Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-07
The Boston OK eored.

My esteemed personal friend, Gov
ernor Leslie NJ Shaw, now secretary of
the treasury and prospective candi-
date for the Republican presidential
nomination in 1908, is one of the most
eminent Republicans in the land. Late
" he has been swinging round the cir
Gle enlightening multitudes Of the be-
nighted. The Boston Advertiser is one
Of the most illustrious Republican or
gan grinders in the country, but new
ertheless it hops on to Mr. Secretary
Shaw in this emphatic syle:
| Secretary Shaw seems to have no warm
spot in his heart for Massachusetts,. Aft
er overturning the Boston custom house
for some weeks and then retracting some
of his orders, and after allowing the mon
ey appropriated by congress for this
state to be withheld for months. through
the payment of the treasury warrant to
| Agent Cotton, he now insists on revers-
ing decision made by the general ap-
pratsers. This related to the duties on
picked sheepskins, which, the secretary
| decides upon his own responsibility, must
pay duties as partly manufactured"
goods.
If this order of the secretary is carried
out 1t will mean that about all the sheep
taxed so extensively that the whole shoe
and leather industry of the country will
DO hurt.
We violate no confidence when we say
| that Secretary Shaws term in the cabinet
| is not for long after the election Is over.
He will stay in this year and make
speeches in the west (although 1t would
be wiser in Cortelyou to keep him from
| making any more such speeches as that
with which Shaw dealt with the prices
| OF "necessaries" at the beginning Of the
comprehension he made light of the adj
vance in the prices Of food because some
metal products had lately fallen in price),
but business men in Boston have been
| assured that Shaw will not bother them
very much longer.
His order to have duties assessed on
picked sheepskins was an unnecessary
Interference with the principal business
| OF New England and probably will benefit
no large industry OF the country unless
1t be the Chicago packers trust. More
than this. it was stupid enough to make
| this order. as Secretary Shaw does, Just
at the beginning of the campaign. II his
! idea had been to hurt President Roose-
velt's chances one could easily enough
| understand the secretary's haste. But 1t
| 10 fair to credit him with some loyalty to
the president, considering how long Colo
| mel Roosevelt has stood by him when
prominent interests of this section want
| ed the president to get rid Of him.
There is an anecdote In the back Of
Webster's old blue backed spelling
book, with which the Advertiser is no
doubt familiar, as it is the most valu-
able Of all New England products, to
the effect that very much depends on
whose OK is gored. The foregoing edi-
torial from the Advertiser is another
proof Of the truth Of that ancient story.
its OK is "the picked sheepskin." 1t
doesn't want high tariff levied on
that useful article Of manufacture, but
there's no sense in abusing Secretary
Shaw. Nobody appointed me his de-
fender, but he is simply enforcing a
law, which is said to be the best way
OF getting rid Of bad law.
Conditions In Hoosierdom.
| Republican managers constantly give
out the statement with an air Of con-
hdence that Indiana is safely Republic
an. Among others who do this Is Rep
resentative Charles B. Lands. Recent.
~ he was interviewed by the Washing
ton Post and gave 1t out fat that the
Republicans will carry the state. But
the anecdotes with which he adorned
his interview do not bear out his state
ment. In fact, they prove that the Re
publicans are decidedly uneasy about
Indiana. Here are his anecdotes as re-
corded by an admiring reporter:
II met my county chairman the other
day." said Mr.. Lands. when he was ask
Cd about the intensity of the Indiana
campaign. He and one Of the farm
! hands were gazing intently down the
road. cloud Of dust accompanied q
wagon that proceeded leisurely along
loaded with household furniture. The
chairman looked the picture of despair.
Those blankety blank blank fellers,
he finally exclaimed, peering down the
road as ! pressed him for an explanation
have got Bill Peters to move over into
White county,"
1t should be explained that White coun.
ty is outside Of Mr.. Lands congressional
district and belongs to the district OF 6
Republican colleague Judge Edgar Dear
4 Crumpacker.
But Mr. Lands. in his entertaining
way and with gestures and pantomimt
which nightly enhanced the interest. re
lated how he boarded train in Indiana
recently. An acquaintance, also Eepub