Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-07
The Shaw-Cummins Controversy
Had Interesting Possibilities
Along Reciprocity Lines
PEOPLE WANT DISCUSSION
Governor Packard Gives Ono Instance
Of Tariff Making to Show Original
Intention Of the Men Who Formed
the Dineloy Law-Politioian Watch
ino the First District.
pecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. lit is matter
OF regret Among politicians that the
controversy between Secretary Shaw
and Governor Cum1nins with respect
to a fair Interpretation OF what the
secretary said when he attacked the
French treaty OF reciprocity In
speech here, has not developed into
Joint debate or discussion Of the sub
ject itself-that Is. reciprocity.
A joint discussion OF this subject by
these two eminent 1owans would have
been immensely enjoyed by the people
Of the state and nation and without
doubt 1t would have defined for the
people the line which divides the pro-
yressive from the standpat republi-
cans.
No one has given a cent about the
question of who said Shaw said so and
so or why Cummins said 1t was said
that Shaw had said so and SO, for ALL
that is trivial; the real thing at issue
is why the standpatters oppose recip-
rocity.
Governor S. p. Packard, OF Iowa
who presided over the reciprocity con-
ference in Chicago has cited concrete
case to show that the original inten-
ton when the Dingley law was passed
was to reduce the schedules twenty per
cent In cases OF reciprocal trades and
yet leave the tariff protective. Cover
nor Packard said at the state fair
grounds the past week:
when the Dingley law was being
drafted the knit goods men appeared
by representative and urged a tariff
OF forty per cent When the bill APP
peared it carried tariff of ffty-five
for knit goods. The representative OF
the industry FASTENED to the commit
tee and declared 1t was ruinous. too
high and only forty was wanted. The
committeeman In charge Of his inter-
ests called his attention to Section
of the bill and told him to go home and
mind his business. fr the extra fifteen
ner cent is needed to balance the re-
duction when reciprocal treaties are
made. And the knit goods man went
home satisfied After seven years,
having discovered that the fifty-five
per cent tariff. though higher than
necessary to be protective. gives him
advantages in the American market
he refuses to let go of it and cries
'standpat' He is the man who is ac-'
tually and personally responsible for
having defeated the ratification OF tho,
French treaty Of reciprocity"
Governor Packard says that every
informed man knows that the Dingley
schedules were made twenty per cent
higher than necessary so that recipro-
city might be established; but the
beneflciaries, being able to raise DOM
este prices under the too high tariff,
refuse to let go OF their advantage
even IL the American farmers market
abroad Is shot all to pieces as In Ger
many.
Therefore, 1t is disappointment to
politicians generally that Governor
Cun1mins and Secretary Shaw did not
start joint debate Of the question OF
reciprocity so that the people might
discover, II possible, why the stand
patters refuse to endorse reciprocity.
1t is gratifying to the progressive
friends Of Governor Cummins that he,
so far. has demonstrated that he Is
the real leader in this country of the
friends of reciprocity. But Secretary
Shaw nowhere in his speeches, has
uttered word indicating that he be-
lieves that reciprocity would be harm
full to any American industry or to
American labor. 1t is this which con-
fuses republicans. What Is the real
reason that so many Of the public men
oppose reciprocity, in fact, though they
do not say that its adoption would be
harmful to American labor and indus
try?
1t is inconceivable that the reasons
which actuated the knit goods men, as
shown by Governor Packard, actuata
the public men who oppose reciprocity
A knit goods manufacturer might
selflshly be willing to sacrifice the
American farmer to make few more
millions; but that public men acting
as representatives of the whole peo-
pie. could take that view is not con-
ceivable.
But what is the reason?
The First District.
Politicians who have been in the city
during the week from the First con-
gressional district and Informed poll
ticians from other parts of the state
who have been watching the situation
there, have agreed that Congressman
Hedge will not again be nominated;
the understanding is that he will not
be a candidate.
1t has been believed that had 1t not
been for the Roosevelt landslide last
fall Mr.. Hedge would have been de-
feated, for there was very large ele-
ment of republicans In the district op-
posed to him without reference to fac
tional lines.
The standpatters are said to be con-
sidering j. S. Mckinney of Fairfield
for the nomination, also Senator +. M.
Molsberry, the author Of the measure
calculated to allow the railroads to
issue unlimited securities without
| reference to the amount of their capital
stock
1t is possible that Senator ]. A.
Young of Washington county, or some
progressive republican, will be put
forward by that element of the party,
although 1t is fact that the opposition
to Congressman Hedge which has been
| developing the last two years is not
confined to progressive republicans,
but extends into the circle which may
always be depended upon to support
the machine" candidate.
The Fourth.
There are rumors of opposition to
Congressman Haugen In the fourth
district and publications in different
parts of the state have been circulat-
jnr the ruuor that Former Speaker w.