The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-05-13
REPUBLICAN GIVES DEMOCRATIC
ENCOURAGEMENT.

1t is not often that republican
paper of standing will take it's party to
task, no matter if that party is doing
harm to the people in the interest of
monopoly, yet the Philadelphia North
American, one of the best and most
prominent republican organs of the
country sees danger ahead for it's party
and is sounding warning in no uncer-
tain tones. That paper, in common with
all other republican papers realizes
that the tariff measure which the re-
publican senate is now Juggling with is
but a measure for the benefit of New
England and a deliberate and absolute
reputation of the campaign promises
! of the republican party to the people,
that there should be tariff revision for
the benefit of the people; and it now
sounds warning and calls halt, Civ
ing notice that if the pledges of the
party are not carried out that a demo-
cratic president and democratic house
will result. The article, which is worthy
of the attention of every reader, says:
'Deep-rooted in the American nature
are respect for the frank, courageous
opponent and hatred for the coward,
the trimmer and the trickster. In every
phase of politics this truth finds fullest
expression. Cleveland and Roosevelt
are modern instances Of strong men
who provoked respectful enmity. But
no swindler or deceiver ever attained
such eminence.
soften the national trait leads to evil.
There is a queer kinl in the American
sense of humor that provokes tolerant
understanding Of the bold thief. The
wrongdoer who says, "The public be
damned, the man who responds to an
unanswerable accusation with, "What
are you going to do about it?" the type
best represented by Tweed and Quay
and from Croker and Cox, always have
compelled an amused sort of sympathy
from the most honest.
Rightly or wrongly, Americans are
oyerapt to tolerate the truthful pirate.
But the pickpocket and the sneak are
pretty sure to be thumped.
ga candidate or a party, in city, state
or nation, may advocate a wrong and
perpetuate it and be forgiven. But
bitter punishment awaits the pledge
breaker. The man, the clique, the
faction or the party that attempts to
"gold brick" the American people is the
certain Acquisition OF scourging that
will leave burning scars.
| i TIC NOfUu AulSsflCdu HIS Sdlu ClIuc
and again that the principle of protec-
ton has become fixed, immutable
part of Americas national polity. That
has been our belief. That we think
still is the truth. But it will not re-
main truth if there is persistence in the
trickery now in progress in Washington
There will be peril for the protective
principle and the first grave danger fol
the republican party in thirteen years
if congress sanctions and the president
approves the thimble-riggiDg tariff
plans of Aldrich.
"a thousand times during the cam
paign it was impressed upon the voters
that the republican party proposed tt
reduce, modify and adjust the tariff
schedules SO as to meet equitably al
new conditions, check monopoly anc
benefit the consumer without doing
harm TO any legitimate industry.
"Had that not been the understand
ing Of the American people every sane
observer knows that Taft would have
.. lost eight or ten of the states he car
J won because of mistrust of Bryan, the
I majority if the platform had been the
UlAt WulCI aluIlCl pFOpopCo W lOICs
upon the country for the qualification o
New England.
"Are these supposed representative
of the people in Washington crazed o
blind? Do they not foresee the DANCE
] of providing the democrats with thu
first formidable campaign ammunition
in fifteen years? Are they not consciou
of the suicidal folly of cowardly submis
Sion to the brazen treachery of Cannon
Payne, Aldrich and Hale, who woul'
make of Taft a pledge breaker and Q
the Republican party a swindler?
"This is not North American sermon
1t is simple citation Of the unprece
4 denied fact that not single republica
! newspaper of worth and standing in tn
! country accepts and approves the bi
4 put forth as formulation of the re
! publican partys economic policy.
] "For the first time there is hope of
4 democratic house in 1911. For the firs
= time there is chance for democrati
! president in 1912. The trust of tn
4 people in Taft in protection and in th