Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-19
SAVED FROM THE WRECK.

SAVED FKUM the WRECK.
The convention of yesterday has
rome and gone and what has been ac-
complished? The standpatters, who
are standpatters because they don't
like Governor Cummins, had complete
accomplish? Did they contribute any
thing toward the settlement of differ
ences of opinion as to the tariff and
reciprocity? Manifestly not.
On Tuesday it was well known that
both senator's, the secretary, Boss
Blythe and George d. Perkins had
agreed upon conservative draft for a
reciprocity plank. 1t was almost APP
parent then that the Cummins leaders
ity had decided to withdraw from ev-
cry contested district and allow the
radicals all the rope they could use in
the hope that they might take enough
to hang themselves. BY the time the
national convention has taken place it
will be seen that this is about what has
happened.
Headed by LATE Young, who felt that
he was the man above all others who
had won the victory and was entitled
to the fruits of it, the radicals would
not accept the administration plank for
the reason that it did not jump on TO
Cummins and the Iowa idea
fellows hard enough. There were
those in the Hobbies who thought
Blythe had egged Young on
while tacitly agreeing with Al
lison, Dolliver, Shaw and Perkins,
while others said the wild horses he
had been driving were getting away
from him. Still others who had wit
messed Bythets absolutism in many
the late Hanna's tale that Blythe and
Tim Hill had journeyed to Chicago to
urge him, Hanna, to run for the nomi-
nation against Roosevelt, argued that
Blythe did not care cent about the
administration wishes but purposed
to SO perfect his control over Iowa poll
tics that administrations would have to
come to him for favors.
Howbeit, the radicals adopted plat
form emitting all reference to any
changes In the tariff being advisable at
MI or at any time and declaring for
reciprocity on mon competitive pro-
ducts only" In the committee Hon.
George D. Perkins moved to substitute
the administration plank which read:
Maintaining this policy unimpaired.
tariff rates should be changed from
time to time by the friends of the policy
and not by its enemies whenever nee
I essity for change shall arise. We favor
the associated policy of reciprocity so
directed as to secure enlarged markets
abroad Tor the surplus products of our
farms, forests ana factories, without
prejudice to the home, market for the
products of either"
This plank received the votes of Mr..
Perkins, Judge Kenyon. who was Dolli-
yer's personal representative and OF the
Second district member. Cummins
man. Its similarity to the language
used by Cummins when he wrote last
years platform is striking. 1t reads:
tariff rates should, from time to
time, be changed to meet the varying
conditions incident to the progress Of
our industries. Reciprocity between
nations is trade Tor mutual advantage
and both sides must give and take"
The administration plank would have
been equally as acceptable to Mr.. Cum
Minis and his friends as the plank of
last year and all this row within the
republican party could have been
avoided had the two senator's possessed
nerve enough to have said in the begin
ming what they stood for. Blythe's
purpose to down Cunlmins by use OF
the reciprocity issue might have been
tfwarted, but 1t seems ridiculous that
so ill-tempered a fight should be made
by republicans upon a republican gov
ernor, whom every platform of every
county convention in the state has de-
clared to be the ablest, cleanest and
most manly governor the state has ever
had, when at the final showdown he is
found standing for almost the identical
reciprocity language favored by Iowa's
senators and the nations leaders at
Washington.
So apparent is this phase Of the sit
uation about to become that the anti
Cummins politicians are already claim
ing that the Perkins plank was all his
own. Thirty minutes after the conven-
ton had adjourned the editor of the T.
r. called on Mr.. Perkins at the latters
room and asked:
Mr.. Perkins is this correct copy OF
the plank you offered in committee?"
..Yes SIR" he replied.
did you write it," was the second
question.
NO." he said.
did you get it from some third par
tyr" was then asked.
YES" he said, Senator Allison gave
1t to me-"
WAS it the plank that Secretary
Gbaxu, brought ont from washington