Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-03-29
SECRETARY SHAW.

lican Club, in which he made a strong
plea for loyalty TO the party of Lin
coin and Grant and Mckinley and
Roosevelt. In discussing the tariff
be quoted Secretary Hay to the effect
that 1T must be that tariff revlsions
come, but woe to that party by which
they come" He further said that no
party can amend the tariff downward
aud live; and no party can ever revise
the tariff in safety; and the only time
to risk the experiment is at an extra
ordinary session Immediately follow
ing the inauguration of a new admin.
istration. "The protective tariff"
said the Secretary, lis again assaulted.
The metropolitan press is again attack
ing both the principle and its appli-
cation. Republican orators are
again teaching discomfort. Several
times during the present session of
congress prominent members of the
opposition party have quoted dis
tinguished republican of this state as
saying in effect that all the robberies
and thefts committed by all the in.
surance officers since the beginning
do not amount to as much extortion
as the Dingley bill for one year. II
is one thing to urge that the time has
arrived when the schedules should be
re-adjusted, and quite another to
denounce the law as it stands as both
vicious and harmful and so discredit
the party that allows it to stand.
II am republican and during all
the years of my manhood l have
annually taught as best l could the
principles of the party to which be-
long. If did not believe these prin-
ciples, would join another party or
keep still. Already | have requests
for more work in the forthcoming
campaign than can possibly perform.
/ expect to take such part as the duties
of my Office will permit, and expect
to defend as best can the principles
of my party, the congress IL has elect.
ed, and the chief executive it has
exalted. Our opponents have seldom
been more alert, and never more ag-
gressive. They declare that the battle
shall be waged on the tariff issue.
Protection as q principle will be
assailed, and its application will be
criticised on every platform where a
representative of the opposition party
speaks. They will quote and requote
every criticism of the republican party
that has been uttered by prominent
republican officials. | am perfectly
willing to answer the democratic
leaders of the house, and all those
who admittedly believe and openly
teach free trade; and who declare that
the prote ,tive principle is unconsti-
tutional and its application always
vicious. But what am to say when
met with speeches made by men of
prominence in my own party, whose
public utterances indict their party of
disloyalty to the interests of the
people, and of unfaithfulness to its
great trust. Attacks from without are
relatively harmless. No one pays
much attention to them. But want
to ask you gentlemen of Iowa, you
members of the legislature, you rep
resentatives of this great state, here
tofore outclassed by none in its in
tluence within the party and within
the nation, what am to say In answer
to these criticisms from our own
peoplep What is Shaw of Iowa to
say in answer to these criticisms from
withinP These criticisms of the re-
publican platform for it made no
promise of revision; these criticisms
of the republican congress, for it has
not revised the tariff; these Icriticisms
of the president, for he has not recon-
mended revision of the tariff. Shall
| apologize for my party? Shall |
apologize for Congress and for the
Iowa delegation---those able, honor
ed, esteemed and heretofore universal
ly respected representatives of my
party from my state2 ] will not adj
nit that the president of the United
States has been unfaithful to his trust
in failing to recommend q revision of
the tariff. / will not be disloyal to
my chief for the sake of being loyal
to my governor. want to be loyal
to both il ! can find way
81 will not be dragged into factional
fights. am not opposing any man.
am simply opposing teachings with.
in my party which are unauthorized
by our national platform, unauthoriz-
ed by any actions of congress, and
unauthorized by any thing the presi-
dent of the United States has said or
done. The utterances / oppose, the
teachings object to, are the stock
in trade of our political opponents.
/ have been content and will be con-
tent to teach the principles of the old
party which, under God, has done so
much for the American people, and is
still big with possibilities of efficient
and glorious service"