Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-21
DoLLNER ALL RIGHT AFTER ALL.

Senator DOll1Ver mas WrltteH d AetloA
TO an Iowa newspaper upon the ques-
tion OF tariff revision. During the past
saw wears the senator's best friends in
iowa have had good deal OF sym
pathy for the senator's embarrassment
IN this vexatious problem. They knew
where his heart was and they knew
It was right, but with bad Indian py
The name Of Blythe camped on the
senator's trail Boosting to the spir-
lts that he would never sleep until he
had hung the senator's scalp upon his
totem pole it was not surprising to
see the senator quake and tremble at
sudden sounds. and at times,
even falter when Blythe and
his band OF warriors seemed
temporarily to have all the villages
at their mercy. But given a chance
and fair fight the senator's heart
10 still in the right place.
He now writes:
II got probably more credit than
deserved some years ago as q tariff re-
former by a somewhat belated protest
In the senate against the failure TO
take up and dispose Of the treaties
negotiated under the direction of Mr.
Mckinley by Mr.. Kasson in pursuance
of the Dingley law. II those treaties
had been considered, and portion OF
them, at least, ratified by the senate,
good deal Of the pressure for tariff re-
vision would have been satisfied.
have never Joined in any wholesale
criticism Of the Dingley law, because,
having been concerned in it's framing
and enactment In q somewhat Intimate
way I have had very great confidence
In 1t. ! do not underestimate the force
Of the criticism against some OF the
schedules which you may make and
would be glad to see congress. in a
quiet and business-like way, take up
some Of these schedules and restate
the duties In terms more consistent
with the present conditions Of business
IN certain lines. am not sure that
very great benefits would come to the
general public from the reduction of
such duties, but am sure that an ele-
ment Of weakness and dissatisfaction
would be removed from the republican
situation. I have very strong convic-
lions in favor Of the existing protec-
tive tariff laws, and DO not want the
act of 1897 voted down thru the fall
ure OF those who are responsible for
Its enactment to take notice."
It will be remembered that in last
summers delegate convention cam
paign Senator Dolliver was used by
the Blythe machine to down the Cum
minis fellows and in this manner be-
came identified with the most extreme
and unreasonable Of standpatters. For
Z time it embarrassed the senator be-
fore his best friends because of his
vtsiontst and the apparent qualification
involved in his standpat alliance. But
the senator was misunderstood. He
became candidate for delegate be-
cause Roosevelt asked him to, and
powerful politicians had lied to Roose-
welt 30 persiStently that the latter ac-
In Iowa. After Blythe's complete con-
troll and domination Of the Iowa dele
gate convention 1t seemed only fair poll
itics to let Blythe be the delegation when
they reached Chicago. He had the votes
anyway, and it became the part Of dis
cretion for Dolliver to be a good In
dian. Hence it was that Blythe was
allowed to vote Iowa with the boss
ridden state Of Pennsylvania in min
GRITTY against the tariff plank that
Roosevelt's friends put into the repub-
lican platform.
But Senator Delivers belief in the
wisdom Of the Kasson treaties is not
real convictions. When he accepted an
election as senator he told the joint
session Of the Iowa legislature what
his views were.
He then said:
There never has been time, there
never will be time, when American
industry, making an unequaled and
even precarious fight with foreign COM
petitors, will not find among our peo-
pie the spirit OF encouragement and
helpfulness expressed in the laws Of
the United States. And yet nobody
is any longer blind to the fact that
with many industries Of the United
States the rates Of duty which in 1897
were regarded as reasonable, have
since that time. owing to the curious
development Of our Industrial and
commercial life, become unnecessarv
and in many cases absurd. They stand
on our statute books today, no longer
q shield for American labor, but they
have in many cases been turned as
weapon of ofense against American
markets Themselves. I believe that
speak for the average judgement and
GOOD sense OF the whole community of
Iowa when I say there are defects in
our laws that ought to be corrected,
and express the confidence that the
congress Of the United States will be
able in a spirit friendly to the prin-
ciples upon which the protective tariff
rests. to correct these defects in busi-
ness-iike way, unless we are compelled
to admit that congress has become
helpless In the presence of questions
like these ;"
This was said on the 21st day Of jan
uary, 1902. At that time the Iowa Idea
was very generally accepted, but had
not yet been called by that name. The
Nho1fo,. AL ri ynA