The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-17
Henderson's Withdrawal.

Dramatic In the extreme IS the retlre-
ment of Speaker Henderson from the con-
test for reelection to congress In the
third Iowa district. Without hint OF
preparation, without word OF warning,
at the very beginning of campaign III
which he would in all probability have
been victorious the sturdy old soldier who
never before shrunk from a fray with
draws from the arena and gives as his
reason that the people Of his district and
state are out Of sympathy with him.
A hasty reading of his letter refusing
the republican nomination and the ex-
planatory statement that followed 1t,
leaves a feeling of bewilderment 1t seems
as if Colonel Henderson undertakes to
prove he is in sympathy with his people on
the trust and tariff questions, while an
nouncing in the same breath that he re-
tires because he does not enjoy that SYM
pathy. This apparent conflict OF the ma
jor's own words creates the suspicion that
his real reason has been concealed.
But a more careful reading of letter
and statement leads to the conclusion that
the speaker is not able to follow the tariff
reforming ideas of his people, and desires
to make his announcement as gently as
possible by emphasizing every point in
which he agrees with the new times and
new men in the party.
He says that he is opposed to any gen.
eral revision Of the tariff. This would
leave a loophole for the revision of spe-
cific schedules. But he adds that he Is
not in favor Of that, because it will not, in
his opinion, relieve the people: from the
oppression of trusts or the combinations
of capital however named" $780,.
There is where he and his people dis;
agree. They say in their state platform:
Modify every tariff schedule that shelters
monopoly. Moreover, they have no
doubt that there are such schedules. They
would, therefore, work material changes
in the Dingley tariff
Colonel Henderson thinks there are no
schedules in the Dingley tariff that shelter
trusts. He is not opposed to needed
changes" in the tariff, but holds that none
are needed. He is opposed to American
trusts, but would hesitate to in5ure them
to the benefit of foreign trusts.
Colonel Henderson is contented with the
tariff as it is His people are not. He
says, Let we'll enough alone. They say,
Make it better. He thinks that the repub-
lican party was made for high protection
They think high protection was made for
the party, and that another policy may
serve it better now.
= Speaker Henderson represents a passing
era in American politics. His people rep
resent the present and the future. He is
an acute observer and sees that success
in politics henceforth means that men Of
his views must change them or give place
to leaders with the new views. The major
is too old and too set to change. He is
sure that the old way is right and, the new
way wrong He will not enter into an un-
dignified quarrel with these lusty young
sters who are bound to beat him in the
end. Rather he will, while his hands are
yet firmly on the reins of political power,
dismount and give his place to another.
He prefers abdicatlon to overthrow.
The speaker is right. A new era is
dawning The old leaders must abdicate
with him or prepare to adopt a new creed.