davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
SHAW ON PRIMARY
and THE TARIFF
SPEECH TO THE POLK COUNTY
CLUB
Secretary of the Treasury Declares
That Republicans Should Remain
Faithful to Principles of
Their Party.

secretary Leslie NJ. SHAW, on being in
trodnced to the vast audience that greet
ed him at Fosters opera house last night.
expressed appreciation Of the compliment
shown him and then began his address
with a discussion of the primary election
system. The greater part of his address
was devoted to the tariff. He said In part:
II am a citizen of Iowa and expect TO
remain one. and as such you will pardon
me for having the same interest in state
legislation as 1 will be permitted to have
when / return to my home In Denisoh.
While governor OF the state / gave some
study 10 the question Of primary elections,
and at one time thought seriously OF sub
mitting specific recommendations on the
subject / have never believed, however,
in statewide primary for the nomination.
of state officials, and my subsequent OBJ
servations have confirmed my previous
convictions,
II believe a primary law can be enact
ed. however that will be of great help 10
the state, but It ought not to be compui-
sorry. We have a herd law which can be
adopted by any county, and wnen SO
adopted the details of the law become Ell
fective. Wo tried setatewide prohibition
and failed. 1t worked well in some coun-
ties, but unfortunately In others. We now
have IL effect d local option law which
works better than anything heretofore
tried in the state. l believe primary
law could be enacted affording every safe
guard and made TO apply whenever adopt
ed by a county. After adoption
It should be revokable by vote
Of the people at any election after
a limited period. This would give
each County an opportunity to experiment.
under the most favorable conditions pos
sible. and to pursue such course as In the
Judgment of the people Of the county was
deemed best. Experience will also show
whether II will be wise to force such a
law upon these counties that do not want
it. II anyone suggests that each county
has that right now. reply that there is
no law applicable after the plan Is ADOPT
ed, and tnern is no way to compel regu-
larfty or to punish fraud. There Is no
way TO compel all parties to hold their
Y1rip,aries at the same time.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05

Second. she car fellow her present pol
ley and protect llSr own people and still
make no discrimination between the prod
ucts OF foreign countries.
Third, she can grant concessions TO
those countries which discriminate against
her. and impose special hardships against
those who treat her the same as they
treat others.
Fourth. she can impose maximum du-
ties against Those who impose maximum
duties against her.
1t is important that we keep these dis
tinctions clearly in mind. The United
States can continue one-price 'purchas-
err, or she can change her policy and make
determinations. That Is plain. IL she
countries, she can proceed upon the Eng
lish free trade principal or upon the
American principle. That is, she can
treat her own people and the outside
world alike, as England does, or she can
give her own people the advantage of pro-
lection and still treat all the outside
world alike If she shall grant discrimi-
nations she also has an alternative She
can show special favors to those who dis
maximum duties against those who do
not discriminate against us, or she can
discriminate against those who discrimi-
nate against us, and treat all those alike
who treat US as they treat others. This
and other states are just now being
flooded with literature urging that we
treat those best who treat US worse.
We are asked to reduce our tariff for
those countries that increase theirs,
greatest quantities pay the full rate.
We have not done that yet,
and l am going to register a guess that
we never SHALL
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05

But these are only some OF the obtec-
tons. One quite as serious as any hes
in the fact that II places the state In the
control Of the cities OF those counties
very few cities of any considerable ssze
but in every state where a primary law
prevails the cities control There Is not
man In this presence, whether he hves
In the city or elsewhere. who does not
realize that the hope of the United states
Is still In the country. | grant that urban
population is incrS asing mvre rapidly than
rural, but we must still depend upon the
latter. and 1 doubt the wisdom of any
law which tends to eliminate them from
the political control of the state. aoubt
the wisdom of compulsory statewide Jaw
that will put Scott, Dubuque Cnnton'
Linn, Polk, Pottawattamie, Woodbury.,
and many others counties in the absolute
control of the cites of these counties;
Let the cities adopt 1t II they desire, ana
the whole county try 1t II they Ike theh
IL Il works badly in any one LOCALITY iet
the people abolish 1t. A primary elecuon
Is a local affair. and local communities
can be safely left to decide now theS
shall be conducted.
Nevertheless, these are only my opih-
ions. They may not appear sound to oth-
ers. l would not have anyone vote thein
because I have expressed them. Let each
man vote his own judgment.
So much for local and non-parlsan mat
tiers. l am speaking to republican ciup'
and am, of course, expected to tax pom
ties.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Essentials TO Good Primary.

There are several essentials to good
primary law
First of all. colonization should be rem
dered impossible. To prevent the importa-
ton of voters l think those only should
be permitted to participate who voted at
the preceding general election, plus those
who may have registered and declared
their party Affiliations twelve months be-
fore the date of the election. 1t Is no
great hardship to permit those only who
have lived one year In the county ana
who have taken enough interest IN the
matter to register to control nominations
and the selection of delegates to conyen-
tons ...
"second. members OF one political party
should not be permitted to take part in
the affairs of other parties. Those who
have changed their political faith within
the year can be safely excluded from
rendering assistance In making nomina-
tions Fraudulent voting can be mucn
more easily proven II the oath requires
a statement of fact as to The previous
vote rather than an avowed intent as TO
the future.
.rThird. the restrictions ipon fraudulent
voting should be as rigid and the PEN
aIties as severe as at general elections.
Fourth, it should not be compulsory
upon any county that prefers the old plan
.'In reply to a letter from Senator Mols-
".
seryations to the effect that there were
few possible candidates for state offices
who were known to FIVE per cent of the
voters of the state. / believe this to be
true, and II implies no reflection upon the
intelligence of the people OF the state.
Within the last sixty days the editor and
a Joint owner of quite an important news
paper asked me, is Mr.. Root attorney
general Within sixty days ! received
letter seeking. with apparent intelligence.
an appointment to a certain position in
the treasury department., and the letter
was addressed to Hon. Daniel Manning,
secretary of the treasury. Daniel Man
ming was a citizen OF the same state as
the writer of the letter, but he suddenly
died while IN office during Mr.. Cleyeland's
first administration, nearly twenty years
ago
During the present month a citizen Of
a certain state called upon his friend who
is holding an important office in Wash
ington. and who was appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. In the course of the visit
this high government official inquired
What has become of my friend So-ond-
so? What is he doing? He seemed graft
fed at the reply. He is at present govern
or Of your state
asked members of the legislature, What
share of the members of your body do you
known 1t was seldom that anyone
claimed to know personally two-thiris of
the senate or one-half of the house.
have repeatedly asked congressman what
share OF the members of the house they
know. Few of them personally know one
quarter. This Is no reflection upon the
intelligence of congress,
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Defeat After Amending Tariff.

This unrest and dissatisfaction to which
! have referred led congress. in the spring
of 1881, to appoint a commission to in
vestigate the whole subject and make
report. The commission spent months In
hearing evidence, and eprrld new SC e l.
ules in which 1t was sought to work out
an average reduction of twenty per cent
and in doing this the differential in the
cost of production OF each article in this
country and Europe was carefully consid-
cred. Congress wisely rejected the report,
though It amended the tariff by an act
approved March 3. 1888. Twenty months
from that date Mr.. Cleveland was elected
president, with house democratic by 80
majority.
This result was as logical and certain
as the movement OF the tides. No party
can amend the tariff downward on the
eve OF an election and live. Tom Reed
used to say, IAN unmade tariff law suits
every deestrict," He might have added
that an accomplished tariff redu ion su T.
no district. The lamented John Hay, hav-
ing been student of political events
from the days when he was secretary to
President Lincoln. said three years ago,
1T must needs be that tariff reYisions
come. but woe to the party by which they
come" No party can ever revise the
tariff in safety, and the only time to rt5k
the experiment is at an extraordinary se5-
zion Immediately following the Inaugural
ton OF a new administration.
The reason is weli-nigh self-evident Ev-
cry man knows, or he thinks he knows.
OF three or four changes which are all
important. Failing to get all of them, he
Is angry. and II there be one change made
which he does not approve, he is out
ragged. He gives no credit for preserving
the general principal of protection;
he gives no credit for preserving most
of the schedules in Whcih he IL inter-
ested; he gives no credit for the few
changes that are made which he thinks
necessary Thege he has a right to ex-
pect. for they are just. but the change
which he tn INKS should be made that Is
not made, and especially the change which
he thinks ought not to be made that In
made. sends him TO the polls prepared to
hit something, and the party in power Is
the only thing in sight,
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Germany's New Tariff.

In 1902 Germany passed "A ?ew tariff law
in which she materially advanced her
mum tariff on many articles fully SO per
cent, and her maximum tariff 210 per
creased her minimum train on corn 81 per
cent, and her minimum tariff 30 per cent.
She Increased her minimum tariff on rye
43 per cent and her maximum tariff 100
cent. She increased her minimum tariff
100 per cent. She increased her min
imum tariff on wheat 81 per cent and
creased her maximum tariff on wheat
flour 40 per cent and her max
imum tariff 157 per cent. She increased
her minimum tariff on fresh beef 80 per
cent and her maximum tariff 2C0 per cent.
She increased her minimum tariff on
sailed and picked beef 100 per cent, and
her maximum tariff $50 per cent. She in
creased her minimum tariff on high gra lie
boots and shoes SO per cent and her maxi
mum tariff III per cent She increased
her minimum tariff on bicycles and parts
thereof 800 per cent and her. maximum
tariff 525 per cent. She also took large
number of articles from her free list and
imposed minimum and maximum duties
thereon. -
This law provides that 1t should go into
effect by proclamation of the emperor,
and in February, 1905, the necessary proc
lamation was issued making the law eff
fective on March l, 1906. BY its terms
against the products of all coun ,ries
which failed to make satisfactory cOnces-
Sl0nS. Following the prOclaInalOn Ger
many served the required notice to termi-
rate the commercial agreement then in
force with the United States. Following
the service of this nouce, both naions
labored assiduously to bring about a
satisfactory agreement, and just prior
to the LIST of March one was consum-
mated under which the United States
is to enjoy the conventional or min
imum tariff until June 80, 1907.
1t will be borne in mind that Ger
many is a protection country, and her
tariff laws are much more exclusive
than those of the United States. The
cost of production in Germany is very
little in excess of that in adjacent coun-
tries, but her tariff duties exceed this
differental far more than the tariff
duties of the United States exceed the
differental between the cost of produc-
ton in the United States and in Europ-
can countries. Thus Germany not only
protects her own people on all com
petitive articles, but she places maxi
mum dates, in some instances more
than one hundred rer cent, higher,
against those countries which refuse
to admit ner products on more favor
able terms than products Of most 9TH
err countries
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Railway Rate Regulation.

Nor Is this all. In response 10 tho
ringing Recommendation of the Presi!
giving to the Interstate Commerce
Commission authority and power
to fix maximum rates on all linz
terstate commerce whenever the rate,
first fixed by the railroad Is complained
of and upon investigation Is found unT
reasonable. These bill were passed sub.
stantially as they left the commttee
and with very limited debate. The
first was passed on the eve of the adj
journment of the last Congress ard the
Senate did not have time to consideI
II. The Committee on Interstate and
Foreign commerce of the Senate re-
manned in session all summer, however,
and took testimony from every parr
of the nation, and heard every possible
as the new Congress convened, the
louise prepared and passed a new bill
The former bill, though reintroducedy
was rejected In the Committee of the
House. IRE bill as passed by the House
Is now pending in the Senate.
That n good, effective and satfsfac~
tor rate bill will pass is. in my Judge
ment, certain. A very large majority
of the members of both Houses are
determined to pass such measure
lowa's entire delegation are not only
enthusiastically in favor of it. IT ~
of prime Importance. however. that
such a law be considered in every pos
sible aspect If it should share the
income tax law, great harm would
ensue, and the party would receive
no end of criticism. TIE debate noSy
gong on Is not between the bill as
It passed the House and no bill, but
it is with respect to the technical eff
feet % it's provisions, and their con-
stitutionality.
There are plenty of men in each
House of Congress who would honor
the Supreme Bench, and 1t is but just
to the people that these men take the
necessary time to perfect the bill, IL ~
be not now perfect, ard make srS'a tnaI
1t will stand the severe attacks that
will certainly be made upon It. This
is being done. The great lawyers In
the Senate are studying the bill in con-
junction with the President and his
advisors in the light of every decision
Of the courts. determined that wheB
1t Is passed 1t shah stand all tests
and shall accomplish, so far MS Is pos
sible, all the President asked I'm his
message and what the people expect.
Should the Senate by anv unhappy
chance fail to pass such bill l shaa
be as much displeased as any one, but
l shall not be offended while the ques~
ton is being debated nor shall I as
sumo that a difference of opinion -
synonymous with q difference of mot
i've.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Exr,ains the Elsins Law.

II was a Republican Congress which
three years a5o passed the tIlkins law
which gives to every one the KlghG
to have instituted in his behalf by rms.
Interstate Commerce Commission pro-
ceeding to enjoin railway rebates an@
special PRIVILEGES and insures sum
mary hearing, and all without expense,
or Inconvenience to the complainant
other than a letter TO the Interstate
Commerce Commission outlining i'm GEM
eral terms the nature of his gFieyahce>
This law is In the same general terms
which have been found SO efectual w
the Sherman antitrust law. 1t is df~
attempts, and forbids, whatsoever ~
attempted, in whatsoever, way, with
intent to favor one person or one losS
cality in any manner it matters not
when tnis law is as well understood
and when 1t has been tested AZ .hcr~
oughly as the Sherman antitrust law
1t win be found to be about as com
prehensive. No one has yet been able
to add much to the Sherman law, ~
Republican Congress recently enacteG
a law giving cases hereunder the right,
of way In courts, and authorizes the
Acknowledgements to have suits for the,
enforcement of any of Its provisions
advanced on the calendar regardless
of the rights of ordinary htigantsf
But the law, in its essential features>
remains substantially as originally en-
acted.
The Elkins law against railroad dis
ordinations, rebates and special priv
eleges is constructed on the same gem
eral style of architecture and ought
to be found equally effective against
rebates. Like the Sherman law, II does
not spec. .cally define what may not
be done, but 1t specifically forbids the
doing of anything the effect of which
is forbidden. Both these laws not on
ly forbid assaults, but they also for~
bid false motions They not only for
bid discharging firearms at the people
but they forbid carrying concealed
weapons.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
What Answer to Republican Criticism?

In q large sense l am to be your rep
resentative IN the forthcoming campaign.
/ am sometimes introduced as secretary
of the United states treasury, sometimes
as governor, but l know you will appre-
ciate the thrill which l experience when
introduced simply as Shaw of Iowa Let
me ask you, therefore, what is Shaw of
Iowa. to say in answer to these criti-
of the republican platform, for 1t
made no promise of revision; these criti-
clsms of the republican congress, for IL
has not revised the tariff; these criticisms
mended revision OF the tariff Shall l
apologize for my party? Shall apologize
for congress and for the Iowa delegation
those able, honored, esteemed and herto-
fore universally respected representa- tives
of my party from my state? | will not
States has been unfaihful to his trust in
failing to recommend revision of the
tariff. | viii not be disloyal to my chief
for the sake of being loyal to my govern
find a way. Will some of you tell mo
what to say and what to omit?
The president has recommended railway
rate legislation; he has recommended in
surance legislation: he has recommended
a reduction of the tariff on Philippine
products, but has has not recommended a
revision or reimbursement of the Dingley
tariff. why? is II because, as Is some
times claimed, he has had enough other
things on hand? Therefore Roosevelt
never has enough on hand; Those who
know him need not be told why he has
thus far made no recommendation with
respect to the tariff law generally. When
the president, the leader of his party, or
the republican congress for whose con-
drct the party Is responsible, acts in the
premises, then we who have less respon-
siullity will he free to criticise those who
refuse to accept
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05

has been true 10 tie people. Tor n hiss.
been of lne people
IL was q Republican Congress which,:
opened our vast domain 10 those VINO
had no money TO buy homes. but who
Were Wiling to endure tie h1rdsl1ip1
incident to frontier llTe that they might
own the land they Tined, the hoclsH.
they tended, and tue roof that coyere6
their babies.
1t is the Republican party that batsi
given to the American producer arr
tlsan and farmer sIch an advantage ~
the .meFican market that We actuallys
sell to each otner more than twice ass
much as the aggregate International
commerce Of the word
1t is the Republican party thai has
made possible our marvellous dev ell
opinent until the finished products OF
our shops and factories equal those
of any three countries on the map. and
our daily payrofi undoubtedly exceeds.
that of the balance Of the globe.
1t was the Republican party that
passed the Sherman antitrust law and
every amendment to 1t, by and throughs
which effectuai checks to avarfce at -
hundred points have been enforced by
the courts.
1t was a Republican Congress that,
passed lilo CuAom law creating the.
Interstate Commerce Commissions
which, in eighteen years. has heard
and determinated SO many complaints
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
Europe Has 'wo Prices on Products.

Europe Has Wo FrlCSs Oh
Assuming that raw material coSts tie
same in all countries, and that one-ha
the cost of pro iuctiCn of manufactured
products in the United States is labor.
and assuming that wages in the United
States are fifty per cent higher than IN
Europe, it then follows that a duty OIL
thirty-three and one-third per cent al va
loren based upon the foreign value would
rut the American producer in absolute
and equal competition with his fore ga
rival. Duties are always levied upon the
value OF the merchandise at the place OF
production. All Europe, however. en-
courages the maintenance of two Instinct
schedules of prices, one for domestic con-
sumption and the other for EXPORT
There is scarcely manufactured ar
tic'e in all Europe that cannot he pur-
chased from ten to twenty-five per cent
cheaper for export to the United States
than for domestic consumption. George
Paish, editor Of the London Statst. per-
haps the greatest economic journal ~
Europe. was my guest at De witt in the
fall of 1904. / had introduced him to the
audience, and he sat on my platform
In the course of the discussion, referring
TO this subject, l stated that every Euro
pean government except England encour-
ages the sale of merchandise abroad
cheaper than al home, and added that
was not certain as to the attitude OF Eng-
land. and referred the question to MIR.
Paish. Promptly he replied. "Engl7nd
does not encourage it. but our people
practice it." Americans alone complain
that goods are sometimes sold abroad
cheaper than at home.
mo American manufacturer could live
If the tariff only measured the actual
difference in the cost Of production. The
only time the republican party ever prom
ised that tariff duties should only equal
the difference between wages abroad and
at home was in the Platform OF 1892. This
apparently was an attempted compromise.
though unsuccessful. for the party was
defeated Notwithstanding, in New York.
New jersey. Connecticut, Illinois. Wis
cousin, half of Michigan and InGiana. the
home Of General Harrison. The platform
failed of a majority even in Iowa. the
only time since the party was o~ga 'zed
We gave Harrison in 1892 a plurality OILY.
The last mentioned national republican
platform, without suggesting readfust-
ment of existing schedules. says that tar
i'll duties should at least equal the differ
ence in cost OF production. Unless they
exceed this difference they fail, as we
have seen, to protect.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-05
confident Of coninq success.

I am confident of success in the coming
election. l do not, 1 cannot, believe the
virus of unrest has yet spread sufficiently
to work our undoing. We are to be con-
fronted however, with some things which
we have not met since the early nineties.
Alton b. Parker the other day openly
corrupt to the core. and the germ of the
alleged corruption was the protective tar
in. / do not mind that. No one will take
MIR. Parker seriously. Grover Cleveland
said one year ago that young men of pa
triotism had no place to turn out to the
democratic party. ] do not mind that
Every one knows better. Attacks from
without are relatively harmless. No one
pays much attention to them. But want
to ask you gentlemen of Iowa, you MEM
hers of the legislature. you representa-
elassed by none In lis Influence within the
party and within the nation, what am
to say in answer to these criticisms from
our own people?