The Washington times., 1910-04-06
ACTION OF THE INDIANA
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

In what is declared to have been the
most enthusiastic State convention ever
held in Indiana, the Republicans of that
State adopted a platform ignoring the
PayneAldrich tariff law, demanded re-
vision of the tariff, took g stand in
favor of a real tariff commission. and
gave the tariff record Of Senator Albert
j. Beveridge a strong and ringing in
dorsement. Eulogy Of party achieve
ments was brief. The convention de-
manded that the policies of Theodore
Roosevelt be given effect in legislation
and administration. President Taft
was given an Endorsement to which was
added a pledge of @our support in any
efforts to secure the enactment of gen
Jline progressive legislation"
Senator Beveridge in his speech TO
the convention set forth in succinct
terms, without mincing words, the
reasons he was opposed 10 the passage
Of the tariff Dill and voted against it.
and why he is opposed 10 it now. He
struck at many Of the Objectionable
features of the tariff law, such as the
increased duty on cotton cloths, the
failure TO reduce ''the ancient wooIen
schedule, "the duties left on lumber. and
''the obsolete and Infamous sugar
schedule"
All the evidence is that what Senator
Beveridge said met with enthusiastic
response in the convention. The action
of the convention in warmly indorsing
Mr.. Beveridge's record, in refusing to
commend the tariff law, in calling for
modification of duties, and in demand
ing genuine tariff commission. can be
interpreted only as meaning one thing:
The Republicans OF Indiana are deeply
dissatisfied with the course of Congress
on the tariff and take no stock in the
utterances of President Taft or anyone
else commenting the Payne-Aldrich
measure.
The Republicans Of Indiana are in
teiligent Republicans. who do their own
thinking. They are not gullible nor are
they TO be intimidated by threats con-
cerning the penalties of a course not
suited to the wishes of the old-time
machine leaders, whether those leaders
are in Indiana or in Washington. Their
action is likely to prove of far-reachinp
importance. In the light of it. what
becomes of the assertions of those who
have been talking about the insurgent
and progressive movement in the Re
publican party growing weaker and
speedily dying out? What becomes Of
the talk that the men in the Senate
and House who are insisting on throw
ing off the regime Of Cannonism and
Aldrichism are acting from motives of
mere personal spleen? Such talk is
idle and foolish in the face of the re-
turns from Indiana.
It is time for Republican leaders who
are blind to the strength of the progres-
sive movement in the country to wake
up The Indiana convention ought to
serve as an eye opener to the men who
are assuming 70 run the Republican
Congressional campaign and other lead |
ers who are setting their faces in
backward direction.
Senator Beyeridge deserves high
credit for his plain speaking. His
words at Indianapolis and the action of
the convention there viii have impor-
tant effects on the Republican con-
ventions of number of States. !
Especially will they have a large bear
ing on the conventions in the Middle |
West. More than that, they are likely |
to affect the course of things in Con
gress and have a relation not remote
to the shaping up Of the next Presiden- |
tial campaign.