Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-22
SENATOR ALLISON AT TAMA.

SENATOR ALLISON AT TAMA.
Mr.. Allison, in his great speech at
Tama, reverted to a subject that has
not yet been fully discussed before
the people and yet will press its i'm
portance not only in the present but
in campaigns of the future, and that
is the question of reciprocity in trade.
Mr.. Allison, after abiding to the la
mented McKinley's speech at Buffalo,
the last public utterance made by him,
referred also to the speech of Mr..
Roosevelt made only three days be.
fore in which he practically assumed
the same position taken by Mckinley.
Mr, Roosevelt gave utterance to the
following which is at once a concise
statement and an argument on strict
line with Mr.. McKinley's speech and
On harmony with advanced republican
Sentiment:
1--WE have got to remember that our
first duty is to our own people, and
yet that we can get justice best by
doing justice. We must continue the
policy that has been so brilliantly sue
cessful in the past, and SO shape our
economic system as to give every adj
vantage to the skill, energy and intel
ligence of our farmers, merchants,
manufacturers and wage earners and
yet we must also remember, in deal
ing with other nations, that benefits
must be given when benefits are
sought.
Through treaty or by direct legis-
lation it may at least in certain cases,
become advantageous to supplement
our present policy by system of re-
ciprocal benefit and obligation"
Mr.. Allison, always thorough in his
treatment of a subject, does not fail
to call attention to the fact that the
utterances of Mckinley and of Roose-
welt were made almost simultaneous
and he directs attention to the impor-
tant fact that the question of reciproc-
ity is not new one in our country
and that it was specifically approved
] in the national republican platform of
1882, following the reciprocity provi-
sions in the tariff act of 1890 and
again in 1896 and in 1900. The Sen
ator goes on to give instances of high
. republican sanction of this policy
which is intended to expand and ex-
tend our foreign market.
AS far back as 1880 a measure was
Z proposed in the senate providing for
an international American conference
to consider, among other things, the
feasibility CT more intimate trade rela-
lions through treaty arrangements
with the states of this continent south
of our own. President Garfield ap-
proved of such congress, as did Mr..
Blaine, then secretary of state. On
August Z, 1882, in the consular and
diplomatic appropriations bill there
was inserted paragraph authorizing
the appointment of a commission to
negotiate a commercial treaty with
Mexico. General Grant was made
chairman of that commission and exc
!. cuted a favorable treaty and the sen.
ate ratified it, but house bill to pro-
!. vide for the execution of the treaty
failed to pass. During subsequent
years the policy of reciprocity has
been before congress and always was
regarded as republican measure.
MT. Allison has therefore brought
out in his exhaustive speech the fact
that reciprocity is not by any means
a new or novel measure, conflicting
with the general republican idea of
protection. The two measures are not
incompatible but are designed to act
In harmony and promote the general
Welfare. There is no retreat of the
republicans sounded in their advocacy
OF the policy endorsed by the late
PRESIDENT and his successor. Mr.. Al.
hson has made this clear that there
VIII be mo serious attacks made ON
the present presidential policy. The
democrats themselves do not assail it
because they are stopped by their
own admissions when they say that
tair trade is the result of reciprocity.