The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-15
Says Time Has Come for
Revision of Schedules,
and Will Do All in His
Power 10 Have National
Platform So Declare.
Speech Before County Con-
vention in Des Moines
Shows Modification of Ex-
eCutive's Views on Reel
Procity and Trusts.

LES MOiNkS, Iowa. March 1T IN
tend to do whatever lies in my power
to introduce into the national platform
the thought to which the Republicans OF
Iowa have already given utterance-" In
these words Gov. A B. Cummins to-
day formally launched his campaign to
graft the Iowa idea" upon the national
Republican platform OF 1904
His speech at the Republican county
convention here this afternoon had es-
pecial Significance from the fact that he
was recently summoned 10 Washington
BY President Roosevelt. and there three
long conferences were held relative to
national politics. At that time IL was
reported that the governor had been
persuaded 10 discontinue his tariff re-
form speeches His address today
shows several evidences of the Presi-
dents influence. especially in regard TO
! reciprocity and trusts. but not in the
way Of modification OF his tariff views
He says the time as come to enlarge the
free list and revise the tariff schedules
generally
The convention was remarkable for
the unanimity with which Cummins,
resolutions were passed. and Represeu-
tative Hull was rebuked for opposia-
Cummins. Prouty, HuITs opponent
plainly had three out Of four OF the
delegates.
The "Iowa Idea" Defined.
The governors definition OF the Iowa
idea" is as follows:
With respect TO our platform OF the
last two years upon the subject OF the
I lei mo
lieve in every word that we have utter
ed. Time and reflection have but in
tensihed my views. and unhesitatinEIv I
say that while I am not welded to any
form OF expression. the idea. or thought
contained in our platform is not only
right. which ought TO end the contro-
versy, but il is. as I am profoundly
convinced. essential TO the continued
success Of the party. and 1 say frankly
that I intend 10 do whatever lies in my
power TO introduce into the national
platform of next year the thought TO
which the Republicans OF Iowa have al
ready given utterance
There is no conflict whatsoever be-
tween the Iowa platform and anything
that has ever been declared by a na-
tiOnal convention, but il is necessary.
from time to time. in our platforms, 20
apply the policies and the principles of
the party TO affairs as they at the time
exist The man who says that the fol-
lowers OF the Iowa platform have abated
one jot or little of their belief in the
policy OF protection is the only enemy
that protection has in the ranks OF the
Republican party.
Time 20 Change Tariff.
The schedules which now carry thts
policy into effect were adopted in 1897.
I have no criticism for them They
were adopted when the country was in
the depths OF commercial distress. ere
ated and perpetuated by the weakness
and fallacies Of Democratic Admin
istration and Democratic doctrines. six
years have passed; changes in the
methods and process Of industry have
occurred. of which the intelligent peo-
pie OF this country are instinctivelv
conscious Under these circumstances.
the question propounded by the lows
platform is whether the time has come
to make corresponding changes in our
Import duties
II l understand the real purport Of
what We SAID last year. II is that the
Republicans Of IOwE-and in this re-
spect they are Joined by the Repub-
licans Of nearly every State in the
Union-believed that the time had come
n which the subject should be again
examined, not necessarily in the way Of
a general revision OF all the schedules.
but that some Of them. and notably the
iron and steel schedules. should be taken
up. FOR the purpose Of determining
whether the duties were so high that
tEey were being used not for the pur-
pose Of protecting alone. but for The
purpose OF unduly enhancing the prices
Of the various commodities manufac-
tured from iron ore
Il believe that some OF these duties
are too high. and that they are capable
Of being used for an unlawful object.
There are good Republicans who believe
that some things which are now on the
dutiable list SHOULD be upon the free
list
The platform TO which I have re-
ferred also declares for reciprocity. L
am profoundly convinced that. as de-
clared in the national platform OF 1895.
protection gives US the home market.
and 10 reciprocity we must look for our
rightful share in foreign msrkets-if We
are permitted 20 enter foreign markets.