Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-15
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"
emma that he would rise to the highest
places and establish a great-perhaps
an enduring reputation. Many of his
friends, personal and political, hoped
so. so hoped, for to me he was al
ways courteous. But some sort Of
blight fell upon this young man whom
many loved and many envied. Wheth-
er he did wrong himself or suffered
from being in bad company, like Old
Dog Tray, may never be-perhaps Will
never be-known except to few, but
that his appointment as assistant post
master general, which he considered
a great honor and long step upward,
was the means of his undoing there
can be no question. By the method
by which they have conducted affairs
touching the postoffice department the
Republican leaders have managed to
put under suspicion almost every per-
son connected with that department.
That there are many honest and hon
orable men and women in that depart
ment as in all the others, know, and
lam glad to know it, but that corruption
exists is also true. Where there is SO
much smoke there must be some fire.
So the people believe, and when the
Republican majority in congress re-
fused to order an investigation into the
rottenness, but hurried up the adjourn
ment to prevent an investigation, the
people concluded, and not unreasonably,
that the reason they turned their backs
and ran away was that they We're
payers and patriots of the land take q
look at the reeking cesspool Of Repub-
lican rottenness.
Cabinet SpelIbinders.
The Chicago Inter Ocean, Republic
an paper, jabs certain cabinet officers
who are booked to make campaign
speeches An this racy manner:
A Washington dispatch says that each
cabinet member is to make at least one
campaign speech. The idea seems to be
that these gentlemen are peculiarly quail
fled to sound keynotes.
Well, that depends. The Hon. Philander
c. Knox, the Hon. William H. Taft and
the Hon. James Wilson undoubtedly stand
for constructive Republican policies.
They have done things that the people
wanted done in a way that proves them
qualified to instruct and guide public
opinion.
On the other hand, anything from the
Hon. William H. Moody-we Judge from
his outgivings in the last great campaign
would probably embarrass rather than
help the party. The Hon. Leslie M. Shaw
might succeed as campaigner in New
Uuh fha ynr1d Sfv.oo O.
ury" is one to conjure with, but hardly
hereabouts. And in the light of recent po-
litical history the Hon. Henry c. Payne
could be spared almost everywhere.
Recent experiences in Wisconsin and IL
linois ought to convince those in the seats
of the mighty at Washington that the day
has passed when any man Is considered
political prophet and guide merely be-
cause he holds large title at the capital.
Here In the west we have every respect
for high Office. but we have learned that
tts possession does not guarantee political
wisdom
Some members Of the cabinet undoubt-
eddy can do their party and the country
good service on the stump, but others
would be 80 likely to sound keynotes that
the people do not care to sing to that
they might much better stay in Washing
ton and attend to their high duties.
Let the administration discriminate.
1.-THE Iowa Idea"
Lately General Charles Henry Gros-
venor Of Athens, o., and myself have
been indulging in the luxury of a de-
bate before the Hawkeye Chautauquas
on political subjects. / found the Re
publicans of that state very much split
up the back on the tariff question.
For instance, Hon. George D. Per-
kins, ex-Republican member of con-
gress, says in his paper, the Sioux City
Journal:
There is widespread opinion that condi-
tons have so changed during the last sew
en- years as to render changes in the ex-
lsttng tariff law proper and expedient.
Contrary contention amounts to denial of
the development which is the boast Of the
whole country.
The Republican party ought to be FREQ
to make such changes in tariff rates as
time and experience establiGh as expe-
dent and wise. Being free to do SO,
whatever combination may advise to the
contrary. the party should assert it's in
dependence and give its pledge. The
pledge to the Democratic party is not re-
CURED; the pledge to the country is who'll
ly 3ustifable and within reason.
One rural Iowa weekly Republican
paper which supported the stand pat
tiers before the convention now de-
clares that the platform sis destined
to stand as monument to the selfish
arrogance Of its makers and sponsors"
and that 1t was "born in ignoble ha-
tired, nurtured at the breast Of malice
and fathered by set of men inca
pable of rising mentally above the
stature Of children"
Another, the Scranton journal, de-
nominated the platform as "stand-
patism gone to seed" and says that
the convention "has the distinction of
being the only body of Republicans to
repudiate the time honred Republican
doctrine Of reciprocity and tariff re.
vision"
The Gutharian declares THAT the rec.
iprocity plank is a travesty, and sin
the shape in which 1t was adopted II
Is no credit to the intelligence Of the
Republicans Of Iowa."
The Grundy Republican says the
stand patters went little too far, and
in repudiating the doctrines Of the last
two state conventions they took a
backward step and by so doing show
ed that it was not principle, but per-
sonal opposition to the governor, that
was at the root Of the matter"
The Sioux City Herald declares that
the platform means nothing"
The Iowa Falls citizen complains
that while the convention was as radi-
cal as they had expected it did not ex-
pect that the leaders would event their
personal spite in the face of Shaw. AL