Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-29
AN ORTHODOX REPuBLIcANPLAT.
FORM

FORM.
Elsewhere the Courier republishes
an editorial from the Des Moines Reg
lister and Leader, of March %, in which
that paper asks what the editor of the
Courier means by an orthodox repub-
| lican platform" In the same connec-
ton the Register and Leader wants to
know how the editor of this paper
could advocate reciprocity with New
foundland and make the same har-
monte with "standpatism" as the lat
ter is generally understood in Iowa
politics today. AAr IN
When the editor of the Courier visit
ed Newfoundland a year and a half
ago, he was informed by the United
States consul at St. Johns that he re-
garded it immensely important that
the proposed reciprocity treaty be-
tween Newfoundland and the United
States should be approved for the rea-
son that otherwise he feared the
American fishermen were in danger of
having their supplies of bait cut off
| entirely. Bait is absolutely essential
to successful prosecution of the cod
fisheries. Nearly all the bait that is
used in these fisheries, comes from
the shores Of Newfoundland and must
be purchased from the Newfound-
landers. Already, at that time, the
Newfoundland parliament had prohib.
tied citizens Of that province from sell
ing bait to French fishermen, almost
to the total ruin of the French cod
fisheries. If legislation of this charac-
ter were enacted with reference to the
United States cod fisheries, the situa-
ton would be very serious and highly
detrimental to one of this country's
important industries. In other words,
the United States wants Newfound-
land bait, which this country does not
and cannot produce. In exchange for
this concession and some others, New
foundland wanted and naturally ex-
pected certain favorable concessions
on the part of the United States. This
is certainly reciprocity of the right
character and we are heartily in favor
OF a declaration in favor of this kind
OF reciprocity by the republicans of
Iowa and the nation at large.
The Courier reiterates the statement
which called out the Register and
Leaders editorial:
What the republicans of Iowa
want this year, is a platform that is
capable OF but one Interpretation and
that along the lines of orthodox re-
publicanism as set forth by President
Roosevelt"
Governor Cummins has stated in a.
public interview that he and the Pres
1dent are in accord on the question of
the tariff. Other Iowa republicans of
national reputation and influence have
said the same thing. Therefore, with
out reference to anything that has
been said in previous Iowa platforms.
or to any indefinite and indeterminate
policy with reference to the tariff that
has been misnamed the Iowa idea"
or to anything else whatsoever, let the
republicans of Iowa this year, take the
presidents own declarations in refer
ence to the tariff, as made by him in
his famous Minneapolis speech, and
therefrom construct tariff plank
upon which every republican in the
state can stand with straightforward
honesty and sincerity, and support
with enthusiasm.
1t IS worse than nonsense. it is in
deed, an exhibition of superlative
lack OF political wisdom for the repub-
licans of Iowa to become embroiled in
an acrimonious personal fight. This
matter is not question of person
atty, but is one of principle and should
be confined solely to the discussion of
republican policies as applied to the
tariff
We are opposed to endorsing or re.
adopting the tariff planks of any prev
ious years. because Of the widely di-
vergent interpretations that have been
put on these planks, especially else
where than in the state OF Iowa.
What we want is new statement so
clear cut and unequivocal that there
can be no question, either within the
state or beyond it, as to what the vast
majority of the republicans of Iowa
believe with reference to the tariff.
Iowa republicans unanimously favor
the nomination of President Roose.
welt. This being the case, the right
and proper course for the Iowa state
Republican convention to follow is sim
pie enough. Let us have platform
that is in full and exact accord with
the Presidents own utterances as made
in his Minneapolis speech last year.
What are these utterances? Let every
Iowa republican read them and it will
then be an easy matter to determine
what shall constitute an orthodox re-
| publican platform" with reference to
the tariff. The President said:
| We are now in a condition of pros
lperity unparalleled, not merely in our
n Z