The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-06
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOCRATS
OF INDIANA.

The Democrats of Indiana had con-
siderable difficulty in agreeing upon a
platform at their state convention
which met in Indianapolis on Wednes-
day, but the one they adopted is sat
| isfactory. It seems that mr.. Bryan
had some very enthusiastic friends in
the convention and they insisted upon
indorsing him and reaffirming the
Kansas City platform. In Indiana
there are very many Democrats who
think Mr.. Bryan has had his day. and
that he is likely to prove troublesome
in the next National Convention of
the Democratic party if given suffi-
cient encouragement. Indiana is also
the home of a very large number of
gold Democrats, and, as the silver
question seems to be dropping out of
sight, the Democratic leaders who con-
trolled the convention thought it would
be a great mistake to risk losing the
state in the state election for the sake
of d sentiment in favor of Mr.. Bryan
and the Kansas City platform. The
majority of the Committee on Resolu-
tions, therefore, insisted upon saying
nothing in favor of Mr.. Bryan or the
Kansas city platform, and the con-
vention sustained that position.
The platform is particularly strong
against trusts and the trust breeding
tariff. 1t denounces the Republican
party for favoring trusts and for not
giving the Interstate Commerce Com
mission power to punish railroads for
making determinations in freight
rates. There are good reasons for
thinking that the railroads favor
trusts, and give them advantages over
the small shippers. There ought to be
an inquiry, however, for the purpose
of determining whether or not they
are driven to adopt such a policy by
the fierce competition there is for bust
ness, and, if so, whether there ought
not to be legislation that would enable
the rilroads to act with entire freedom
and independence.
The platform favors an announce
ment by Congress at once to the effect
that. the Filipinos are to have their in
dependence just as soon as they can
be prepared for it. 1t also favors such
administration of Philippine affairs as
will prepare the Filipinos for self-gov
eminent in the shortest possible time,
the view being taken that the islands
cannot be retained permanently with
out imperiling our form of govern
&c ha ta1raf1 hV
Democrats in Congress, and doubtless
it will be the position taken by the
next Democratic National Convention.
A resolution of the platform that will
attract very general attention is the
one condemning the Governor of the
state for refusing to honor a requisi-
ton of the Governor of Kentucky. The
requisition was regular in every re-
spect, but the Indiana Governor took
it upon himself to say that the person
demanded by the Governor of Ken
lucky could not have a fair trial in
the latter state. If that position should
be taken by Governors of other states
it would be an easy matter for Of
tenders against the law to escape pun
ishment. OF course, politics was at
the bottom of the refusal of the In
diana Governor to honor the requisi-
ton of the Kentucky Governor. Par
tisan politics, however, should never
control officials in the discharge of
their official duties.
Indiana is good fighting ground for
Democrats, and it would not be at ell
surprising if they should carry that
state next fall