New-York tribune., 1902-08-01
IOWA'S TARIFF ACTION
WHAT 1T MEANS IN RELATION
TO NATIONAL POLITICS.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS NOT AGREED
AS TO ITS WISDOM, BUT ALL CON
CEDE ITS IMPORTANCE.
Try TELEGRAPH ID THE TRIBuNE.l

terday the topic Of discussion among
poiticans in Washington to-day. 1t is hailed
bv some Republicans Of prominence and pres
c,ence sign OF good omen, and by others of
the same class as a deliverance frausht with
Danger TO the party and country. Its dominant
note is for tariff revision-a subject that un-
doubtedly is engaging the best thought of Re
pubiicans everywhere, but Of which conserya-
tive and farsighted party leaders are endeavor-
ing 10 prevent agitation until the party policy
pertaining TO il is definitely determined II is
feared that the action OF the Iowa convention
will tend TO precipitate popular discussion be-
fore the time is ripe. and that as result there
will be political confusion and business uneasi-
ness The fact that the Republicans Of the
Hawkeye State only marked time at Des
Moines yesterday does not detract from the i'm
portance OF their action from the point of view
Of party leaders here. It will not be under
stood by the country at large that the tariff
plank in their platform is exact repetition
OF their expression this question year ago
when Governor Cummins was nominated and
forced this recognition of his contention in the
partys deliverance. Its readoption without dis
sent just the Of a Congress campaign of
great Importance Will, It is thought, be inter
preted as indicating a threatened movement
away from the ancient landmarks Of the party in
section of the country where Republicanism
is strongest and purest
IowA's POWER IN NATIONAL COUNCILS.
Then, too. the fact that Iowa is so powerful
not alone in the councils of the party. but in
Congress and the administration we'll gives
20 the subject significance which neither
be blinked denied. The Hawkeye State has
Two representatives in the Cabinet the Speaker
Of the House of Representatives and the chair
manship Of the Senate's great Committee
Appropriations. 10 say nothing Of other con-
spicuous chairmanships held in the two houses
by Republicans. This gives TO that State a
position Of power and influence in determining
party policies and administrative purposes
ond 10 no other State in the Union Hence,
when Iowa speaks out so strongly at this time
for tariff revision, il becomes necessary to ex-
plain the meaning IN the light Of the history
of the movement and its relations to national
politics and affairs.
Governor A B. Cur1nins who was described
In these dispatches a week ago as resembling
IN political character and purposes Governor
La Toilette. OF Wisconsin, is mainly responsible
for precipitating the issue Of tariff revision in
Iowa At the convention which nominated Gov
ernor Cummins a year ago, Senator Allison
could nave prevented the insertion in the plat
form Of the plank that was readopted yester-
day, and there is the highest authority for stat
ing that the Sepator was urged to do this. His
reason for doing so was that there was no use
10 bring on a fight at this time. Senator Allison
being always a man of peace and a great be-
lieEer in harmony Although the convention
was elected TO nominate Curnrnins. and he had
full control of ii on State issues, Senator ALI
son could have kept out Of the platform any
expression that marked departure from the
national principles Of the party which il has
fought so many successful battles.
WORK OF ROBERTS AND WILSON
George E. Roberts, the Director of the Mint,
went from his Office in Washington a year ago
to help his friend Cumrnins manage the conven-
tion, and it was he who wrote the tariff revision
plank Mr.. Roberts was again on the resoIu-
lions committee at Des Moines yesterday. and
looked after the readoption of the tariff plank
James Wilson, President Roosevelt's Secre-
tary Of Agriculture. was also at Des Mones
and was member of the resolutions committee
with Director Roberts Secretary Shaw could
get away from Washington to attend the
convention. perhaps there would have been
interesting fight tariff revision, with the
probabilities against its success The Secretary
OF Agriculture is supposed to take the same
view Of the question a that taken by his
Cabinet colleague. but he is beligerent
as Mr. Shaw. 1t will be observed that Secre-
tary Wilson voted in the committee OF resolu-
tions for hearty Endorsement of the Presi-
dents Cuban policy, in spite Of the well known
fact that he co-oDerated with the beet sugar
men in Congress when the reciprocity question
was first brought forward.
Private advices received here from Des Moines
sre TO the effect that the tariff plank adopted
was COMPROMISE between Governor Cummins
Senator Dolliver and Director Roberts on one
side and Senator Allison, Speaker Henderson
and Secretary Wilson on the other Secretary
Shaw was in Atlantic City yesterday, arriving
IL Washington late last night. and there is no
evidence that he put himself in communication
with the convention by wire.
AN INTERESTING POLITICAL STORY.
Back of the combina ton between Messrs
Cumnins Dolliver and Roberts is an interesting
story Of Iowa politics. with the Senatorship now
held by Mr. Allison the prize and with
Speaker Henderson as the chosen heir Of Iowa's
great Senator whose sixth consecutive term
will begin next March. There is an understand
ing in Iowa that Mr. Allison viii not serve
seventh terrn-a record never yet achieved by
any American statesnan-and the struggle for
his toga was begun year ago when Mr.. Cum
Minis Won the nomination for Governor with
little trouble II was then that the Cummins-
Dolliver- Roberts combination was formed, with
Messrs- Henderson Shaw and Wilson consti-
tuting the leadership Of the opposing faction.
With the aid of Messrs Dollfver and Roberts
Governor cursar7lins theIl took up the subject
OF tariff revision in the belief that he would be
the pioneer in movement of great force ana
popularity in Iowa that would send him TO the
Senate TO succeed Mr. Allison, that would con-
finue Mr. Dolliyer in the Senate and that would
land Mr. Roberts in the Governorship speaker
Henderson and Secretaries Shaw and wilson
have been closely watching the development OF
the movement. and have been in postioh at