Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-04-09
ALLISON ON RECIPROCITY.
Governor cummins Declares Recent
Interview Was Not True.

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Des Moines, April Elm an inter
view with Governor Cummins relative
to the statement that Senator Allison
had abandoned the policy of recipro-
city, the governor said:
"You ask me what I think Of the
published statement that Senator ALT
son has abandoned the policy of reci-
procity. The statement is not true.
l am willing to put 1t more strongly
i know it is not true. / have the
best imaginable authority for saying
that Senator Allison believes in reci-
procity Just as earnestly as he ever
did and that he believes the party
should declare for it this year just
as it has been declaring for it for
more than ten years.
1T is obvious to Senator Allison, as
indeed it is to all of us, that reci-
procity by treaty is exceedingly diff.
cult to accomplish, inasmuCh as one
third of the senate can prevent the
ratification of treaty, and the demo
Gratis are all against reciprocity; but
the doctrine can be carried into effect
quite as well by an act of congress,
and this requires only majority OF
both houses. You will find that Sena-
tor Allison will stand firmly and
squarely by the opinions he has so
often and SO ably expressed.
You ask me what kind OF plat
form the coming state republican con.
vention will adopt. My answer is that
/ do not know. That is matter to be
determined by the republicans of the
state, in whose judgment 1 have the
most implicit confidence.
While / cannot say what the plat.
form will be, l can tell you what !
hope it will be. l hope and believe
it will be broad, progressive state
:nent OF the essential principles of re-
publicanism. upon which every genu
inc republican can stand, and concern.
ing which there can be no criticism
| hope and believe that it will neither
repudiate nor retract any thought EN-
bodied in our last two platforms.
and that it will be expressed in Ian
guage chosen by some eminent lead
er of the party in Iowa who com.
mands the absolute confidence Of ev
cry republican in the land.
You ask me if | desire to reply
to the charge that I am out Of sym
athy with some of the distinguished
republicans of the state upon the
tariff and reciprocity and as to the
platform upon these subjects. All
care to say is that | am not conscious
of any such divergence of views.
Men who do their own thinking al.
ways differ respecting the application
of principles upon which they alb.
stractly agree: but as far as the tariff
and reciprocity are concerned. and
their expression in platform, | know
that | am in exact accord with Sena
tors Allison and Dolliver, and think
with a majority of the members OF
the house.
Il have discussed the question with
the most prominent leaders of the
party in the state, not in Office, in.
Guiding many who have been hitherto
reckoned unfriendly in political way.
and | am glad to say that there is
entire concurrence in the desire to
adopt a platform that will state the
republican position in such a manner
that there can be no further agitation
of the subject. There is no difficulty
whatever in doing So and | confident
ly predict that there will be no serious
controversy in the next convention ov.
er the platform"