Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-07
Trouble About the Platform.

ST. Louis, June THE National Conyen-,
ton may have been harmonious and its
proceedings quiet, but so much cannot be
said Of the session of the Committee on
Resolutions. This committee was in ses-
sion until 2 o'clock yesterday morning, and
then it took a recess until O'Clock. de-
bate was kept up until afternoon. Mr..
German advocated for the tariff plank
reiteration of the revenue reduction clause
of 1884. and fayoring q reduction of inter
nal revenue taxes.
Mr. Watterson said he could not support
Senator Germans platform. He was will
ling to make concessions for the good of the
party, but he did not want the party TO go
before the country with an equivocal dec
laration upon the great subject of the hour
He would sacrifice doctrine to expediency,
bu he wouldlnot sacrifice principle. The
Presidents message had committed the
party to free trade, and any declaration
that was not in accord with the message
would discredit the party. 1t would place
the party in the position of having with
drawn from stand once taken. He
would accept the platform that the
Senator had proposed with some
notifications, and those would be in the
direction of an earnest and positive en-
dorsement of the message. He wanted the
plank in the platform so simple that 4
ClllAu NOulu Lit dsscTkSu
that an equivocal declaration would not
have the effect Of uniting the party. 1t
would eIaggerate the dissensions now ex-
isting. The platform of 1854 was proposed
and carried as a matter of expediency. 1t
was said then that the Democrats wanted
to get into power. Let them get into power
and then would declare for free trade.
They were in power, and now the Oppor-
tunity had come.
After Mr.. Watterson had concluded, Mr..
Scott of Pennsylvania, who was on the COM
mittee as proxy for Mr. Mutchler, made a
few remarks, after which the states were
called and each committeeman had some
thing to say ON the subject When New
York was reached Mr.. Edward Cooper
made q long speech suggesting compromise.
He advocated the adoption OF a substitute
for Mr.. Germans proposition which was
introduced by Mr. 0'Day, of Missouri, and
is as follows: Taxes including import du-
ties should be laid for the purpose of
raising the revenue necessary to
meet the needs of the general
Government administered economically;
that the building up Of one industry by
taxes or at the expense of another is foreign
to the true aims of free Government in
which all the people, as to their legal and
industrial rights, stand on an equal foot
ing We demand that war taxes levied in
times of peace for the private gain of the
few, thereby creating an aristocracy main
tanned by taxation, shall cease; that
our revenue laws shall be so amended
as 10 raise only the necessary mon-
eys for defraying the expenses of the
Government administered with strict fidel-
ity and economy. And that sugar and
other prime necessaries of life be placed
upon the free list, and that the moneys
raised to meet the needs of the Government
be levied off of the luxuries of life.
We heartily endorse the views of Presi
dent Cleveland on the tariff as expressed in
his message TO the present Congress and de-
clare the same TO be the true sentiment of
the Democratic party.
Just before o'clock yesterday the sub
committee took recess until p. m The
committee resumed its session about 6 p. m.
and arranged the details of the platform,
adjourning about 8 O'Clock. The platform
will be adopted as soon as the convention
meets to-day. The tariff plank reaffirms
the platform of 1884. endorses the last an
nuaf message of the President, declares it
the correct Interpretation of the platform
and approves and applaQds the efforts by
Democratic representatives in Congress TO
secure reduced taxation.
1t was agreed by the committee to offer q
supplemental resolution, commencing the
Mills tariff bill and urging the Democrats
in Congress to pass il as soon as possible.
Five minute speeches will be made ex-
planatory of the report of the Committee
on Resolutions, by Messrs. Watterson,
German, Albeit and Lehman, and at the
conclusion thereof the motion that the re-
port be accepted will be made. After the
committee adjourned, Mr. Henry Watt.r-
son, in reply to questions by representa-
of haf
the platform of 1884 was susceptible of
a double meaning, it was objectionable
to him; but accompanied, as it will be
in this case, with an approval of the Pres
idents message, it is acceptable.
The committee also agreed to report IA
vorable to the Convention on resolutions
presented by Mr. VIM. Dickson. of Wash
ington, ID. c., declaring for the principle
that federal officers for the Territories and
the District of Columbia should be chosen
from the residents thereof; also on resolu-
tions, offered by Mr.. Dickson, declaring
that the Territories should be admitted as
States as soon as qualified by population; !;
especially Montana, Washington, New
Mexico and Dakota.
Among the resolutions submitted to the
Committee on Resolutions yesterday after
noon, to be incorporated in the platform,
was one from 0'DonShue. of Tammany, eX-
pressing sympathy with the oppressed of
every land and especially in Ireland. 1t
received favorable reception, but after
some discussion il was desired to omit il from
the platform and allow it to be placed be-
fore the convention to-day as a separate
motion. The resolution reads as follows:
Resolved, That We express our sympathy
with the struggling people of nations in
their efforts To secure for themselves in the
Waeta sIrorld rho blaSSippS nf Self-gOyprn-
ment and civil and religious liberty. and
We especially declare our sympathy with
the efforts of those noble patriots, who, led
by Gladstone and Parnell, are conducting
so grand and peaceful a contest for home
rnle in Ireland