Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-28
cUMMlNs REPLIES.
(Des Moines Canital. J

The position taken by Secretary
Shaw upon the tariff question and the
Iowa platform has caused considerable
comment in the state of Iowa. No
speech of recent years was more gen
orally and generously discussed than
that of the former governor of Iowa.
Coming with it the intimation that it
represented the position of the admin
istration upon the question additional
interest was manifested. A few days
before the speech there appeared in
the Chicago Record-Herald an inter
view with cabinet" officer in which
it was stated that tariff revisionists
would work harm to the people and
cause business depression, if not stag
nation. 1t is stated in the public
press by the friends of Governor Cum
minis that Secretary Shaw was the
cabinet officer interviewed. With this
view in mind Governor Cummins gave
the following interview to CORE
spondent of an outside newspaper.
The Capital publishes it to give its
readers an opportunity to become
thoroughly posted on the views held
by opposing parties, the discussion of
which is now going on:
~ have read with great care the in
terview with the cabinet officer in the
Record Herald of August IL, relating
to the tariff. look upon it as an ILL
advised attempt to disparage and de-
feat the Iowa platform. 1t seems to
me that cabinet officer who is so anx-
ious to conceal his name should also
conceal his views. Our declaration
upon this subject is so plain that it
requires good deal of ingenuity to
misunderstood and pervert it. l am,
however, not at all alarmed about the
outcome. The Iowa platform has four
we'll defined statements pertaining to
the tariff, easy of comprehension, and
concerning which the republican vo.
tiers Of the state are in full harmony
"First-That our faith in the doc
trine of protection is undated. which
means that we stand more strongly
than ever, if that be possible, for those
duties upon imports that equalize the
cost of production here as compared
with the cost of production abroad
thus giving to the American producer
under all ordinary circumstances, the
home market at fair price.
"Second-That il it appears, under
LIE uCfClOPluSuI dilO
rapid change in conditions during the
last five years, that any product is re
ceiving too much or too little protec
ton, the duty will be lowered or rails.
ed, as may be necessary to carry into
effect the principle upon which the
whole plan Is based.
"Third-That we believe in recipro
cal trades or treaties whenever we can
make a good bargain; that is to sayi
we can, by admitting free or with a
lower duty, 100000 Of imports and
secure new or enlarged market for
5000, 900 of exports, we ought to do. it.
for the same reason that prompted us
to establish our protective system
namely, to give our people more work
and our capital increased investment
"Fourth-That if we find a monopoly
established by combination of manu-
facturers or producers in any commod
ity, so that every man who buys tina
article must buy of single company
and pay the price that the avarice and
selfishness Of the trust or combination
may fix, then the tariff shall not bt
permitted to aid the trust or combina
ton in maintaining the monopoly.
ITO put it differently, we are willing
to pay for whatever we buy the Amer
lean standard of prices, but they mus
be prices fixed by American competi
ton and not American prices fixed
solely by the greed of a single manu-
facturer; and if the capacity of the
captains of industry to organize is
sufficient to stife American competi
ton, then we will at least take thu
chance of finding it elsewhere.
"These declarations seem to me tt
be fundamental.
"The agitation which the cabinet off
Ger breads ought not to occur. The
soundness OF the Iowa platform ough
to be accepted by all fair minded men
That there will be differences of opin
ion when the general principles arr
applied is unquestionably true; bu
such differences arise in all legislation
and it is the extreme of folly to asser
that they will seriously disturb the in
dustrial fabric or frighten the produo
ers Of the country. The truth is tina
those who are enjoying monopolies ar,
oua~x, How Ian n ni11r at tho iuartueSc n