The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-16
POLITICAL PoTPoURl.
Lacey Replies to Kendall, and Cum
minis Gives Views.

letter to III. j. Vail of New Sharon
explaining why he did not vote with
his party in the recent session of con
gress. Major Lacey sent him the fol
lowing reply:
"Oskaloosa, Ia, Sept 4.-Hon N. T.
Kendall, Nj. c., Abba, la.--Dear Sir:
| | have the honor to acknowledge re-
ccipt from you of copy of letter
written by you to Mr.. II. J. Vail, OF
New Sharon, from which | quote as
| follows:
81 dissented from the Iowa plat.
form last year, presented to the state
convention by Major Lacey, my dis,
| tinguished predecessor, forcshadowing
an extraordinary session of congress
at which a general reformation of the
tariff should be undertaken. My
humble Judgment was over-ruled, and
our party declared at Chicago that
the schedules should be so rewritten
as to establish duties at a level meas
uring the difference in the cost OF
production in America and abroad, to-
gether with a reasonable return to the
domestic producer
Now, my dear sir, it occurs to me
that this would have been good oc-
casion to apply an old maxim: DO
not explain, lest you should be called
upon to explain the explanation Just
why you should announce thai the
question of tariff revision had been re-
luctantly forced upon you by the plat
form presented by me, l cannot fully
comprehend. In 1iew of the fact that
for the last six or seven years you
have been moving in harmony with
the 'revisionists' in Iowa, IL seems a
little singular for you at this late
hour to announce yourself as social
ed ardent standpatter,' and that you
should complain of being forced by a
progressive like me into revision on
platform for which you declare me in
Fart responsible. The people of this
district are well aware that / favored
delay in revision until such time as
there might be a very serious demand
therefor; that demand was recognized
in the last Iowa platform and in the
national platform. | heard no pro-
test then from you OF the so-called
'progressives' in Iowa against revision
The party pledged itself to revision
and has redeemed its pledges.
"In your statement explaining why
you voted with Champ Clark and the
democrats in congress on the republi-
can tariff bill you say:
" 1t is relatively immaterial to the
public whether l remain in congress,
but it is vitality important to me that
sustain friendly relations with my
own conscience
las you have seen fit to refer to me
in this circular letter, which you are
distributing broadcast in the district
beg to assure you that | believe the
great mass of the republicans in the
senate and house who passed this bill
approved by President Taft, not only
sustained friendly relations with
their own consciences,' but friendly
relations with the great principles of
the party that has so long controlled
the destinies of this nation. / am re-
spectfully,
JOHN +. LACEY"
Ser
At a meeting of the Grant club in
Des Moines Tuesday evening Senator
Cummins outlined his views on two
of the most important questions be
fore the American people and asked
for their opinion on third problem
of scarcely less moment.
A large share of the club member
ship was present at the dinner, which
was the clubs formal welcome to Sen
ator Cu:nmins. They were rewarded
by what several of the audience en-
Enthusiastically told the senator after
wards was the best speech ne ever
made" Although the senator devot
ed most of his talk to the tariff and
to railroad regulations he said moth
ing that appeared to impress mis- hear
ers as of dangerously radical ma
ture.
AS to the tariff ne urged the need
of capable commission to inform
congress and the people what the dut-
les should be. In regard to railroad
regulation he reiterated his unalter-
able determination to carry on the
fight for rates that shall be fair both
to the railroads and to all shippers
and all communities. IN addition
he brought up the question of naval
expenditure and announced his inten-
ton to secure from the people of the
Iowa an expression of their opinion
as to this problem. In the mean time
he asked the Grant club to consider
the question in order to help him to
reach a conclusion.
Because he has not recently ex-
pressed his views and intentions in
regard to railroad regulation in such
plain and concise form, this portion OF
Senator Cummins' remarks was listen
ed to with especial interest. Here
are the three things which he declar
ed should be demanded with respect
to the operation or railways in the
United States.
First-That railways should not
charge more than fair return for the
service rendered.
Second-That the service to indi-
OF single community shall
be without discrimination.