Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-10

battle royal for the preservation or
the integrity of the party. If those who
are earnestly against plutocracy VIII
attend the primaries they will be spared
the humiliation which they have just
suffered in Iowa.
The fight for the reaffirmation OF the
last national platform and the building
of a new platform in line with 1t Is on
and must continue until a complete
victory is won.'
On Republican Platform.
Mr.. Bryan also discusses the repub-
lican platform at considerable length.
He says, in part:
However accommodating the plat
form builders may have been to both
sides of the Iowa idea contention" one
important fact is that in 1901 and In
1902 the republicans of Iowa showed
progress In The direction Of popular
government and public welfare when
they declared: I'VE favor any modi-
tication of the tariff schedules that may
be required to prevent their affording
a shelter to monopoly Another i'm
portant fact is that in their 1903 plat
form the Iowa republicans omitted this
explicit declaration. The nearest APP
proach to clearness in that platform is
the declaration that duties that are
too low should be increased and duties
that are too high should be reduced"
What an inspiring declaration. Men
who believe in the Iowa idea" think
that any duty that provides shelter to
monopoly is too high: and the stand
patters from Standpattersville, like
Congressman Lacey, believe that any
duty that will not provide adequate
shelter to trust is too low. And yet
who will dispute the proposition that
duties that are too low should be in
creased and duties that are too high
should be reduced"
The point of difference is as to what
is too low and what is too high In
1901 and in 1902 the Iowa republicans
said that any tariff schedule that at
forded shelter to monopoly was too
high; and in 1903 the Iowa republicans
nave abandoned that clearly defined
position and have adopted a declara-
ton that among the Laceys may be in
terpreted as a 'standrat platform,
while among the men who have grown
weary OF trust imposition it may be In
terpreted as an Iowa idea platform.
AS to Trusts.
1.-THE rest OF the platform Is quite like
the tariff plank.
The trusts are not to be killed, but
to be regulated, and by whom? The
platform does not say, but any one who
has watched the republican party
would add by the officials selected for
that work bv the trusts themselves.
Reciprocity is to be employed wherever
il VIII not interfere with protection
that means that there can be no reci-
procity at ALL for If the tariff rates are
so adjusted as to give Just exactly the
protection which protectionists believe
to be necessary, how can the rates be
lowered to aid reciprocity without In
juring the protective system? The
Philippine plank is equally obscure. II
commends the progress made In the
preparation of the Philippine people
for the fullest practicable degree OF
self government The word practical
is sort of turn-ta word and can be
used to point the plank in any direc-
ton. 1t makes the platform as accep-
table to those who think Il is not prac-
teal to grant any lf-government at
all as to those who believe it practical
to grant complete se.f-government
Coupieu Will luuSpeIueSite.
Saying Nothing.
Considering the uncertainty to be
found In every plank it Is strange that
the convention used so much elabora-
ton in saying nothing. 1t might Just
as we'll have said: The republican
party always has done right and we
trust all republican officials, whoever
they may be. to do right in the future
on all questions The platform sug-
gested would have been just about as
explicit as the platform actually pro-
mulgated. No wonder the Cedar Rap
ids Republican said of X on the day OF
the convention. that II would not be
quoted or become part of national
platform. 1t was an accurate descrip-
ton and greatly impairs Governor
Cummins' reputation for political fair
dealing: he has secured denomination,
but he has done so by a surrender of
his influence in national politics"