Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-06
CONSISTENCY AND ITS OPPOSITE.

! The Sioux City Journal is extremely
busy nowadays attempting to pick holes
in Senator Cummins' coat. Indeed that
has been the main employment in poll
tics of the Journal for some time. Just
now il IS enGeavoring to nag both the
Junior and senior senator by the in
sinuat.on that they are or ought 10 be
edgewise at each other II also argues
and insinuates that Cummins did not
make the famous shelter plank inserted
into the first Cedar Rapids platform.
Generally the Journa! is acting much
in the fashion Of a small boy who has
been licked by another and who is anXi-
Gus 20 provoke further trouble OF
which he may be spectator with
possibility of qualification. In case
like this the Journal is playing both
ends against the middle. II is not that
il loves Kenyon more bat that il cares
even less than for Cummire Throat
cutting between the TWO would have
its greater or lesser joys whoever got
it in the neck. However, at best il is
but an attempt by a srandpat paper
/ with bitter taste in its mouth to
peddle discord heween those whom it
I views with political and personal en-
nifty. And Il viii not work. Some
what 1t may assist in stirring up the
! old guard OF ancient Danites TO take
/ the trail again but mainly Il IS but the
making Of faces across the fence. Both
! Cumrnins and Kenyon have proved
their worth. Incidentally they have
shown enough common sense 10 smile
over such attempts. And thu voting
public OF Iowa is pretty well convinced
of the advsability OF keeping both men
where they are doing the most good for
Iowa
The Journal is peculiarly situated.
I Things have broken bad for il and its
ambitions politically. But withal its
n2isfortunes Of this character are not
justly to be charged gainst either Of
ges,ed 70 the Journal that rolling
stone gathers no moss TO speak of For
the Journal has rolled some in Iowa
politics
For instance, as to that shelter plank;
1t is true that Cummins was not the
originator of the plank as it was writ
ten into the Cedar Rapids platform:
but it was put there upon his indorse-
.nens and with his approval or it never
wouSs have been thus written and
Cumnins defended the platform and
won 10 victory on IT. Later events
proved Il 10 be the expression OF Iowa
voters
George Roberts wrote il after six
months or so Of conference with pro-
gressive leaders in Iowa. That has
never been a matter of concealnent
unless Roberts who deserted his own
banner on the eve Of battle has had
such desire. In those days or there
about the Journal began to feel the
strings Of progressive republicanism
editor along in the beginning Of the
movement presided over 2 republican
convention and gave Albert B. Cum
MINIS clean bill Of republican health.
When thru Allisons III health and dis
inclination Dclliver MAS forced forwa rd
as the leader of the fight for the rate
law the Journal, If il recalls. marched
up and became one of those Passing
Between the Tellers" and its vote rang
loud and clear for p-ogressiveness and
CurnTnirs and the square deal The
change came Ger the tenor Of its po
iitcal dreams later when opportunity
seemed 10 beckon toward the governors
chair, a phantom Of opportunity which
faded into the thin air of disa ppoint
:i.s-lt s.;ttsl the f-osts Q. November ana
still Cummins went on under the APP
proyal Of the state.
In the matter of consistency there Is
little TO be urged against Cunlmine ex
cept in envy or that hatred which his
SUCCESS seems to have aroused in an
undying quality The man has been
consistent. The policies ne urged in
progressiveism in all parties. He has
never failed to put his policies first and
stand to defeat or victory upon them
as they are. He has never shifted to
secure votes From Maine to Cali
fornia he is estimated at what he is.
sincere and capable statesman with
conscience and ability. That is abso-
luteiy true. We all know it. the Journal
as well as any. He has never been a
compromiser; the only compromise ne
ever made was when he listened to
Perkins as political friend and at
tenn pied to harmonic the factions by
compromise platform succeeding that
which contained the shelter plank And
this is the charge OF Inconsistency
, brought about thru listening against mis-
own judgment to one who then posed as
political friend and an adviser re-
puted wise in council.
The charge OF Inconsistency IS .acst
often brought by the inconsistent or the
men who stand still. There was neevr
more typical instance Of this truth
than the Journals insinuation against
| CUMMING