Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-04
SENATOR CUMMINS GIVES
INSURGENTS CREDIT FOR
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION
Continued From Page ~

capital was drawn into the strong EN-
brace Of trusts and consultations
Safe from the competition of Other
countries, it became the chief objec,
of our manufacturers to destroy com
petition in their own country. They
accomplished their purpose SO effect
ually that years ago in nearly every
important field of production prices
ceased to be the result of the time
honored laws OF trade, and the power
of determining profits fell into the
hands either of a monopoly or an
acknowledged master in protected In
dustry.
Then came demand for revision
of the tariff, 1t originated in the
necessities of the people, and was
founded upon the fundamental instinct
for Justice. Deprived Of the safe
guards which competition at home had
furnished them, the people knew,
without reasoning upon it that they
had right to an intelligent readjust.
ment Of the tariff. They felt the
duties should be so modified that the
continued insistence upon unfair
prices would expose our manufacturers
to the correction of foreign compe-
ton.
In this demand there was no dis.
loyalty to the doctrine of protection.
although for a short period the bene-
fciaries Of excessive duties succeeded
in confusing the issue.
Standpattlsm Means Monopoly.
It was then that the standpatter
adopted the name which he now bears,
and his campaign cry was LET well
enough alone The movement, how
ever. was irresistible and the repub-
lican national convention Of 1908 re-
spending, not only with unanimity
but with enthusiasm to the progress
sive sentiment of the rank and file OF
the party, not only pledged the in
coming congress to revision of the
tariff. but defined the doctrine Of pro-
lection with a care and precision I'M
known to any former platform. 1t
solemnly prescribed rule with
which to measure import duties, to the
end that both producer and consumer,
both capital and labor. might share in
our prosperity. You remember 1t well
but nevertheless quote It:
The republican party declares un-
equivocally for revision Of the tariff
by special session of congress i'm
following the Inauguration
of the next president, and commends
the steps already taken to this end in
the work assigned to the appropriate
Of congress which are now
the operation and effect
I'LL - oil tor Sfc
legislation the true principle of pro-
lection is best maintained by the i'm
position of such duties as will equal the
difference between the cost OF pro-
duction at home and abroad, together
with a reasonable profit to American
industries. We favor the establish
ment of maximum rates to be ad-
by the president under
fixed In the law, the maxi
mum to be available to meet discrimi-
nations by foreign countries against
American goods entering their markets
and the minimum to represent the
normal measure of protection at home,
the aim and purpose of the republican
policy being not only to preserve, with
out excessive duties, that security
against foreign competition to which
American manufacturers. farmers and
producers are entitled, but also to
maintain the high standard Of living
Of the wage earners Of this country
who are the most direct beneficiaries
Of the protective system. Between
the United States and the Philippines
we believe in free interchange Of
products with such limitations as to
sugar and tobacco as will afford adj
equal protection to domestic in.
terests."
Upon this pledge, definition, and
rule we appealed to the country for the
election Of a republican president and
a republican congress. The country
believing profoundly in maintaining
our own industries and reposing i'm
plict faith in the nromisc tnat export
duties would, in the revision to take
place. be measured by the difference
between the cost of production at
home and abroad. elected republican
president and a republican congress.
In redemption of the pledge so made
the president convened the new con-
gress in special session, and it did re-
wise the tariff
have never been much Interested
in the debate over the technical pro-
position that our promise was to revise
the tariff downward Beyond dispute.
the people generally expected that it
would be revised downward. because
they knew that the duties were too
high, and were greatly more than the
difference between the cost Of pro-
luction here and elsewhere.
What the Pledge Was.
But whatever may have been said
in the campaign, agree that there
was no formal pledge in the platform
20 revise the tariff downward.
There was, however. a pledge that
il should be revised so that the duties
upon protected commodities should be
he difference between the cost OF pro-
1ucing them here and In other coun-
.ries. with fair profit added. and the
intent, as everybody will concede. was
hat our manufacturers should be able
10 enter our markets and sell their
products at a fair price as against
their foreign competitors; and 1t was
he futher intent that grossly excessive