The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-04-14


lend to the platform the nigh author
ity of his name, heated discussion
in the convention might be expected.
He undertook the work, and in con-
nection with Governor Cummins, Mr..
George d. Perkins, and many others.
prepared a platform which was adopt
ed by the convention, was well re-
ceiyed by the party, and was ratified
by a very large majority at the ensu-
ing election--a platform modelled in
large part upon the national platform
of 1896. Except for an unfortunate
and angry outbreak from the govern
or in his speech of acceptance, moth
ing marred the day happily ushered
in by Senator Allison's labors, and
during the campaign Governor Cum
Minis stood with other republicans
and httle was heard of his distinctive
ideas except from some of his injudi-
cious friends, who insisted that he
had himself written the platform and
knew better than anyone else what
it meant, and that it should be so in
terpreted as to vindicate his peculiar
NlC"o' pONSlhOI
however, went through the campaign
and up to the time of his inaugural
without further breach Of the party
peace. Then he enlarged his earlier
tariff views, announced his scheme
for wider relations with Canada, and
denounced "non-competitive reciproc-
ity,' as contained in the platform or
1900, as mot rising to the dignity OF
q delusion,' and fe still insists that
in all this he has the warrant of the
platform of 1908.
All this is very much to be deplored
and censured, but the fault lies with
Governor Cummins, and not in that
platform. 1t certainly does not
change the real meaning Of the plat
form which is to be taken for what
it says, not for what it does not say,
and is not to be interpreted accord
ing to ideas that the governor and
his friends import into it. Neverthe4
less. this claim of the governor and
his friends has obscured the platform
of 1903 and diverted the discussion
from the platform itself to the inter
probation so put upon it, and many
republican newspapers. having in
mind a censure of Governor Cum
Minis perversions of the platform,
have fallen into a habit of uniustifi-
able denunciation of the platform it.
self.
Indignation because of the govern
or's inaugural has apparently put an
end to his purpose CT personally lead
ing to the Chicnoo convention a dele
cation of his friends. Iowa republi-
cans apparently intend to assert their
loyalty to the party and its time-tried
policies, their adhesion to protection
and reciprocity as enunciated in re-
peated party platforms and it is
timely now to recall that among those
declarations the platfN-m Of 1908
1 stands as a delibI arefully con-
sidered SD 2. anth stat eycent
=. sTHblican faith. The attempfs ~
q ffovernor Cummins and his friends
I to wrest it from its true meaning. to
color IT with the dyes of his own per-
verted notions.ca not prevail against
| its words, against its solemn accent
ance by the party in convention. on
against the absolute guaranty of SEN
ator Allisons endorsement Senator
Allison has identified his own great
name with it as sound republicanism.
and if ne "does not know what repub-
licanism is, who does?" So the plat
form of 1903 stands and will stand as
declaration of party faith, for what
1t is, for what it says, for what it
contains within itself. not Changed
in letter or in a shade of its mean
ing and without any loss of authority
by reason of what Governor Cummins
or any friends of his may assert as
to how it ought to be construed. That
platform is not in. issue now; ana
those of us who wholly repudiate the
! interpretations put upon it by Gov
ernor Cummins in the convention and
again since his election, must take
heed to ourselves lest we unjustly
condemn that platform and repudiate
it, and so impeach the intelligence.
the wisdom and the loyalty of the re-
publican party of Iowa in convention.
The platform was the act of the par
ty. Mr.. Cummins' faults and errors
are his own acts.
But though the platform of 1903 is
by no means to be "repudiaed," nor
rejected" nor "set aside" nor its
authority and soundness to be in any
way impeacned, it does not at all
follow that it should now be either
reiterated or singled out from all pre-
vious state and national platforms
for reafirmation by the May conyan-
tion. 1t stands with equal authority
and with the same force as other
platforms, but no greater. In adopt
ing it the republicans of Iowa belfev-
ed it to be consistent in all details
with previous declarations of the ma
tional party. Let us now recognize it
in connection with them and so adj
here to its just meaning and to the
Interpretation which the convention
certainly put upon it in 1903. A de
| claratiOn npw of o,,r = 5ha-.. a 4,