Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
Revisionists and Standpatters.

6teVlSlOulSLS anu oIdAoPpSboASs
The Philadelphia Press today prints the
following dispatch from its Washington
correspondent:
Tariff, rather than finance, was the sub
ject discussed by Senators Aldrfch Allison
and Spooner at Hot Springs. Va. They
are members OF the Senate finance COM
mittee. but Mr.. Spooner said today that
the consideration of a financial bill had not
been undertaken.
IAN Important feature of the meeting
was the consideration of the tariff. The
question was presented in the form or
plank to be adopted by the Iowa republican
convention, which soon meets. Mr.. Allison
will write the tariff plank, and 1t is pro-
posed to express the sentiment of Iowa re-
publicans so there can be no mistaking the
meaning.
There have been consultations between
Senator Allison and Gov. Cummins. and
there Is unanimity of purpose to correct
the misunderstanding of what has been
termed the Iowa idea Mr.. Allison. in the
conference with his colleagues of the Sem
ate finance committee on this subject,
showed that the real Iowa idea is not at
variance with the Views universally pos
sessed by the republican leaders.
Iowa republicans. as well as other lead
ers in the west, oppose opening the tariff
question in the next national campaign.
Such revision as may be necessary. 1t is
maintained, should be undertaken by the
republican party at time when the peo-
pie are not excited over a national election
This Is the view of eastern and western
republicans and Ii is believed that the
Iowa platform will declare that policy"
If Senator Allison convinced Senator AL
drich that no difference exists between the
revisionists and the standpatters he &C
complished something very unusual. The
public is of the opposite opinion. Why the
Iowa Idea" II 1t but expresses the gener-
ally accepted Interpretation of the tariff
situation? What is the discussion about?
Why should so experienced man as the
senior senator from Iowa have been Sc
lected to draft state platform If the tariff
plank is simply to advise letting well enough
alone? The merest tyro in politics could do
that in very acceptable phraseology.
OF course there Is difference. The re-
visionists not only hold that the tariff
should be revised by those who believe in
protection and want that policy Lerpet-
uated. but that the time has come when
the work should be done. In their opinion,
justice and the business interests Of the
country both require II. The standpatters
hold that nothing should be done on the
subject at all as long the country
continues prosperous Tariff revision,
even to a very limited extent, would,
they assert, throw everything out of plumb
and produce uneasiness in the business
world. Hence the phrase, ''let well enough
alone" The one side hopes for revision
not later than the first session of the Fifty
ninth Congress. The other side would ap-
pear to be DESTROYS of making 1t conditional
upon the return of the democratic party to
power.
As to what the strength of Gov. Cummins
may be at home. time will soon tell. The
state convention is but a few weeks off,
and the election but few months. So far
as Is known, he has not changed his tariff
views. as the result either of any confer
ences held in Iowa or here In Washington
He stands for revision now as he did last
year. and surely If he is successful again
in this years race he may be expected to
stand for revision next year. But, as The
Star quite recently stated. the Iowa idea"
is not confined to Iowa. 1t has strong sup
port in many localities west of the Ale
ghenies. and 1t will make itself heard and
felt at the next republican national con-
vention.