Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-08-16
ANOTHER IOWA IDEA.

In our last issue of the Republican
there was an editorial which treated
upon the so-called "Towa Idea. That
editorial was written as a refutatiOn OF
the Democratic Interpretation of the
tariff views of Governor Cummins Of
Iowa. That gentleman, though an ar
dent Republican, has been proclaimed
by the Democrats as an advocate fol-
revision of the tariff on the same lines
that are being contended for by the
Democracy.
The platform on which Governor
Cummins was renominated, and on
which he was proud to stand, declares
that: eve are uncompromisingly in
favor of the American system of pro-
lection. Duties on foreign imports
should not be levied for revenue only,
but should be so adjusted as to promote
our domestic interests, enlarge our
foreign markets, secure remunerative
prices for the products of factories and
farms, and maintain a superior scale Of
wages and standard of living for Amer
lean labor.
This plank in the Iowa Republican
Platform is an intelligent and forcible
Interpretation of the Republican doc
trine of protection. 1t shows plainly
that the Democrats have, from igno-
rance or as a matter of choice, been
misaprehending or disappearing Gov
ernOr Cummins and his adherents in
their tariff views.
If there was any doubt remaining
that he had been misunderstood or mis-
represented, that doubt was removed
by declaration of the platform of the
Iowa Democrats, who met in State con.
vention on the 7th inst. Here is par
of what they said on the tariff:
"We believe in tariff for revenue
only, and that there should be immedi-
ate relief granted the people who are
now being robbed by the extortiate
prices exacted under the shelter of the
tariff. We believe the tariff should be
removed from all trust-made goods, anc
in the removal of all duties on iron,
steel, lumber and COAL.
So it seems there are two tariff idea:
now in existence in Iowa. One is the
Republican idea of protection that is
held by Governor Cummins. 1t also
represents the views of Theodore Roose'
welt and about all the Republicans II
the United States. The other is the
Democratic idea of free trade. That
idea is held and cherished by William
Jennings Bryan, Grover Cleveland, AL
ton G. Parker and all the Democratic
leaders. 1t is true that a great many
Democratic voters do not believe ir
free trade. Why will they longer be
controlled by partisan prejudice and
vote for principle they know is wrong
and that is ruinous to the industrial in
terests of the country when put into
practice? We had bitter practical
experience as to what tariff for revenue
only will do for the people when it was
tried under Mr.. Cleveland's last admin
istration by the enactment of the Will
son-Gorman tariff law.
The tariff plank of the Iowa Demo
Gratis is not quite as extreme as are the
views of Mr.. Bryan on the tariff. He
made this known in speech which
first made him prominent in national
affairs. That speech was made upon
the Wilson bill, and Mr.. Bryan favored
=
putting iron ore, coal, lumber, wool and
all raw materials on the free list.
Now, which '1owa Idea" suits the
people of this district? Which policy is
best for all the country? Do our peo-
pie want their iron ore, coal, lumber
and wool protected, or do they want
them put on the free list? Do they
want prosperity to continue, even if
high prices do rule, or do they want
free trade and the same terrible bust
ness conditions that prevailed in 1893 to
1897? You will have an opportunity in
November to cast your ballot for pro-
lection or free trade. Think well be-
fore you vote.