The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-05

i palgn soon TO open in Iowa 1t was
not designed to win Republican votes
and will not contribute much to the
chances of Republican success at the
polls in November. AS a Qualification
of Cummins it may be a gem, and
perhaps it was built ON plans and
specifications OF tat sort.
Sioux City journal: The keynote
speech of Senator Cummins, as chair
man of the Iowa Republican state
convention, was not Republican
speech. 1t was an insurgent speech
"a Cummins speech. 1t was not brief
for the Republican party as it is. 1t
was brief for the Republican party
as Cummins would make it over, or
failing In that. for new party. It
carried direct affront to nearly half
!, the delegates who listened to it. The
temporary chairman of the Iowa Re-
publican state convention spoke no
word of Endorsement for the Presi-
dent of the United States, who is
the leader of the Republican party
and the one man in whom rests ra-
tional hope for continued Republic
can success. Foreseeing probable ap-
plause from large part Of his aud
fence if the name of President Taft
was mentioned, Senator Cummins did
not allow it to pass his lips. The Re-
publican state administration Jared
no better. In Iowa Governor Carroll
T is the leader of his party and the
primary nominee for governor. II
Iowa is not to have Democratic
governor Gov. arroll must have the
united support of Republicans. Gov
ernor CAROLS name was not spoken,
nor was there word of endorse
ment for his efficient and economical
administration. All this may have
been politics. 1t surely was not Re-
publican politics.
| The main delinquency of the Cum
| Minis keynote as Republican key
note was in the failure to endorse
the record of the Republican nation
al administration. In the two SEES
sions of the Sixty-f1rst congress, un-
der the leadership of President Taft,
more important progressive legisla-
Ltion has been enacted than In any
similar period in the history of the
| Republican party Since the Inaugural
/ ton of President Taft the principle
of economy and efficiency in the pub
lie service has made greater gains in
application than ever before. This
record is the party's capital upon
which it must depend for renewal OF
its commission in control of congress
| and the executive department of the
government 1t is a record to which
any Republican can point with pride
Instead of praising this record as a
whole Senator Cummins singled out
! portions of 1t for keen and unwar-
Iranted criticism. 1t was his own rec
ord that he endorsed, and as he had
deliberately declined to act with his
party in many instances the party
record had to be criticised to justify
the Cummins record.
In regard to the tariff Senator
ICummins tried to occupy wholly I'M
tenable ground. He had voted against
a tariff bill that was approved by
the Republican majority In congress
and the Republican President. He
endeavored to justify his vote by the
claim that the bill did not fulfill the
Republican tariff pledge. The plat
form pledge was to revise the tariff
at special session of congress i'm
mediately after the Inauguration OF
i the new President. Senator CumnhNs
himself admits that the platform did
not pledge downward revision. Wher
he voted against the revision made
at the special session he voted di
rectly against the platform promise
that the tariff would be revised al
that session 1t is true the platform
defined the principle of protection
measured by the difference in the
cost Of production here and else
where The Cummins claim is thai
the platform was violated because
this principle was not exact
ily applied in every instance
OF course it was not, and II
81 newer Will De. lie principe Is dI
ideal toward attaining. which the par
ty must use its best efforts. In the
circumstances existing during the ex
ira session the party did its best. II
has since provided machinery fol
the most accurate application of the
principle in the future. Although
harshly criticising the law we have
Senator Cummins did not urge any
material change In the status quo
He does not want an early genera
revision. He does not want anything
done to the schedules until after re
liable data on cost of production mas
been secured. He does demand a per
manent nonpartisan tariff commits
sion. We now have a tariff commits
sion that is doing and will do every
thing expected of the commission
urged by Cummins. The senator has
no valid grievance against the tariff
situation as it is. In criticising the
tariff law he is risking the party.
capital merely to justify his vot,
against it-a vote that cannot be jus
tilted by any sound political logic.