The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-01-07
living PROBLEM OF BETTER CAN
- NON.
NON.

NON.
Mdrich, Hale, Payne, DaizelL, and Hull
Also Named as Foes OF Progressive
Laws. @
Des Moines, Iowa, jan Senator
Albert ID. Cummins, in a speech To-
night at dollar dinner" given by
the so-called Progressive Republicans
of Iowa, declared that the fight for
progressive principles Is not at an
end. Tie said that he did not attempt
to obscure or to minimize the extent
Of their defeat in the recent special
session OF Congress, but that IL any
one harbored the delusion that the
passage OF the recent tariff law ended
the fight for fair and reasonable pro-
tective duties, II would be wise for
him at once to reform his conclusion
He criticised the course OF Con
gresham j. q r.. Hull of the Seventh
Iowa district, and pledged his sup
port to Judge $. r. Prouty, who re.
Gently announced his candidacy for
the office at the next election.
Many Republicans from all parts Of
me State were present and at a con-
ference during the day the advisability
Of bringing out Progressive candi-
date for Governor was discussed
with respect to the tariff" Senator
Cumm1ns said, "the standpatters feel
that If makes little if any difference
how high the duties are, IL they be
high enough to exclude importations.
When they approach the subject, their
frst, and have sometime thought,
their only concern is for the producer.
They are 20 much afraid of hurting
him that they close their ears to ev-
cry voice save his, and assume that,
knowing what he wants, he will not
ask for more than he deserves. The
echoes Of the platform OF 1908, which
contains the pledges of the Republi-
can Party, have become 50 faint in
their councils that they are drowned
in the cries Of impoverished manufac-
turers.
ION the other hand the Progressives
remember that we promised the Amer
lean people that the duties on import
cd competitive commodies should be
measured by the difference between
tn cost of production i'm this and rival
lands, and that we made the promise
in order to give protection to the pro-
Queer from unequal competition and
protection to the consumer from avar-
icious exortion. The Progressives,
after years of struggle, brought the
convention to full acknowledgement
of the justice of their position.
with respect to further regulations
of interstate commerce, the standpat-
ter occupies just the same position
that he has always occupied. 1t is
sufficient to say that the agitation for
the Strengthening of the law regula-
ting common carriers became acute
about 1889. Tt finally resulted i'm the
amendment Of 1906. 1t was a long,
weary campaign. The standpatters
were either silent or in opposition.
Joseph G.. Cannon was then, as
now, the most conspicuous member
of the National House. In all these
years I never heard Of a single utter
ance from him that could by any pos
sibility be construed into friendliness
toward the cause that was struggling
on through all these difficulties.
''Aldrich was then, as now, one of
the leaders Of the Senate Of the United
States, and if any standpatter can dis
cover a solitary expression upon his
part that helped the movement to its
final fruition, would be glad to have
it pointed out. Hale, Payne, Daizell
were then, as now, prominent in the
Congress of the United States, but 7
challenge the memory of anyone who
hears me to recall one single sympa-
thetic word in the interest Of the peo-
pie in their struggle with the rail-
ways.
Captain J. a. T. Hull was then, as
now, the chairman Of one Of the prin-
cipal committees of the House, and
man Of wide influence throughout the
country, and yet I never saw him lift
an ounce to raise from our shoulders
the burden we were then carrying.
The fight was made here and every
where by the Progressives.
'I have referred to these things in
order to call to your attention the fact
that the standpatters are not helping
to solve the problem. They content
themselves with the constant reiter-
alton of the fear that if we touch any
Of these things we may overturn the
fabric of commerce and may destroy
the prosperity for which all lovers OF
the humankind are seeking.
when it is proposed to further
regulate railway rates, they shudder
lest we may hurt the railways. The
progressives shudder lest they may
not be able to help those who are suf-
fering the injustice of rate systems
that are admittedly indefensible.
III am quite ready to admit that pro-
gressives sometimes try to do things
that are unwise, but without them
nothing would be done, wise or un-
wise. If the standpatter can justify
his existence by the consciousness
that he sometimes prevents the &C
complishment of an unjust thing by
standing pat against every onward
movement, he may demonstrate his
right to rule the affairs of great
country