Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-23
RANK AND FILE OF PARTY SPEAK.
ING OUT


With decisiveness. that cannot be
questioned the rank and file of the re-
publican party in all parts of the coun-
try are speaking out with regard to
their wishes. They know who they
want as their presidential candidate
in this years canvass. They realize
how able has been his administration
Of national affairs during the past three
years and they believe that the inter-
ests of the United States can be best
conserved by keeping Theodore Roose-
welt in the presidential chair for an
other four years. So far as this part
of the campaign work is concerned
President Roosevelt has been nominal
ed by the people and is to receive the
ratification Of their representatives in
the Chicago convention on June 81.
: Scarcely a day now passes that does
not record the expression Of the repub-
licans of some township, county or
state in favor of President Roosevelt
These returns, which show an unusual
unanimity in regard to the party's can
didate, are also bring to prominence
the wishes of the rank and file con-
corning the platform on which the
campaign shall be waged. They are
pleased with President Roosevelt's ac-
ton in completing the negotiations for
the isthmian canal and the assurance
of the early commencement of the
work of construction. The enforcement
Of the federal laws against illegal cor
porations is in accordance with the
peoples desires. The present high
standing of the United States in it's
international relations is testimon-
ial to the wisdom and ability Of the
state department recognized by the
people of the country.
While all these things are matters
of pride there is one point. to which
the republicans of the country are Civ
ing especial attention this year-that
of the party's position with regard to
the question of protection. Though
this has been one of the basic doctrines
since the form alton of the party, it's
wisdom has never been so forcibly
indicated as during the past seven
years of its, application under the
Dingley law. Under this law our ma
Ition has diversified and expanded it's
Industrial interests to an extent never
before attained nor dreamed of. The
millions of workingmen, who at the
time of the enactment of this law
were without employment, have all Sc
cured work and all American wage
earners have been enabled to get for
the work the highest wage known in
industrial history. Commercially our
at the end of the seven years we find
that the foreign balance of trade is
larger than for the hundred years pre-
yious to the enactment Of the Dingley
law and the best thing about it is that
1t is in our favor. From the debtor
nation of former years we have been
transformed into the creditor nation
of the globe.
Such results are unparalleled in the
nation has extended her borders and
history of national economics. Amer
leans realize this and there is no Won
der, therefore, that they are demand
ing with unanimity the continuation of
the policy of protection as embodied
in the Dingley law. Republicans
throughout the country are taking the
broad ground that the wisdom Of the
policy of protection is unimpeachable.
President Roosevelt in his Minneapolis
speech last spring ably set forth this
doctrine and the republicans of the
country are demanding that there shall
be a plank in the republican platform
this year that shall accord with the
views there expressed, They do not
contend that any particular tariff
schedule or law should never be chang
ed, but they do and are demand
ing that there shall be no changes in
our present,tariff until such time as the
advantages to be attained therefrom
shall beyond question outweigh the
disadvantages that arise from the I'M
settled condition of business that al
ways accompanies revision OF the
tariff
The voice Of the republican rank
and file on these questions is unques-
tionably plain. 1t behooves the dele
gates to the various conventions to
faithfully carry out their wishes.