Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-06
Senator Cummins Warns
Republicans Of Day
Of Reckoning.
BODIES ILL FOR PARTY
Revision Not of Manufacturers
Asking and They Should
Not Gain.

Washington, May 6.-Predicting that
a failure TO pass the tariff bill provid-
ing lower duties on imports would pro-
woke a political contest for another
revision of the tariff Senator Cummlns
of Iowa delivered a notable speech III
the senate today.
"The bill now before us, which 1t
may be assumed presents the views "f
the finance committee respecting the
revision of the tariff said Mr.. Cum
MINIS. will not be accepted by those
who have favored a revision of the
tariff as either q fultillment OF the
party pledge or as a settlement OF the
controversy If this bill, or anything
substantially like it. becomes law,
predict that a campaign for lower dut-
les will begin the moment an extra
ordinary session of congress adjourns
and will continue with increasing zeal
until the judgment entered in the
court of the public conscience is also
entered in the journals of congress.
Does Not welcome Chance.
at gives me no pleasure to utter
this prophecy, for | have earnestly
hoped that the revision now in pro
gress would end the dispute for years
to come, and that the business of the
country would enjoy the peace and
tranquility which is impossible during
the existence OF, a movement to ma
terially change duties upon imports
1T is idle, worse than idle, to specu-
late upon the technical meaning OF
the words and phrases employed in the
last republican platform upon this sub
ject. The declaration there found has
a history. and that history is familiar
to every member of the senate.
Manufacturer Did Not Agitate.
who insisted upon tariff revision
1t was not the manufacturer: it wa!
not the lumberman; it was not the
coal man: it was not the iron and stee
man; it was not the glass man; it wa!
not the cotton or the. wooden man; i
was not the oil man. During the whole
agitation | never heard-you neve
heard-a demand from these peop;t
that the tariff must be revised. Th'
demand came from those who believed
that the duties upon many articles AMI
commodities were too light; froi
those who believed that they were paw
ing too much for the things they ha,
to buy, and that excessive import dut
les, coupled with other conditions
were enabling a favored few to rea
inordinate profits; and therefore the
wanted as one of the steps leading
to the remedy which they sought.
substantial reduction of these duties
1t is not necessary at this moment t
inquire how many people so believe;
or in what part of the country the
lived"
Must Abandon One or Other.
There was no question he said tha
the republican party promised a revi
ion under a demand for lower duties.
Il do not say" he added, that
senator has not a perfect right to carr
into effect his own views. | do NJ
say that he has not a perfect right ,
repudiate the platform. In a conte!
between conscience and a party d.
claration, conscience ought always I
win. But a senator who honestly b.
lieves that there should be no SUI
stantial reduction ought not to delud
himself with the idea that he can a
swer the calls of his conscience an
his platform at the same time.
VIII BE Like Roar of Niagaras.
81 have heard it said over and owe
since we began this discussion, N
of course in public debate, but in pl
Vate conversation, that there are bl
few people comparatively who wel
interested in a reduction of duties.