Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-08-01
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.
Tint of Iowa Republican Convention
VIII in All Probability
Be Adopted.

The Boston Herald's Washington cor
respondent sums up the prevailing sem
tlment at the national capital, and says
the Iowa platform will be adopted by
the national convention next year. This
is the disinterested opinion of a nom
partisan observer. The Herald is in
dependently democratic, and like other
democratic papers, rather inclined to
disparage the tariff revision sentiment
in Iowa. The democrats inGend to make
the campaign next year on this issue,
and will monopolize it if they can. To
this end they agree with substantial
unanimity that the Iowa idea is now
dead and buried But the Herald with
more fairness than the democratic press
in general, says:
1.-THE Iowa tariff and trust planks, writ
ten by Senator Allison and accepted by all
factions in the republican state convention,
may be adopted as part of the republican
platform at the national convention next
year. They were read with the greatest in
tereSt by public men here in view of tie
fierce fight in the past between the tariff
revisionists and the stand patters in the
republican party of Iowa. The mastery
hand of Senator Allison, prince of concil-
wrought out planks which were as salts
factory to the radicals as to the conserVa-
ives and acceptable as we'll to President
Roosevelt. Governor Cummins, as the
leader Of the radicals, and the Iowa mem
oers of the cabinet, Secretary Shaw and
Secretary Wilson, with other conserva-
tives, agreed that Senator Allison was the
man to draft the declaration that would
1armOniZe the differences and he has sue
ceeded in doing so. The Iowa republicans
have taken, through his guidance, what ~
President Roosevelt's position, and what
will undoubtedly be the position Of the
republican national convention in 1904. II
the committee resolutions in that con-
vention, Of which Senator Lodge may be
chairman does not adopt the Iowa tariff
and trust declarations in phrase, it will DO
so in fact and the convention will adopt it's
report. Tariff revision is promised The
fact remains, however, that tariff revision
will not be begun during the life Of the
present congress. 1t has been set aside for
the time being at least. In the minds and
plans Of the high protectionists it has been
set aside until after the presidential cleo
ton, and this means until after the next
presidential inauguration and until the
next congress convenes in December 1866,
unless earlier called in extra session.
This is not an unfair statement of the
the situation, says the Des Moines Re-
SlSlSI duu A.. lie IOWd
promises revision, but not until the first
congress OF the new administration as
sembles, unless an extra session should
be called after the presidential election
There is no reason to believe the Her
AIDS correspondent Is not right in his
guess that the Iowa idea will be the ma
tional idea next year. 1t is known to be
the Roosevelt idea. 1t is incorporated in
planks that have been carefully drawn
and that have been Endorsed by the re1
publican leaders. The national conven-
ton cannot do better if it tries, and il
will have little disposition to try.