New-York tribune., 1910-09-01
WITHOUT 4 CREDIT LINE.

The trainers of the Kansas Republi-
can platform have laid themselves open
10 much the same criticism as the franz
ers Of the Iewa Republican platform.
Poth states are in the control OF In
surgents. and in both the leaders of
that faction have yielded to the tempta-
tion to magnify their personal differ
ences with the Taft administration, while
practically subscribing in toto to the
Presidents policies. Insurgency in Kan
sas was fomented by dissatisfaction with
"Cannonism' meaning the abuse of the
powers of the Speakership to destroy
free and responsible party action In the
House of Representatives-and with the
Payne tariff law as an inadequate ana
faulty application Of the principle OF
protection laid down in the last Repuoll-
can national platform. "Cannonism' mas
been effectively disposed of. There re-
mains, then, only the grievance OF the
PAYNE tariff law. The Kansas RepuDn-
cans refuse TO recognize the SUBSTANTIAL
advances made In the passage OF that act
toward a more intelligent AMI rational
tariff system. Like their Iowa brethren,
they avoid commencing Mr. Taft for ap-
proving the tariff Of 1909, because, In
spite of its shortcomings. it redeemed
some par1v promises and made the way
easier for redeeming others. They cen
sure the President by implication, yet
when they try to frame tariff pro-
gramme of their own they find them
selves outlining the party's tariff policy
in exactly the same terms and phrases
in which Mr. Taft has outlined It says
the Kansas platform:
We pledge anew our loyalty to the Re-
publican national platform Of 1908, and
hind ourselves to carry out its declara-
tons. accepting the policy of protectlon
as outlined in our party platform as the
established policy Of the nation, ana
binding our members OF Congress IN boln
houses to vote steadfastly ana Wlthout
reference to any other instructions for
revision of the tariff law Of 1909, using
as 2 basis for fixing duties the dinerence
between the cost Of production at nome
and abroad. with a reasonable profit Tor
American manufacturers.
II is hard to see anything revolution
arv in that declaration or anything at
variance with the views Of the President
and of the great majority Of Republican
voters. The Kansas platform makers
further declare IL favor of revision OF
the PavDe tariff in the light Of more
exact information, which is to be fur
nished by a tariff commission, and &C
ton on the schedules one at time. Yet
President TaftS letter to the chairman
Of the Republican Congressional Com
rnittee. published last Monday, favored
precisely the same procedure He is en-
t5reIy at one on the tariff issue with the
Kansas Republicans, and they ought to
have had no hard feeling simply because
be got his opinions on record be1ofe
they got theirs.
Kansas is usually an up-to-date state
II prides itself on leading the van OF
progress. It's politicians have reaped
g.orv enough blazing the pathway for
Others. But they ought not to be un-
generous or sulky when they find that
some one else has anticipated their In
ward thoughts and is preparing TO ac-
complish what they have been merely
ruminating upon They owe President
Taft an apology for having put forward
his thoughts and intentions as their own
without a gracious acknowledgment that
he and they are Of one mind upon an
issue which they leave the world TO think
has created a dislocation Of friendship
between them.