Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-16
AN UNJUST ACCUSATION.

az oAAO VI I1C iOPoU1lSuh lluCl l05
in this city last evening, it was openly
charged by one Of the speakers that
the Courier and other newspapers in
southeastern Iowa, had been unfair in
their treatment of Governor Cummins
and his position on Canadian reciproc-
ity and the tariff, and with reference
to. the governors candidacy as dele
gate to the national convention. The
"other papers" can speak for them
selves, but so far as the Courier is
concerned this charge is not only I'M
just but absolutely unwarranted. The
Courier was the first paper in the
state to propose the names of Sena-
tors Allison and Dolliver, Governor
Cummins and Hon. j. W. Blythe as
delegates at large to the republican
national convention. Indeed, we had
previously suggested that Senator Alli-
son and Governor Cummins should
head the delegation. At no time has
this paper made any personal attack
upon the governor and we have pre-
sented his published views upon all
public questions fully and fairly The
charge that this paper has been partial
in the presentation of facts with refer
ence to this matter, is unqualifiedly
false.
The Courier does not believe in Ca
madam reciprocity as we understand 1t,
because we believe such q policy would
inevitably lead to free trade and in
jury to the American industries; just
as the so-called Iowa Idea meeting at
the packing house in this city inevita-
bly, brought out utterances from the
principal speaker that were democrat
ic and in no sense republican doctrine.
This paper has never charged that Gov
ernor Cummins was free trader, but
we have believed that his ideas with
reference to Canadian reciprocity were
mistaken and we have not hesitated to
say SO. However, we have taken Mr..
Cummins at his word when he said in
an authorized interview, which was re-
published in the Courier, that he was
In full accord with President Roose-
welt upon the tariff question. In view
of this declaration and the high posi-
ton which he holds, we have believed
that Governor Cummins should be one
of the delegates from Iowa to the ma
tional republican convention. We be-
lieve it now, and shall labor to that
end
We have said from the first, that we
could see no sense or reason in fac
tional fight among Iowa republicans
this year.
We are not in favor of reaffirming
the tariff plank in last years state
platform. This is without any refer
ence to Governor Cummins whatsoev-
er. 1t is simply because of the widely
different interpretations that have
been put on this plank throughout the
country. Let us avoid controversy now
and in the future by making clear
cut utterance this year. the meaning
of which can be easily understood and
which cannot be misrepresented by
the democrats or anybody else.
The republicans of Iowa are
for Roosevelt to a man and we believe
that they are overwhelmingly in fav-
or of tariff plank in the national plat
form that is in accord with the ideas
and principles enunciated upon this
subject by the President himself. We
have not been able to see any reason
why Governq' Cummins' personality
should come 4 % this matter at all.
The question issue Is not Governor
Cummfns. It is the nomination of
Roosevelt and platform in accord
ance with sound republican principles.
These principles. as relating to the
tariff this paper believes were fully
set forth by the President in his Min
neapolis speech, and were admirably
summed UP in the comprehensive dec
laration that it is the bounden duty of
the American people ito see to it that
our laws shall in no event afford ad-
vantage in our market to foreign in
dustries over American industries, to
foreign capital over American capital,
to foreign labor over our own labor"