Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-12-29
Tho Republican Kilkenny Cats.

The most wonderful thing known
among men is Republican harmony"
There is a great deal said about it, but
as matter Of fact it does not exist.
1t goes without saying that President
Roosevelt is the most prominent Re
publican in the land. After him GER
tainly Mr.. Secretary of War William
n, Taft is as prominent as any. They
stand together that is, Roosevelt and
Taft do.
The American Tariff isagNe has as
its organ, the mouthpiece of the stand
patters, the American Economist. And,
truth to tell, it is an outspoken mouth
piece. What it lacks in wisdom it
makes up in courage. 1t deals damna-
ton round the land on all whom it
deems foes of the stand pat theory.
None is too big or too high for 1t to
tackle.
To show the queer quality of Repub-
lican harmony hereby quote an edi-
torial which appeared in the Econo-
mist Dec. IS under the fetching cap
ton of "Taftifino Policy" The Econ
omist thought SO much Of 1T that it
sent advance copies to congressman.
At least it sent one to me, for which
I am it's debtor. / will undertake to
exploit all such of it's editorials, for to
Democrats they are what Horace
Greeley called mighty interesting
reading" This one is long to quote in
these letters, but is we'll worth the
space, as 1t is foreshadowing of the
Inevitable split in the G.. O.. 1.-THE
grand old humbug. The Economist
says:
It Ia with sincere regret that the Amer
lean Economist antagonizes President
Roosevelt's attitude regarding a grave
matter of economic policy, as disclosed
In the following extract from the mes
sage Of Dec. s:
1.-THE enactment Of law by the con-
gress of the United States making provi-
sion for free trade between the islands
and the United States however, will be
Of great importance from political and
sentimental standpoint, and. while its &C.
tual benefit has doubtless been exaggerat
ed by the people of the islands, they will
accept this measure Of Justice as an indi.
cation that the people of the United
States are anxious to aid the people Of
the Philippine Islands in every way and
especially In the agricultural development
Of their archipelago. It will aid the Fill
pinos without injuring interests in Amer
ica."
Article II. of the constitution of the
American Protective Tariff league rem
ders obligatory our opposition to the view
Just quoted. It is as follows:
ARTICLE II.-Object.
1.-THE object Of this league shall be to
protect American labor by tariff on i'm.
ports which shall adequately secure
American Industrial products against the
competition of foreign labor
In the firm and conscientious belief that
free trade with the Philippine Islands.
where lands are cheap and labor com.
mands scarcely more than one-seventb
Of the price paid in the United States.
will fall far short of adequately securing
American Industrial products against the
competition of foreign labor the tariff
league has no alternative. It must op.
pose what 1t conceives to be wrong and
an injury to the agricultural Industrial.
lists of the United States. It Is confident
that the president is incorrectly advised
when he expresses the conviction that
free trade Twill aid the Filipinos without
injuring interests in America
The producers Of American cane and
beet sugar, the growers Of American Leaf
tobacco and the manufacturers Of Amer.
ieat eixAss-industFiss whans capital ON.