Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-24

triotic wisdom of whig, and afterwards
republican, craftsmanship would be
languishing in obscurity instead OF
sitting in proud distinction at the very
head of the table around which gath
ers the council of Nations 1t must
be remembered, however that the
spirit of those laws was to build up
the people of our own country, and |
whenever they can be modified or abb
rogated to the advantage of our own
citizens, you may well expect the re-
publican party to discern the oppor-
tunity and to meet with keen inter
est the new conditions. If | correctly |
understand the temper of the Cedar
Rapids convention and the views OF
lne eminent republicans who compos-
ed the committee on resolutions, the
paragraph of our platform which
have already quoted means more than
modification of the tariff in proper in
stances through reciprocal treaties.
One of the most striking evidences of
modern industrial life is the tenden
cy toward combination. The tenden-
cy is not peculiar to the manufacture
ers and CAPITALISTS of the United States
for it has traced it's lines with clear
ing nations of Europe. Within Ger
tain limits, which no man can accur-
ately define, but which will be under
stood when | say. within the limits OF
economy in production and distribu-
ton. concentration is not only natural
but healthful for if effective compe-
tition remains, the wages of the labor
er will be increased, the profit of cap
it,1 l,o ,;.1,
consumer will pay less for the pro-
duct. When, however a combination
attempts or attains practical monop-
oily in the field embraced and uses or
| intends to use the unlawful and de-
structive power thus acquired to ar
bitrarily fix the price of its products,
it becomes the enemy of good govern
ment imperils the peace and good Or
der of society, and inficts upon the
people an injustice which they ought
to, and will rebel. 1t does not seem to
me either wise or logical in order to
meet this evil to put Unfortunately
every article which may be produced
by such combination upon the free
list, for in so doing we would annihil-
ate many an honest business, impover-
ish thousands of honest manufacturers
and cast into idleness an army of our
best workmen. If, however, congress
in looking over the field, finds a com
modify OF a product which is thus
4 clearly monOpolized, and finds that the
tariff which prevents foreign compe
tition is one of the factors which en-
ables the vicious manufacturer tc
maintain the monopoly. then it is the
command of the Iowa platform, ex
pressing as | believe it does the unan
imous Judgment of Iowa republicans
that the tariff upon such an article OF
such a commodity shall be so reduc
ed or abolished as to release tht
American public from the grasp of the
greedy producer.
Il would not have you believe tina
regard the revision of the tariff a.
remedy for the evil of the trust.
shall not be able upon this occasion tt
examine the various proposition
, which have been submitted, lookins
: to the subversion of vicious combna
, tons. | can only pause to sugges
: that if they are destroyed they mus
: be directly, not Indirectly attacked
The keenest intelligence and the fiji
= est courage of the land are unceasine
ly at work upon the problem and fail
! ure is impossible.
| To the question of taxation, MI
p Cummns devoted considerable time
e and made his position plain. He sal
9 in part:
e Il would, however, regard my dut
g as but partially performed if | tell yo
s. without some reference to a subjec
S which both parties have sought to b
t of sufficient Importance to receive spe
cial attention in the platforms adop
# ed at Cedar Rapids and Des Moine
81 refer broadly to the subject of tax;
n ton.
l, Happily there is substantially n
difference between the utterances {
e the two parties respecting this matte
l. | say happily, because the question
e growing out of the subject ought neve
& to become partisan questions, and
e sincerely hope they never will. W
l. should have, and believe will hav
If the combined wisdom and eXperient
y of the men of all parties in conside
r. ing the subject without the prelude
% and coloring inevitably attending IL
n settlement of party issues. Bot
p parties declare that taxation shou
e be uniform and equitable, and that tt
ir iividual, the co-partnership and co
lie poration should bear their just shal
re of the expenses made necessary by tt
,r operation of government, according
n the value of the property owned |
S. them. Our party declarations in tn
le respect are mere axioms concernir
r. which there can be no dispute, al
e. therefore are not valuable as a guit
lie to the action of either the legislatu
at or executive branch of the state GO
Sc eminent. They are significant, ho'
ut ever, from another point of vie
G. They indicate that the people a
ne not wholly satisfied with the law
be it now exists, and they will furni
le an impetus toward the betterment
lg our statutes. I hope l may be pa
doned if at this point / suggest n
b. views with regard to reform in t
IS law.
Generally speaking evolution
re- better then revolution. In the gre
or majority of instances, it is most |
tv wise to tear down the structur
he which has been built and. substitu
al for it architecture of radically