Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
POLITICAL ANTICS
Watch Supporters of iowa Idea
Try to Get Support.
CLAIM ENDORSEMENT OF THEORY
Say Utterances of Roosevelt Are What
They Have Been Contending for
Adherents of Declaration Want I'M
mediate Changes in the Tariff.

Des Moines, Dec. 10-The political
world has been interested during the
past week in the antics of the adher-
ents of the Iowa idea" who are try
ing to prove that the declarations OF
President Roosevelt in his annual
message to congress, are the very
principles they have been contending
for all along. They are, amazed that
they have been misunderstood in the
past and are more amazed that thous-
ands of republicans have failed to rec
ognize the Iowa idea" in the declar-
ations of the President. One of the
peculiar things about the Idea" is
that no matter what is said or who
says it, the tariff revisonists always
declare themselves justified thereby
The most radical and most conserva-
| tive statements alike, are declared to
be true interpretations of the Iowa
| idea"
The truth of the whole matter is
that the declaration which constitutes
the Iowa idea is so ambiguous that
no one knows what it means. If it
were not such serious matter some
of the theories that are evolved from
| it would be fit subjects for the humo-
rous columns of the newspapers. For
instance, the most common interpre-
tation of the idea is expressed in the
following resolution:
Resolved, that we favor any modii
fication of the tariff schedules that
may be required to prevent their af-
fording shelter to monopoly" (but we
deny that the present tariff shelters
! trusts.)
This is indeed peculiar stand to
take, but it is the stand that every re-
| publican speaker who went before the
people during the last campaign and
spoke in favor of the Iowa idea was
compelled to take. Furthermore it is
in substance the declaration of the
third district convention which nomi
mated Judge Birdsall.
The republicans who supported tho
Iowa Idea" insist that they are JUST
fed by the declaration of President
Roosevelt when he said in his mes
sage:
'The cases in which the tariff car
produce monopoly are so few as &c
constitute an inconsiderable factor II
the question; but of course if in any
case it can be found that given rate
of duty promotes a monopoly which
works ill, no protecitionist would OBJ
ject to such a reduction of the duty
as would equalize competition
If this is what the Iowa Idea
really means and if all it's adherent!
a ready to concede that this is tn;
meaning, the dispute might end now
But they are not ready to concede this
The fact cannot be denied that to nine
tenths of the adherents of the Idea
it is synonymous with the declaration
for immediate tariff revision. No on
can read the Presidents message an
draw therefrom any statements tina
would indicate that he favors an
changes in the tariff now. The Who'll
trend of his declarations is agains
such action. He urges a tariff commits
sion, counsels delay and says:
8If the tariff laws as whole worl
well and if business has prospered un
der them and is prospecting, it is bet
{ ter to endure for a time slight incon
veniences and equalities in some o
the schedules than to upset bushes
by too quick and radical changes.
1t is not material whether the low;
: declaration on the subject is for imme
+ date revision or not. The fact is tina
!, the adherents of the Iowa Idea" wan
|, immediate changes in the tariff an,
I are urging the tariff declaration il
the state platform as the ground TO
their views. In regard to tariff rev
sion which is generally supposed to b
. part OF the Iowa Idea" whether
;, really is or not, Governor Cummin
= had the following to say in his speec
= before the Marquette club in Chicago
= = during the campaign:
; "The republicans of Iowa are deepl
, convinced that the time has com
through the progress of our industrie
anu their changing relation to tn
commerce of the world, when modif
n cations OF the tariff are imperativel
e demanded"
Just what schedules should be mod