The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-01
EDITED BY MR.. QUIGG
SENATOR FORAKER ALSO SAYS THE
PLATFORM WAS CHANGED.
Plank Concerning Territories Omitted
and Merchant Marine Declaration
Modified Without Authority.

NEW YORK, June Ex-senator J. b. For
aker. of Ohio, has given the Tribune a
statement regarding his knowledge OF what
was done by the subcommittee or resolu-
tons of the Republican national convention
when the platform was being framed. TIL
senator says the subcommittee had three
and probably four meetings before 1t re-
ported to the full committee. He says that
his knowledge of the action of the subcom-
mittee is confined, therefore, to the first
and second meetings. 1t may be remern-
bered that General Grosvenor. of Ohio,
charged that a certain plank in the plat
form. defining the power of Congress over
the territory of the United States, had been
approved by President Mckinley and had
been agreed to by the subcommittee on the
platform, but had been surreptitiously ex-
cluded in the final draft of the platform.
In his statement for publication in the
Tribune Senator Foraker says that at
neither one of the meetings he attended did
any one suggest that the plank asserting
the power of Congress to govern the terri
tories should be omitted, nor did any one
suggest that the plank in regard to the
merchant marine should be modified as II
was. The senator from Ohio knew nothing
about the changes and COMMISSIONS until he
read the platform as it finally appeared.
Senator Foraker's statement follows:
"The subcommittee had at least three and
probably four meetings before it reported
to the full committee. / attended only the
first two meetings and was not present
when the report was read to the full COM
mittea. All l know about the action of the
subcommittee is confined, therefore, to its
first and second meetings. At the first
meeting / read the draft that had been pre-
pared by Mr.. Smith and others. 1t consist
ed Of an extended recitation of the achieve
ments Of President Mckinley and an earn
est tribute TO him, followed by a number of
specific declarations in regard TO the finan-
cial question, the merchant marine, the au-
thority of Congress to govern acquired ter
ritory, pensions, etc.
There was considerable discussion as to
the exact language that should be employed
word flexible, which it was thought should
be omitted, and some little discussion-not
very much-as to the omission of the word
aid and the substitution of other language
therefor in the merchant marine plank. As
to the isthmian canal. a substitute was
offered by Mr.. Madden, which, together
with all these other changes to which 1
have referred. was, without any formal
vote. acquiesced In by the committee, If
not. as l supposed, accepted.
In view of the position taken by Mr..
QulSS as 10 the historical part or MIR.
Smiths draft. he was requested by the
committee TO put into form his idea of a
proper substitute therefore and in this con-
nection Mr.. Smiths draft together with
other propositions were turned over TO him
and the committee adjourned until Il
o'clock midnight. at which time he was to
report the result of his labors. AT that
hour the met for the second
time. Mr.. Quigg had not fully completed
his work, but he read TO the
what he had written and with some
changes of a minor character IL was with
out any formal vote accepted. and the COM
mittee adjourned until 3 o'clock in the
morning at which time Mr.. Quigg hoped to
be ready TO make a final report. At neither
one of these meetings (the first and second)
did anyone suggest that the plank asserting
the power OF Congress to govern the terri
tories should be omitted, nor did anyone
suggest that the plank in regard TO the
merchant marine should be modified, ex-
cept as above indicated. and I did not know
until after the platform had been reported
to the convention that the plank asserting
the power of Congress to govern the terri
tories had been omitted, or that the mer-
chant marine plank had been changed TO
the form in which Ii appears in the plat
form. Whether these subjects were dis
| cussed and acted on at the meetings of the
subcommittee, which / did not attend. /
| don't know. / learned of the matter for the
first time after the platform had been re-
ported 10 the convention and was published
in the newspapers. / did not know until
then that IL was intended on the part Of
any body to omit any of the special planks
or to make any material change in any of
them. 1 think the merchant marine plank
was stronger and better in it's original
form, but can understand how the subcom-
mittee may have preferred it in the form
adopted.
I'm view of the fight we had in Congress
with respect OF the power of Congress to
govern Porto Rico and our other insular
| acquisitions. l thought 1t highly appropriate
to insert a plank approving the position we
had taken and was very much disappointed
when / learned IL had been omitted. II l
had been present with the committee I
should nave opposed such omission. but i
was unavoidably absent. and for that rea-
son cannot say more about it,"