The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-19
THE MINNESOTA PLATFORM

Faribault Republicac-The platform does
not come fully up to the sentiment of the
people Oh Cuban reciprocity, as 1t embraces
straddle 2designedt&to let Our congreksnnen
down easily from support, Of the insurgent
position. .- . - ::
Watertown, S. D., Public Opinion-The re-
publicans of Minnesota made grand strad-
die on the Cuban reciprocity question. They
indorsed the presidents policy and warmly
commended him for the stand he has. taken.
Then they turned around and .eulogized the
state delegation in congress which opposed
the PRESIDENTS policy. p; -. ?r,f:e,f,
Anoka ,Union-It's a. measly. shame that
the Minnesota republican platform should be
prepared in Washington to suit our two
senators and seven :represent ntatives, and a
daInnable shame. that the delegates in con-
vention assembled should vote to- adopt it.
HumiIiating indeed that the republicans OF
this state are not able to prepare platform
themselves--one in accord with their senti-
ments. -
Granite Falls Journal-We should have
liked to have seen more clear-cut resolution
in favor Of the presidents policy regards
Cuba than was passed by the republican con-
ventfon. >E = -, 2.-.,5 - Z:
g. Crooksten Times--Minne sofa republicans in
state convention contrived to- saddle upon
their party coWardly subterfuge plank in
regard to Cuban reciprocity. The plank is
velt's contention for reciprocity. and an ac-
tual approval of the position taken by Min
resota's insurgent congressional delegation in
opposition to reciprocity. The plank does
not represent the party in this state, which
is heartily in favor of an immediate dis
charge Of our obligations to Cuba. The con-
vention had done better had it frankly con-
demned the failure of congress to act in this
matter and pledged the party to relief. for
Cuba at the earliest possible moment. :.
Owatonna Chrc nicle-The conditions under
which the platform was adopted anC the wide
advertisement of the ridiculous mistake with
regard to the meaning of a portion Of 1t leaves
the platform, however good it may be in most
respects, without force as an expression. Of
the republicans of Minnesota. It has become
more a joke than a dignified symposium of
Minnesota republican opinion. It's weight and
effect were risked and lost for the sake Of: q
certain object-the saving of the congress
sional delegation from the inferred criticism
which would have been contained in an in
dorsement of the presidents views on Cuban
reciprocity-and it did not achieve that obs
ject after all.
Preston Times-The Minneapolis Journal
talks out in meeting and pronounces that part
of the state republican platform, referring to
the Cuban question: a. miserable and
cowardly straddle',, "poor politics." weak.
pusillanimous," etc. But, Mr.. Journal what
was q. poor man to do? President Roosevelt
is a good republican, SO are our representa-
tives in congress: They have taken opposite
ground on the Cuban question and the COM
nendtng of one would amount to vote of
censure on the others. Such course could
not reasonably be expected from The politi-
clans who dictate the policy Of our modern
conventions, hence the "straddle" T TIL h e
Journal and the Times are at variance
on this Cuban proposition, the former being
a strong adherent Of the president, while we
have pinned our faith on our congressional
delegation. Both papers have expressed
themselves freely on the subject and neither
can he accused of straddling but then con-
Quoting paper and running convention are
two different propositions-one is supposed
to take a definite stand, the other can con-
tent itself with t.straddle," especially when
a matter of party policy, on which there Is a
wide divergence of opinion, is the issue.