the.
Cummins type who insisted upon
the automatic coupler, the air brake.
and every safety device that has
been introduced, and there have been
many in the last twenty-f five years
1T is only a few years ago that the
street car men not having the protec
ton against the rigor of the Iowa
climate to wear heavy fur overcoats
and the heaviest footwear procur-
able. and still suffer from a zero to
20 below climate. Cummins. being
true progressive, has always favored
legislation that would relieve a situ>
alton of this kind.
Friend Of Organized Labor.
"At the expense of repetition
want to say that Cummins has al
ways been the friend of organized
labor, a fact the railroad man and
other organized laborers, have rec
ognized, and because OF which they
were always his friend and enthusias-
tic personal and political supporters
'.And why change? On account OF
the railroad bill? Cummins felt that
the railroad employees were entitlca
to tribunal before which they could
take their grievances, knowing that
In the last analysis some form of
adjustment must take place. He be-
lieved it better to have that adjust
ment before the strike, with it's loss
to he employees and suffering for
heir families, which they could ill
afford to stand and because of which
social and business arrangements
would be destroyed.
While the original bill contained
a more strenuous provision the bill
as passed provides for board Of
nine members, three of whom are
to represent the employees. three to
represent the employer, and three to
represent the public. This labor board,
the first plan ever adopted In this
country for settlement of labor dis
putes, is actually working, success
fully adjusting wages and other labor
conditions. AS is well known the
savings of workingmen are so meag-
er that any strike soon exhausts the
supply and both the laborer and his
family suffer. This labor board now
stands as protection to wife and
children against the terrors Of the
strike.
"The law is nonpartisan measure,
and being such it is entitled to the
support of both republicans and dem
ccrats The only way to give this
support is to vote for Senator Cum
Minis. I feel that I can approach this
subject fairly, for I was a former
railroad employe myself and worked
for more than two years on the
Northwestern as a brakeman almost
S0 voars ago