Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-10
Cummins, Trimmer.

Secretary. Chairman.
CumminS, Trimmer.
Five years ago, in 1901, Governor
Albert B. Cummins wrote into the
platform OF the Iowa republican party
demand fol- the removal of duties
that afford shelter to monopoly.
Itwas daring demand because it
admitted the democratic contention
that the Dingley law fostered trusts
and monopolies. 1t effected to hoist
Cummins from comparative obscurity
into the flare Of the limelight. 1t
made him national figure.
The plank precipitated demand
for tariff revision in many sections of
the country. Even the president of
the United States recommended re-
vision in message to Congress. In
his own state Cummins had to defend
the plank against the onslaughts COT
those members of his own party who
eWCIC OPROoC0 lCVlblOu.
Later, some three years ago, the
demand OF the standpatters in Iowa
to recant the heretical doctrine Of
1901 gained great volume and the OPP
ponents Of Oummins found themselves
in the majority in the approaching
convention. Defeat stared Cummins
in the face and to save himself from
eclipse he assented to a compromise
with j. w. Blythe, Senator Allison
and George ID. Perkins, which emas-
culated the idea.
That was very notable and very
disgraceful compromise.
In the years elapsing since 1901
Cummins has assaulted the tariff. He
has affirmed the democratic principle
that the consumer is better entitled
to competition than the producer to
protection. Not six months ago he
said that the great sums which the
insurance thieves have taken out Of
the pockets Of the policy holders were
insignificant compared with the trin.
ute taken by monopolists under the
shelter Of the tariff. He has instanced
gross inequalities in the Dingley law
and he has reiterated time and again
the demand for revision.
And yet we find him debating tar
ID plank at the DesM oines convention
the other day which is almost COM
plete surrender to those who have
fought him on the tariff. 1t contains
no demand for Immediate revision. 1t
simply advocates changes in the tariff
schedules "from time to time" 1t is
q cowardly expression. Not one of the
Cummins men that counselled overit
but wants revision,NOW. Not one Of
them had the courage to say 3d. Not
one OF them but truckled; not one of
them but compromised his convic-
tions; not one OF them but was cow
ardly.
What but arrant demagogury is it to
60 before the people asking them for
their support in a factional tight on
the strength OF assertions that the
Dingley law prctectionists in the re-
publican party are greater plunderers
than the brigands OF life insurance,
and when the victory is won fail to
lift up ones voice in a demand for an
end OF the robbery? Governor Cum
minis has said that the consumer is
being robbed. But does he now, as
when he was making his impassioned
plea for support in the preconvention
struggle, say that the robbery should
cease now, forthwith?
The shameful admission must be
made that he does no such thing. he
says simply that the plunderer should
be changed from time to time. He
does not say when the process should
be begun.
Why this course9 Why, after Sc.
curing the support and confidence Of
the people does he 60 back on the
peopleS The answer is that there is
o large element Of republican voters
who might be offended II he, KEEP
faith with those whom he now be-
trays. In the language of his defeated
opponent. he is "playing both ends
against the middle One tack was
necessary to get the nomination, A
new tack, entirely different,is neces.
sary to secure the party strength a.
the polls, as the figures 1T. So he de-
scends from the height OF moral
craftsmanship to the plane of the
demsgogue. The eagle drags his PIN
ions Is the mire.
II proof were lacking that Albert
B. Cummins is what we long ago de-
scribed him as being,-a self-seeker
making popular issues his vehicle for
attaining his ambition to sit in the
United States senate, that proof is
written In the omissions of the tariff
plank.
The people who backed Cummins
sought immediate tariff revision;
Cummins sought personal advantage.
He has gained what he sought; his
supporters have lost what they be-
lieyed from his assurance they would
gain through him.
II He has betrayed his supporters. He
has been loyal to his Unsuitable and
ever ascendant egotism. He is
chameleon and his dominant hue Isl
yallow Te1errapl Herald.