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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1903)
wr"w ' - . r APRIL 17, 1903. The Commoner 3 THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FUND THE DES MOINES CAPITAL, A RE PUBLICAN PAPER, CONFESSES THAT "A ClOOD PART OP THAT FUND CAME FROM PROTECTED INTERESTS." When the republican politicians fall out, tho commdn people Sometimes hear interesting con fessions. For more than a year a bitter controversy has been In progress in the state of Iowa con cerning the "Iowa idea." At the last republican state convention Governor Cummins, and his fol lowers caused to be Inserted In the state platform a plank favoring the xemoval of the shelter which the trusts find In the tariff. This has come to be known asathe "Iowa idea." The plank seemed to be a very popular one with the rank and file of the party in the Hawkey e state, although it was openly repudiated by several republican congress men and privately repudiated by others. The republican newspapers of the state are divided on the question. The Des Moines Reg ister and Leader, and the Sioux City Journal are leaders of the newspapers that faithfully cham pion tho 'idea," while the Des Moines Capital, edited by Colonel "Lafe" Young, is a recognized leader of the newspapers that object to what they insist is a bit of democratic doctrine inserted, through Governor Cummins' influence, into the republican platform. In his annual message to congress, President Roosevelt said that "if in any case it be found that a given rate of duty does promote a monopoly which works ill, no protectionist would object to such reduction of the duty as would equalize com petition;" but in the speeches delivered on his present tour, President Roosevelt has very plain ly placed himself on record as opposed to inter fering with the shelter which tho trusts find in tho tariff; and the Des Moines Capital and other republican papers of Iowa are pointing with pride to the fact that their position has the support of the republican president This much by way of explanation. Out of this controversy has come one of the v most candid statements that have ever been made by a party organ. In the Des Moines Capital of April 7, 1903, Colonel "Lafe" Young printed the following editorial: The so-called "progressive" Iowa republi cans who have been advocating tho "Iowa idea" which means tariff ripping to kill the trusts and foreign competition to reduce American prices are hard to keep track of. Governor Cummins says that he is In har mony with all the national leaders and na tional policies and that there is no difference between his views and the views of the ad- , 'ministration. Tho governor makes this as sertion occasionally and no doubt thinks that he is stating the facts, but what does tho man say who sits next to the throne in the Iowa dynasty? "What does ex-Senator Funk say? He says Iowa is entitled to have ideas; that Iowa is entitled to originate political reforms. Ho boasts that Iowa is not tied to ch states as Rhode Island where such men as Aldrlch hail from. Senator Funk appears to t think' that there is a difference between Iowa senti ment and tho Bentiment of other sections of tho country and he indignantly inquires: "Why should Iowa be a political camp fol lower? Why this consuming fear on tho part of Iowa editors that Iowa shall assume some measure of leadership in national party coun cils? Is New York or Rhode Island, Qr Con necticut, or Pennsylvania, largely dominated by corporate selfishness and blind ignorance, so much more to be trusted by tho nation than Iowa with its splendid maximum of intelli gence and its uninfluential minimum of cor rupting influence." Senator Funk does not believe that the re publicans of Iowa must "catch the tariff koy noto from the American Economist, published by and for the most selfish beneficiaries of protection." The senator discusses the whole range covered by the "Iowa Idea" discussion and inquires "is it not of like Importance to deny to the American protective league, band ed in the selfish interest of protected Indus tries, tho right of shaping tariff schedules for vlowa republican sentiment?" It would seem from Senator Funk's posi tion that there is a difference between Iowa republicanism and national republicanism, yet the governor Bays there is not The head of tho Iowa dynasty had better have a consulta- tion with the heir apparent in regard to these matters. BY THE WAY, IS SENATOR FUNK DETERMINED TO REJECT ANY OF THE CAMPAIGN FUNDS OFFERED BY "THE PROTECTED INDUSTRIES" IN THE CAM PAIGN OF 1904? SENATOR FUNK KNOWS THE VAST AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN FUND 'ALLOTTED TO IOWA IN 1896, BROUGHT THROUGH 'iriE INFLUENCE OF NA TIONAL COMMITTEEMAN CUMMINS. IT IS PRESUMED THAT A GOOD PART OF THAT FUND CAME FROM THESE HATED "PROTECTED INTERESTS." WILL SENA TOR FUNK ADVOCATE REJECTING ANY PART OF SUCH FUND IF IT SHALL BE ..OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL COMMIT TEE TO THE IOWA MEMBER OF SUCH COMMITTEE, IN 1904? It Is well not to get on too high a horse in these political matters. It is better to bo just what you are; better not to get too poeti cal and idealistic. It is also fetter for the "Iowa progressive Ants nri In not actuated bv natriotic nurnoses. These gold standard reorganizes insisted more ve hemently even than the republican gold standard champions did that an increased volume of mon- ey would not bring better times; and yet today theyaro confronted with the faot that the Ameri can people are enjoying better times; and if there are any who yet "doubt that tne enormous increase in the volume of money had, much to do with this improvement they need-but to observe the fact that republican leaders are Insisting upon an even larger increase in the volume of money in order to maintain "existing prosperity." The democratic party, cannot change Its prin ciples to suit the purposes of these reorganizes unless it become so similar to the republican party that, so far as the patriotic voter is con cerned, there will be small choice between the two organizations. There is but one position for the democratic party to take. It is the plainly de fined democratic position. It is the position on the side of the people as dearly defined in tho conscience of every thoughtful man. Tho republican party represents the plutocracy of this, country. The democratic party cannot suc cessfully compete for favors in that direction. Even upon the low plane of so-called practical politics, it will be wisdom for the democratic party to stand faithfully by the people and to ' resent, without apology and without equivocation, tho encroafhments which the strong would make upon the wk. ,, t In ordermhat the democratic party shall re main steadfasiit will be the duty of every one s who believes ifithe principles set forth in tho democratic National convention to manifest an active interest in the work of organization. In every precinct throughout the United States demo crats should organize. They should carefully scrutinize tho record of every man1 who aspires to be a delegate to democratic conventions; and they should see to it that no man is sent to a democratic convention, county, state, or national, who cannot be depended upon to faithfully repre sent and defend the opinions of the rank and file. The Commoner will be glad to furnish a form of constitution and membership blanks to all who contemplate the organization of 'demo cratic clubs. When clubs are organized The Com moner will make notice of the fact for the in formation of others. The only hope which the reorganizes may en tertain Is that the rank, and file of; the party may become indifferent and will remain away from the primaries. If the rank and file of tho party will but take part in the primary elections, there is not the' slightest doubt that the demo cratic party will remain faithful to its principles and that the trust magnates will, be required to bestow their smiles upon the republican party and to look to that party for special favors at the ex pense of the people. Harrison Re-Elected. Carter Harrison's majority was not as large as ras expected by his friends, but it was enough to enable him to protect the city from the schemes of the street cgj magnates. The result, while a great complimfut to Harrison, is also a signal victory for municipal ownership. The sec- ' republicans" to have an understanding as to whether or not thero Is a difference,, between Iowa republicanism and national republican ism. There you havo it, blunt and plain. Thero Is the unblushing confession on tho part of one of tho most distinguished republican politicians in the state of Iowa that a largo part of tho vast amount of campaign funds allotted to Iowa came from protected interests. Colonel Young's editorial should bo reproduced in every newspaper throughout tho United States. To bo sure, it does not provide startling Informa tion to democrats; but it may not bo doubted that there are thousands. of republicans who real ly believe that their party is not tho faithful champion of tho trust system and tho beneficiary of the trust treasuries. This editorial should bo placed before these republicans because it is in conceivable that men who depend for their in como upon tho sweat of their brow will knowing ly vote with a party that supports a system that is antagonistic to their Interests. Colonel Young says, "It is woll not to get on too high a horse in these political matters. It is better to bo just what youare; bettor not to got too poetical and idealistic." Colonel Young Is right in this. Evidently ho believes in tho trust system. Evidently ho Is willing that his party ' should avail itself of the. privilege of building up enormous campaign funds through the contribu tions of tho trust magnates; and ho is candid enough to admit It If It is true, as Colonel Young says, that Senator Funk and his associates know that "the vast amount of campaign funds allotted to Iowa in 189G came from protected interests," and that ho did not protest against theso contri butions, then Colonel Young has submitted to him an entirely pertinent question when, ho asks him whether he will advocate rejecting any part of such funds if it shall be offered In 1904? There are a great many people in the United States who do not happen to be personally ac quainted with Senator Funk who would bo keen ly interested in his answer to this question. If he would not advocate rejecting tho contributions of theso protected Interests, then ho ought not to object to a delivery of "tho goods," which, being interpreted, means such privileges at tho hands of tho republican congress as the trust mag nates may be inclined to demand. ; To the very interesting controversy raging in Iowa, the American people aro indebted -for Col onel Young's candid statement It is to be hoped, that this statement will be placed in the hands o'f every republican in the United States. Demo cratic papers may at least do their part in spread ing -the truth. ond city in tho United States has thus recorded itself on the side of a great and growing reform. Mr. Darrow shares with Mayor Harrison tho honors' of tho victory. As the leader of the Alt geld element of the Chicago democracy and as the special champion of municipal ownership his active sup'port was probably sufficient to draw enough votes from tho labor candidate to Harri son to win the day. The fact that Harrison and Darrow were together and were opposed by Hop kins is a hopeful sign to those who are anxious to take the party in Illinois out of the hands of tho reorganizes. Kansas City platform demo crats are both pleased and encouraged by Carter Harrison's success. JJJ Johnson's Victory. The democrats of the nation may be par doned If they give audible expression to tho sat isfaction they feel over Tom Johnson's victory in Cleveland. When it is remembered that Cleveland is the home of Mark Hanna and that Johnson's election menaced the business as well as the po litical welfare of Mr. Hanna, and when it Is fur ther remembered that all tho financial and cor porate Interests of the city were openly arrayed against him, Johnson's victory becomes the more remarkable. It proves both that Johnson is popular with the masses and that they are in favor of the reforms for which he stands and for which he has labored. Cleveland's mayor Is a brave fighter, an honest man and a good democrat It is fortunate for the party that it has such a leader in Ohio strength to his arm! His sturdy blows aro weakening tho republican stronghold. 4 i i V i'I i i & u i. v.. jgafauS.. Cr