Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-01
CUM'dINS IN REPARTEE.

Ihe passage at arms between John
Sharp Williams, democrat, and Senator
Cumnlins in the United States senate
Thursday illustrates much more quick
ly and far more forcibly than a set
speech could do the purpose of Cum
Minis and other insurgents in seeking
to amend the Canadian reciprocity bill.
Williams sought to put Cummins in the
hole and the headline writer in the
Register and Leader inspired by the
attitude OF the owners of that news
paper was quick to display that VIII
lams Turns Trick on Cummins"
What the democrat did was to quote
from one Of Cummins Canadian reci-
procity speeches in Iowa several years
ago in which Curmins expressed it as
his opinion that freer admission Of
agricultural products from Canada
would do no serious harm 10 the agri-
cultural interests of the west any more
than would the cultivation of addi-
tional acres in western Dakotas and
Montana. Williams recalled Cummins'
remarks in the speech and accused him
Of Inconsistency in opposing the reduc-
ton OF duties on Canadian grains in
this bill.
Now. If Cummins We're opposing this
bill solely because it reduced tariff
duties on agricultural products which
would compete with his own state he
would be open to the charge Of incon-
sistency just as the democrat accused
rim and as The Register and Leader re-
peatedly imputes 70 him. but Cummins
came back quick as a flash with the
rejoinder that he was contending now
against the free admission of agri-
cultural products 7 an simply ask
ing he said. that when you admit
NIT manufactured articles free and the
senator from Mississippi is not willing
TO admit them free except by separate
legislation which would be long de-
ferred'
Thus is Cunlmins demanding an "ad-
vartageous bargain" as ne did in his
famous Canadian reciprocity speech in
Iowa seven years ago. He was vicious
" mal;gned then for proposing a sacri-
flee Of protection TO Iowa farm products
and his maligners persistentiy refused
to recognize or even admit that Cum
Minis had insisted that the bargain be
advantageous" 70 our people Now
comes a bill which grants the tariff re-
ductions on agricultural products but
which Cummins thinks does not deliver
the quid pro quo in reciprocal adj
vantages 20 the interests of the middle
west and he seeks to amend in favor OF
his part Of the country.
When We remember that the admin
stration once O. ked the Payna-Al-
drich tariff law which Cummins and
Dolliver both opposed and which the
administration and the country have
both since rejected; when he remem-
Der that the president once gave Bal
linger a certificate Of character which
the insurgents defie1 but has since cast
him off and has now adopted the in
surgen- policies as TO public lands:
when We remember that the admins
tration railway rate bill came before
the senate with no adequate provision
for shippers 70 appeal and with an ac-
,ual repeal Of the antitrust law. and
when we remember that It was Cum
minis who forced into the bill by
amendment the provision which in less
than six months time enabled the ship
pers TO suspend rate increases ana
finally defeat them which otherwise
would have been sadd!ed on to this
country for all time to come: when we
remember these things. even tho we
may believe in reciprocity, we ought to
have faith in the judgment OF Senator
Cunlmins and give his amendments TO
the presidents Canadian reciprocity
bill a respectful hearing. The facts are
Cummins has been more times right
in the last few years than has the
president. Even the Cedar Rapids Re-
publican admits that bill should not
be damned thru solely because it is
an administration measure