Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-01
A WISE LEADER.

AS an exegesis of practical poliucai
common sense and safe counsel the
speech of the temporary chairman OF
todays convention is documentary eVi-
dence of George D. Perkins fitness 10
.nen republican convention love
feast. 1t made good the predie'iohs
and expectations of those VINO KNOW
his powers and justified his selectioh
for the temporary craftsmanship OF the
most important state republican con-
yention of the year. All eyes have Deen
turned toward Iowa Her standing IN
the column of republican states maze
graat her responsibilities. The national
organization waited for the most SIN
cere and fearless of The republican
states to sound keynote. Perkins oio
II by reiterating the slogan of James
G. Blaine and William Mckinley
protection and reciprocity.
His speech was eloquent while not
oratorical. 1t was in no wise forensic.
There were no fireworks, no appeal 10
passion or prejudice. There was no
sailing round the sun. 1t will remain
notable thru its breadth and earnest
ness and exceeding depth OF souna
sense. 1t is a document to be nleo
awav for counsel more than an ora
torical gem to live in the Fifth Reader
Mr.. Perkins was deeply in earnest.
Even the Perkins epigram failed 10 IN
truie itself into the wise ana consist
ently conservative utterances OF its au-
thor, Mr.. Perkins was helping to make
rennb,ican history AMI knew 1t. He
smoke with care and conviction. MOI
un,nindful of the past, he spoke for
the present with its needs and its ne
cessities.
The foundation of Mr.. Perkins
speech was the protective policy as the
"buIwark of American independence
and the foundation Of American deVei-
opment and prosperity" and Its "rea-
sonable application" as equally OPP
posed to foreign central and domestic
monopoly to sectional discrimination
and individual favoritism." Mr.. Per-
,x,ns took the ST. Louis plank of 1895 OF
that platform upon which Mckinley
and a republican congress were elected
70 he the tariff platform of the repub-
1;cans of Iowa and affirmed that the
republicans of the state have maze
NO departure" In other words Per-
bins. the analytical. whose mind is
store house of republican history and
tradition, put the Iowa platform OF the
past two conventions in step with the
national platform Of 1896 and the pol
lev of President Mckinley.
.sThe policy is one tang. the appli-
cation of the policy to changing condl-
tions is another" sai5 Mr.. Perkins.
..Fossilization will not be tolerated.
Quotation apart from consideration OF
the broad interests of national welfare
will not be endured" AS conditions
change tariff changes must be made.
some must be lowered, some must be
raised. Mr. Perkins voiced the beiiet
of the mass of Iowa republicans when
he told the convention the labor OF
the country, under the best and wisest
application of the protective policy Is
df6{ only to be protected in what 1t has
ell, but it is also to be protected In
what it has to buy"
Mr.. Perkins expressed in his speech
the sentiments Of that army OF Iowa
republicans who as the rank and hie
are not heard in the council chambers
of the party, but who are felt In the
field. The ordinary voter to whom
factionalism fails to appeal, but whose
sincerity of purpose and cesire for par
ty success is built upon his sense OF
Justice and desire for good government
will find the basic principles of his po-
litical faith fairly set forth in Mr..
Perkins epistle to the common people,
who are the real republican party.