The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-11
PUTTING MR.. TAWNEY RIGHT

James A. Tawney has made a pretty
good reputation as congressman, but
as a prophet he does not scintillate. -.
In a letter to some of his constituents,
dated June 10, he predicted thats4the
Cuban reciprocity question would be dead
and buried before the Minnesota repub-
lican state convection met. If it was dead
and buried it has become the liveliest
ghost Mr. Tawney ever met IN his poll
tical career. This letter T J o rn a
publishes elsewhere to-day, notwithstaM
ing it's remote date, because it. has now,
come to our knowledge for the first time
and because it is made to hang on the
alleged course of It h e Journal.
The editor of T e j o u r did not
start a movement to secure indorse-
ment by the republican state convention
| OF the policy of reciprocity with Cuba.
T. he j o u IN a was, perhaps, the first
paper In the state to discuss prospectively
| the question of the attitude of the con-
| vention on this subject. 1t desired the
convention to adopt an unequivocal plank
supporting the presidents reciprocity
| plan, but 1t did not undertake to dictate
to the convention, and 1t did not organize
or even start a movement" r h e
j our is newspaper, free to pub
lish political news and political comment
and advice, but it is not a political or
ganizer. We felt confident that on SO
simple question republican convention
would reflect the views of an overwhelming
majority lof the people of Minnesota. If
there had been any movement" organ
lied by IT o ur n a or anyone else
the right kind of resolution would have
gone through with scarcely "a peep from
our mistaken friends.
Mr.. Tawney says that in his Judgment 1t
was exceedingly unwise to raise an issue
of this kind. 1t was unwise for the dele
cation. They raised the issue and they
have been unable to quiet the tumult that
came, from 1t.
On July l a state convention met in
st. Paul. The business of the Minnesota
delegation was in congress. The business
OF the convention. in part, was to voice the
sentiment of the republicans of Mime
sofa on state and national questions. The
congressman interfered and managed t,
choke off the convention. The people were
naturally indignant and have been yell.
ing furiously ever since what they were
then content to say quietly Very likel,
the Cuban question would be small pota.
toes now in congressional contests II fret
speech had not been violently dealt will
in the republican platform. Having beer
cultivated by that exercise 1t has become
potatoes of um-taking bigness
Mr.. Tawney, who has never until tn,
last few weeks, cared anything abou
reciprocity with Cuba, If for no Other
J, reason than that he thought the islant
J.. didn't need it, is now posing as an earn
est advocate Of reciprocity, but reciproc
ity by means of q rebate. This rebat
7 idea is one of the most curious Legislative
: 1t consists in paying the Cuban govern
! ment a portion of the duties collecte
Z at American ports in return for a sub
/ stantial reduction of the Cuban duties o.
2 American goods. 1t is not reciprocity
i whatever it is. No advocate Of that pla
j. has right to classify himself as sup
: porter of reciprocity.
g Mr. Tawney's final allusion to the re
Y duction Of duties con the products Of tn
American farm comes pretty close t
y what Mr.. Tawney really stands on i
q opposing true reciprocity. Products 9
:. the American farm" here means suga
q beets. The farmers Of Mr.. Tawney's dis
: trict are not so much disturbed abou
: the fate of the beet as he is, however.
y The first district congressional fight
5, one for the people Of that distrie
: to look after. The Journ a
a has ever been considerate Of ar
Il even generous to Mr. Tawney, whol
# it highly respects, but 1t pleases us I
q know that now. at last, he is learnin