Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-12

SO high that they were being used,
not Tor the purpose of protection
alone, but for the purpose of unduly
enhancing the prices of the various
commodities manufactured from iron.
!, for one, believe that some of the
duties are too high" And continu-
ing further, he said, Il have been crit
lcised for using at one time the ex.
preston that the consumer is better
entitled to competition than the pro-
Queer is to protection. These words
were not lightly spoken, and repeat
them"
In July state convention was held
and the Honorable A. B. Cummins
was again chosen as the standard
bearer OF his party by unanimous
vote of that convention. For some ua-
accountable reason, platform adopted
at that convention and on which he
made his second campaign, fails to
reveal anywhere plank identical
with the famous shelter plank of his
first campaign. Neither does it in
any place define the character of the
reciprocity intended to be put in
force. In May, 1904, Governor Cum
minis, when called before the conven-
ton that selected him as one of the
delegates at large to the national con-
vention, and accepting the place they
had SO generously given him, de-
clared, Il have not Leard the nature
of the platform that will be adopted
by this convention. 1t may not be
just as l would write it, but | want
you to know whatever it is, from this
very moment | stand squarely upon
it. And l want you to further know
am standing squarely upon its cen.
ter. | am neither resting upon one
side, nor lettering upon its edge"
Strange words, indeed, for man who
it is c'nimea put principle above all
else.
Despite the speech of March 14th,
1908, to which have referred and in
which the Governor mad so vehement.
ly declared that some of the duties
are too high, notab that of iron and
steel, and that he was going to do all
in his power to introduce the same
into the national platform. he some
how failed to insert it even in his
own state platform on which he was
running as a candidate for the second
term. No sooner, however, had the
Governor been safely seated in the
Sgubernatorial chair for the second
term than he again entered into a
strenuous discussion of the merits OF
the tariff, and in his inaugural address
delivered on January l4th, 1904,
lamong other things, he said, No one
will assert with seriousness that we
can secure in any foreign country any
substantial advantage upon the con-
sideration of the free admission of
the non-competitive products. This
view hardly rises to the dignity of a
delnsion, and my observation is, that
1t is mere cloak to conceal opposi-
ton to any trade arrangements what.
ever, and to any disturbance of the
existing laws"
The Governor had started up the
hill again.
| Securely seated in what he must
have reasonably considered his last
term as Governor, he seems for nearly
a year to have forgotten that the
consumers had better right to COM
petition than the producers to pro-
lection, and no bugle. blast was blown
Vic SIduS IoI DdlIle
against the enemy SO securely en-.
trenched behind the high walls of the
Dingley tariff schedules.
The national convention met and
adjourned, and the distinguished Gov
ernor was honored by being one of
the delegates at large from this state,
| yet, strange as it may seem, it adopt,
ed no plank in it's platform declaring
for any relief from the duties which
the Governor had said that for one he
believed were too high
The Iowa idea" seems TO have been
carefully packed away awaiting an
opportunity to be again brought form
as might best subserve the political
ambitions of its variable sponsor. The
state convention was also held this
same year, and ticket was nominal.
ed headed by a "Cummins republi.
can" and the record of Governor
Cummins was commended by that
convention; yet, despite the persua-
sive arguments of the Governor and
his absolute declaration that reciproc-
ity on non-competitive products hard.
ly arose to the dignity of delusion,
the state convention adopted without
dissent as the seventh plank of its
platform, declaration as to the char
acter OF reciprocity that the repub-
lican party in Iowa favors. Previous
platforms fail to reveal to me what
character of products are to be
brought within the provision of reel.
procity treaties, neither does the plat.
form of this year. while declaring for
the reciprocity of Blaine, Mckinley
and Roosevelt, define what is meant,
except at it says that reciprocity
that is recognized in the republican
platforms and legislation" have
been unable to learn of any recent
reciprocity legislation and the only
declaration of any republican plat.
form clearly defining it is the plank
that have already named and which
reads as follows: I'VE are in favor
|of reciprocity in non-competitive
products only" 1t has been boosted
by the friends of Governor Cummins
that inN the presidential election OF
1904 he was in great demand as
public speaker, and / believe did
make many speeches in this and 9th.
er states. In not single one of them
whether delivered at home or abroad,
did he intimate by the slightest him
nr suggestion, that he was not winning
to stand and abide by the declaration
of his last state platform.
Governor Cummins marched down
the hill again.
In an interview published in the
Washington Post" April, 1905. our
Governor is quoted as suggesting in
substance that the atmosphere of
Washington stimulated the standpas.
tiers and stfled the revisionists, and
suggested that it was clear some OF
the members of congress ought Il
lrRaflR the fraar of tho annntf.A.