The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-07-31
SENATOR CUMMINS, VETERAN
REPUBLICAN LEADER, DIES
PASSES AWAY ON EVE
OF RETIREMENT; is
STRICKEN WITH
HEART DISEASE
tBy Associated Pressl

wy A@NU[tANCu AGDNb Z
DES MONIES, Iowa, July 81.
Senator Albert B. Cummins of
Des Moines, factor in Iowa poll
tics for 39 years, and leader in
the Republican party since 1908,
died here late yesterday on the
eve Of his retirement from public
life after 1s years in the United
States Senate.
Stricken with an attack of
heart disease early Thursday, the
veteran leader, who had reached
his 76th year, failed to rally, and
suffered a relapse yesterday af-
ternoon.
Life Sketch
Elected to the Senate in 1908
ss one of the pioneers in the move
ment which swept SO many in
surgents into the United States
Senate from the Northwest, AL
bert Baird Cummins remained to
become a regular Of the regulars.
Hs aseended to high place in the
leadership of the Republican or
ganization and served for more
than five years as President Pro
Tempore of the Senate.
An exponent of what was
known as the iowa Idea'' in
tariff legislation, since translated
into law in the flexible tariff. Mr..
Cummins early found himself in
violent disagreement with the Re-
publican leaders on the fundamen-
tai principle of protection and
joined with Deliver, Bristow,
Ciapp and Beyeridge in the me,
morable Senate fight over the
famous Payne-AIdrich tariff.
While thus placing himself in
the forefront of the ranks of the
Republican Progressives, as they
were defined In those days, Sem
ator Cummins allowed the Pro
gressive movement to run ahead
Of him. AS result, some of the
Progressive element in his state
opposed their former leader in his
ambition to succeed himself in
1920, and the old guard leaders
came to his rescue.
It was without his own consent
that he broke into politics in 1887
when some Republicans bolted
their party and named him as an
independent candidate for the leg.
islature. He was elected and served
one term. Five years later when
the leaders of the Republican
party in Iowa set about to reclaim
the state from Democratic rule, he
was made the chairman of the
convention.
Soon afterward Mr.. Cummins
made his first fight for place in
the United States Senate, hut was
defeated by a narrow margin. He
rallied to his support many young
men, and the party divided into
Cummins and anti-Cummins ele.
nIents. In 1901, after stormy
campaign, he was elected gov,
ernor. place he held until his
election to the Senate.
While Governor he started q
thorough investigation of railroad
taxation, rates, earnings. and cap.
italization and engaged in Iong
struggle against some of the prac.
tices Of the rail carriers in his
state. On his recommendation
the legislature put through the
two-cent fare law, the anti-pass
law. the joint freight rate law. an
act limiting hours of railroad en-.
ployes and the primary election
law.
Senator Cummins in 1874 mar.
ried Miss Gallery, 10 whom ons
daughter. Kate. was born. Mrs
Cummins died in February, 1919
and after that time the Senator
lived with his two sisters, Anns
and Margaret cummins. Beside.
his sisters. bis family consisted oi
two brothers, b. +. cummins.
manufacturer Of Chicago. and j
G. cummins. an attorney of De-
Moines.