The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-07-01
hew the New Platform Is Viewed
BY the Revisionists.
Governor Cummins Of Iowa Is Salts
fed With Frame Up.
Discussion Of Reciprocity Features
What Can Be Done.
From Fridays Daily.

Chicago, June 23.-The meaning of the |
tariff plank of the Republican national
convention continues to be subject of
dispute between the revisionists and the
~standpatters," both claiming to have
won victory. The latter point to the
fact that the committee was dominated
by the most pronounced high tariff men
in the country and say that the phrase
eat least" added to the Nelson amend |
ment, nullifes the effect of that amend
ment. They say further that the general
protection statements of the platform
are stronger than those of four and
eight years ago and that no ultra-high
tariff men can find any fault with them.
They wink the other eye when told that
the revisionists find cause for comfort in
the plank, and say that some people are
very easily pleased. On the other hand,
the revisionists insist that the platform
is more of a concession to the middle
west than they had hoped to secure, and
that the president will be at liberty, at
his pleasure, to write a revision mes
sage, since he is left, with congress, to be
the sole Judge of when the time has
arrived when revision is necessary. They
say that the original draft of the tariff
plank was changed materially in the ses-
sion of the committee on Tuesday night,
through their efforts, and that while
they did not get as much as they wanted,
they did secure recognition and state
ment which they can take to the people
of the west who favor a readjustment of
schedules and ask them to support. In
short, the tariff plank appears to be
two-faced thing. When looked at from
one point of view it wears face that is
pleasing to the ultra rotectionists and
when looked at from another it has the
aspect of revision.
Governor Cummins, in the middle west,
is the one man whose opinions regarding
the tariff plank will be read with most
interest. He was quoted in these dis
patches yesterday, when he Endorsed it.
Speaking to The Journal this morning he
dictated the following as supplemental
to yesterdays statement.
GAS a whole the platform is admir-
able. 1t is as strong and persuasive
statement of the title of the Republican
party to the confidence of the people as
have ever heard. With respect to the
tariff and reciprocity it leaves the sub
ject of recent discussion absolutely open.
That is to say, it leaves those who be-
lieve in a modification of the tariff sched-
ules at perfect liberty to urge their
views; and with respect to reciprocity, it
leaves those who favor reciprocal ar
rangements for the extension of our
foreign trade, in either competitive or
non-competitive products, free to advo-
cate their opinions. I assume that no
Republican or any other sane and loyal
American has ever favored a reciprocal
arrangement that would injure agricul-
ture, labor or industry. 1t is, therefore,
fair to say that as regards the general
struggle between the 'standpatters' and
the so-called Iowa idea,' the platform
is not defeat for either.
"When, however, the platform just
adopted is compared with the one an
nounced few weeks ago in my own
state, it is obvious that we have won
distinct victory. The fight in Iowa COW
cred two points; first the 'standpatters'
refused to recognize the desirability of
revision at any time or under any cir
cumstances. The national platform does
recognize it. The Iowa platform express
ly confined reciprocity to non-competitive
things; the national platform contains
no such restriction.
81 would have been glad to have seen
these disputed questions settled at this
time, but as that was impossible, am
glad that the way is still open for their
proper settlement in the future. The
Republicans of the country can all stand
comfortably upon the platform and can
work enthusias tically for the success
of the Republican ticket. Iowa will
give Roosevelt 100000 majority and will
elect solid Republican delegation to
congress.
So far as the major portion of the
Minnesota delegation is concerned there
is not the optimism which characterizes
Governor Cummins. Those gentlemen de-
cline to be quoted, but they freely say,
speaking privately to The Journal, that
the tariff plank is disappointing. 1t
does not mean anything for revision,
they insist, and the "standpatters" have
made their point clear and clean. This
opinion in the delegation is so general
as to be worthy of some attention.
So far as I have been able to learn,
after talks with leading men in the
party, in Chicago during this convention,
and earlier, it is the plan of the presi-
dent, if elected, to have the tariff re-
yised, perhaps by the congress which will
be elected this year. Even Senator Al
drich, the high priest of protection and
its especial champion in the upper house,
has admitted in an authorized interview
that revision will probably be accom-
plished by the next congress. It is deem