The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-19
DEFENDER OF
PLATFORM
Gov. Cummins Accepts Gage
Thrown Down by a
"Cabinet Officer"
Over-Capitalization and Not
Tariff Revision the Pres
ent-Day Menace.

Special to The Journal.
Des Moines, Iowa. Aug. 19.-Governor
Cummins in an interview has opposed |
himself squarely to the position taken by |
a member of the cabinet who, few days |
ago was quoted by Walter Wellman as
declaring 1t was all nonsense to talk
about tariff revision. In his interview the
governor comes to the defense Of the Iowa
platform and his utterances may be re-
garded as sounding the keynote of the
campaign in this state for that strong
element of the party that took stand
at the state convention for the reafhrma-
tion of the Cedar Falls platform.
No question is raised here that the cab
met member quoted by Wellman is Sec
retary Shaw. 1t Is taken for granted
among Iowa politicians that Shaw is the
author Of 1t, and that he took this meth
cd to discredit the Iowa platform. While
Governor Cummins does not say so, there
is no doubt he attributes the interview
published in the Record Herald to Shaw.
Agitation Even Opposed.
The remarkable nature of that inter
view aroused comment throughout the
country. Among other things contained
in it was the statement that while it
might be possible to get a good bill re-
vising the tariff through the house, it
would be modified in the senate to suit
the friends of high protection. The cab
met member declared he was opposed to
tariff legislation, notwithstanding the
action of my party friends in Iowa."
1t was also said the Iowa republicans
did not want the tariff taken off of cattle
| and other live stock. Throughout, the
utterances of the cabinet member W
| strongly against not only revision of the
| tariff in any form, but against agitation
| for it's revision.
Where Cummins Stand. -s,-~'--
! Governor Cummins,. when asked by
T h o urn a for a statement of his
views as to the impossibility of revision,
was at first averse to saying anything for
publication. He at length consented to
do so. 1t Is known he intended to wait
until his opening campaign speech before
saying anything, and then he intended to
Iowa platform. He felt, however, that in
view Of the efforts made by a member of
the cabinet, to discredit the Iowa plat
form, it was unwise to defer declara-
tion making it plain that so far as he was
concerned he believed in tariff revision
to the extent indicated by the platform.
There is reason to believe that the gov
will u,ff1 I'll, @
on any covert attacks on the platform this
fall by politicians who are opposed to 1t
and that any such attacks will inevitably
lead to conflict on the stump.
Governor Cummins said:
More Than Name to Conceal.
I have read with great the interview
with the cabinet officer in the Reoord-Herald
Of Aug. u, relating to the tariff I look upor
it illadvised attempt to disparage ant
f defeat the Iowa platform. 1t seems to me
that a cabinet officer who is anxious tt
3 conceal his name should also conceal hi
l views. Our declaration upon this subject il
t so plain that it requires a good deal Of In
genuity to misunderstood and peryert it.
g am, however, not at all alarmed about tn
t outcome. The Iowa platform has four we'll
= defined statements pertaining to the tariff
a
b the republican voters of the state are in full
harmony.
O First-That our faith In the doctrine Of pro
lection is unabated, which means that W
stand more strongly than ever, If that b
possible, for those duties upon imports tina
r equalize the cost of production here com
T pared with the cost Of production abroad, thu
a giving to the American producer, under al
ordinary circumstances, the home market q
!, fair price.
Second-That If it appears, under the ex
q traordnary development and rapid change |
Il conditions during the last five years, ths
a any product is receiving too much or to
= little protection, the duty will be lowered c
- raised, as may be necessary to carry int
g effect the principle upon which the whol
plan is based s- 4, ~r .'.". -.'.- -.,..s -. e
Third-That we believe in reciprocal trade
- or treaties whenever we can make a goo
- bargain that Is to say, II we can. by at
~ " mitting free or with lower duty, $1OO, 900
- - imports and secure new enlarged mark
- - for 100000 of exports, we ought to do
"a for the same reason that prompted us to e
~ tablish our protective system-namely, to giN
our people more work and our. capital IL
=. creased investment. s|.+ ,g., -.
- Fourth-That if we find a monopoly esta!
lshed by combination of manufacturers
- | producers in any commodity, so that evel
~ man who buys that article must buy Of
10 single company and pay the price that Il
|
III bnation may AK, then the tariff shall not
y permitted to aid the trust OF combination
~ maintaining the monopoly.
To put 1t differently, we are willing to ps
for whatever we buy the American standa
Of prices, but they must be prices fixed
American competition and not Americ.
prices fixed solely by the greed Of sing
ut manufacturer; and if the capacity Of t
captains Of industry to organize is sui
cient to stiae American competition. then
is will at least take the chance of finding
s. elsewhere.
a. These declarations seem to me to be fu
ob damental.
re No Disturbance Likely.
ne The agitation which the cabinet ofic
IN breads so much ought not to occur. T
sh soundness Of the Iowa platform ought to
h. accepted by all fair1minded men, That the
ir will be differences of opinion when the ge
lis eral principles are applied is unquestionat
e true; but such differences arise in all leg
re lation, and it Is the extreme Of folly to 8
to sert that they will seriously disturb the
friphtan prrs7nrersf