Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-31
Albert B. Cummins.

Albert B. Cummins, United States
Senator from Iowa for nearly
eighteen years. is dead. The wires that
flashed the news of the passing Of
the veteran statesman brought grief
to many friends and admirers
throughout the country No man in
the Senate has had a finer reputa-
ton for scrupulous honesty of pur-
pose. For nearly a decade he was an
outstanding figure in that body. An
able debater, clear thinker, invari-
ably courteous and kind, Senator
Cummins had the respect and affec-
ton of his colleagues He was a
man of many warm friendships, with
human qualities which drew him
close to the hearts of his associates.
When Senator Cummins first came
to Washington he was regarded by
the old guard of the Republican
party as radical, though the
Technology was Republican Pro-
greSsive" in those days. He sue
ceeded William, Is. Allison. veteran
stalwart. 1t was with some con-
sternation that many members of
his party awaited the arrival of Sen
ator CumminS in the Capital. He
became at once a member of the
progressive group on the Republican
side of the chamber, which included
Dolliver. also OF Iowa; Borah OF
Idaho, La Toilette of Wisconsin and
later, when the Republicans were to
choose a presidential candidate, the
progressive idea had spread through
the land. Cummins had been a lead.
or in the attack upon the Payne
Aldrich tariff bill in the Senate,
bill which had brought a consider
able measure of unpopularity to the
Republican regulars. Senator Cum
Minis and his friends believed that
he had an opportunity to be the
choice of the party and the Iowa
State delegation stood back of him,
as did the delegations of several
other Western States. But he was
far short of a ma jority.
with the years came a change.
Washington has had a mellowinS
effect upon many men who have
come here with radical ideas. 1t
had it's effect upon Senator Cum
minis. He came finally to be re-
garded as a staunch supporter OF
the Republican party and Of Presi-
dent Coolidge. On one issue alone
was the Iowa Senator in opposition
to the President-faTm relief.
Senator Cummins belonged 10 the
group Of constructive statesmen He
was an interchangeable worker and
student. His name is closely allied
with railroad legislation. Before he
came to the Senate he antagonized
the railroads in his state because
he supported legislation making the
roads liable for injuries incurred by
their employees and other measures
of progressive character. In moro
recent years he was author, with
former Representative Esch, of the
transportation act which bears their
name. Senator Cummins was de-
nounced by the progressives of to-
day for his part in drafting that
act. But he was always convinced
that he had been right in his efforts
10 insure All adequate transporta-
ton system, through fair treatment
OF the railroads.
Senator Cummins' life was one of
strife. He never f1inched from a
struggle. In his long career in the
Senate he never took an unfair ad-
vantage of an opponent He leaned
over backwards" to be entirely fair.
A case in point was his declining
to vote on the Brookhart- Steck con-
test at the last session. A speech
and q vote by Senator Cummins
favoring Broolhart would have in
sured Senator Cummins' renomina-
ton and reelection this Fall. AS
il was, Senator Cummins was de-
feated by Col. Brookhart at the re-
cent primaries and was on the eve
of retirement from public life when
death found him.