Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-16
WHO WROTE IT7

Siopx City Journal.-Gov. Cummins
is n orting to some extent the story
of dw the republican platform of this
var was builded. 1t is not to be pre-
4sumed that the governor is doing this
because he has personal pride in
language he may have contributed.H His
object is to answer assertion employed
to his disadvantage. The governor de-
sires that it should be understood that
he is responsible for the tariff, reci-
procity and trust planks of the plat
form, and that it Isl not true that they
were made for him and forced
down his throat. In his own defense
therefore, he goes somewhat into au-
thorship.
The Journal has said before, and is
willing to repeat as occasion may re-
uuire that harmonious agreement, as
to platform declaration could not have
been reached without the generous CO.
operation of Gov. Cummins. 1t is quite
proper that he should have their cred
it. When the agreement had been
! reached with Senator Allison, Gov.
Cummins supported the agreement in
absolute good faith. There was strong
pressure upon him at the last for a
modification of the phrase, Duties that
are too low should be increased, and
duties that are too high should be re-
duced," but the governor refused to
give his personal influence to striking
out the first part of the sentence with
mt Senator Allison's consent. The
governor agreed with the senator that
the statement was a declaration of
principle and was not to be understood
as an affirmation touching existing
legislation. Very much might be writ
ten concerning the various confer.
ences in which Governor Cummins was
always the prominent figure, as the
statements already published go to
show, but such writing is not to much
good purpose.
The fact is that the Iowa platform
adopted at Des Moines on the LIST inst.
Is as much Gov. Cummins' platform as
anybody's. He united heartily with
Senator Allison in the work of making
an expression upon which both could
stand and which would be acceptable
to the great mass of the party of the
state. That was generous action on
the part of Governor Cummins. He is
entitled to the fullest measure of cred
it. He was frank to say to the conven.
ton speaking of the platform, that "tc
its every sentence and every word, and
every line, and every letter." he gave
his most unqualified and enthusiastic
support" He granted that there were
differences of opinion but he said: eve
are all protectionists." During the past
two years, he said, he had expressed
his views upon many phases of the tar
iff and of reciprocity. and he declared
that what he had said was drawn from
his conviction of what was true. He
claimed that the platform just adopted
gave him warrant for his opinions, and
he denied to no man the liberty he
claimed for himself. His thought was
that the platform was broad enough
for all who held to the principles OF
the republican party That was gen
erous and manly. That was the posi-
ton the governor occupied throughout
the work of framing that portion of the
platform relating to tariff reciprocity
and trusts.
Certain it is, let it be repeated, the
platform would not be as it is but fol
the active agency of Governor Cum
minis. Senator Allison will say this
Mr.. Blythe will say this. No Iowa re
publican familiar with the story of the
platform should deny or cloud it.
The platform is composite The Ian
guage employed in the tariff plank is
not new. 1t matters little what hand
did the transcribing.
The meri of he platform is in the fact
that it is republican platform drawn
within lines OF national experience and
auprOya1