Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-28
POLITICS And POKER
GOVERNOR cuMMINs, DETERMI-
NATION TO DRAW CARDS
ATTRACTS ATTENTION.
People in Washington Do Not Believe
That the Iowa Executive Has Given
up His Tariff Revision Ideas, Though
He has Temporarily Laid them Aside
IBY H. ]. MAHIN.1
Washington Bureau Of the Courier
washipafap n r. Nav 81

I'D II. y. MAf1llN.J
Washington Bureau Of the Courier.
Washington, D. c., May 81.
Although it has been loudly heralded
far and wide that the "Iowa Idea" is
dead, it is the belief of politicians here
that as far as Governor Cummins, its
well known sponsor, is concerned. the
idea IS not dead but is only slumbering.
II am a republican and am prepared
to stand sQuare1y in the center of this
stand pat platform" is what Governor
Cummins said in his speech before the
state convention few days ago.
But, an eminent Iowan who lives in
Washington and who attended the con
vention, said when he returned, that
the governor added:
However, l shall continue to draw
cards."
The impression gathered is that Mr.
Cummins, though compelled to yield
to an overwhelming opposition this
year, still cherishes his pet theories.
The governor, it is believed, expects
Tin his very appropriate continuation
of the poker vernacular) to continue
drawing cards" until he finally holds
that political royal flush which will en-
able him to sweep all before him as
the leader of the tariff revision move
ment.
Governor Cummins is commended by
politicians far and wide for his ac-
ton at the state convention. Yet 1t is
said of course that it was the only
thing for him to do. Although he jumps
neatly into the band wagon by his
speech Of loyal republicanism, it is not
believed that he for a minute had any
idea of giving up his tariff revision
views. The words, 81 shall continue to
draw cards" do not appear in the pub
lished report of the governors speech
but it is declared that they were ut
tered by him and that he thus inferred
that while he was ready to stay in the
ranks this year he was still awaiting
the opportunity that he evidently
thinks the future will bring forth.
But, say the wise ones. if this is
the governors idea he is banking on
something that will never come about.
The Iowa idea it is declared by the
most level headed and most far seeing
politicians, has seen its best day. 1t
might be revived to u certain extent
after election but never to achieve the
fame and gather the following that it
had in the past.
1t cannot be denied that there has
been in the past months in the United
States quite an idea in favor Of tariff
revision. The proposition looked at
tractive in some ways and gathered
about it many followers. However
that is all changed today. The senti
ment of Iowa as evinced by it's recent
convention indicates the sentiment
of the entire country on this
point and it is the issue on which the
democrats are going to lose the cleo
ton this fall.
For a time there was even senti
ment in congress that after election
something would. be done about the
tariff It was rumored about among
the staid senators but today there i:
| little to be found. There is of course
a general sentiment that tariff SEIZED
| ules are not sacred and that if it BIZ
found necessary they can and SHOULD
be reduced. 1t is not at all unlikel,
even that there may be some tariff
| legislation during the next session O
congress or the one Immediately fol
lowing it. If there is however it will
| be modelled on lines closely adherint
to the policy Of protection and will BIZ
SO different from the Iowa Idea," tina
no one would be in any danger Of con
fusing the two
| Governor Cummins drawing cards
has attracted much attention in Wash
| ington in a quiet way The ability O
| the governor and his power as a pc
lltlcal factor are not sneezed at il
| Washington even among the mos
rabid standpatters and there are man,
OF them Of the opinion that even i
the governor does continue to draw
cards he may after all never decide t,
show his hand after his recent expert
ences unless he gets that royal flusl
and the standpatters are convinced
that the necessary cards are not re
naming in the deck - to complete tn,
poker metaphor. The best cards, it ii
declared are now held by the standpat
tiers who will continue to hold ont,
them with a firm grip.
THE governor can continue to draw
cards from now until doomsday an,
he will never get his royal flush" jo
cosely remarked well known Iowa,
last night. The other side alread,
holds the cards he needs and he cal
not get them. Although the governo
undoubtedly has great hope that hi
luck may stay with him and bring hin
hand with which he can clean up tn
board l have an idea that he will Sc
ere long that such thing is impossi
Bile and will gracefully ask for a ney
deal and another start. Of course b
may try another bluff and If he doe
he will be promptly called and will
dIlita sllre lcco q