Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-03-18
stands in the way Of tariff reform for.

COul VI CdplUbl ouOulu Jul.
tinue to be the democratic position.
The Monroe doctrine, first annuci-
ated by democratic president, should
remain a settled policy of this repub-
lie.
We believe in hard money-the mon
ely Of the tion-and are unal-
terably opposed to irredeemable paper
currency.
If any further enunciatlon of demo-
cratic policy upon the financial ques-
tion is regarded as necessary in view
of the existing monetary condi tionS,
laration in favor of the general prin-
ciple of bimetallism furnishes COM
mon ground upon which all can stand. ,"
He is sound on Imperialism, but the
Kansas City platform is stronger,
clearer and more explicit than his.
His advice to Eress tariff reform comes
with bad grace from one who as a
democratic senator refused to support
the only tariff reform measure passed
since the civil war. AS his silence in
1895 contributed to the success of the
most conspicuous high tariff advocate
in the nation it is evident that his
hostility to a protective tariff is Of
recent and sudden growth. AS for
reciprocity, republicans favor it where
it will do no good, and democrats favor
a tariff reform that will largely remove
the necessity for reciprocity.
The "strict construction" doctrine
is democratic, but it affords almost as
much latitude for individual action
as plank declaring that each person
should always do what he thinks is
right.
1t is to be hoped the senate will act
favorably upon the resolution propo-
sing an amendment to the constitution
providing for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people. lift does this the only def
mite and specific plank in Mr.. bill's
platform will present an issue already
settled. The Monroe doctrine is not
in dispute; it is accepted by all parties
and Roosevelt's latest message re-
moves the question from the domain
OF partisan politics.
Opposition to dangerous corporate
combinations of capitaln is entirely
too vague and indefinite. The last re-
publican platform was stronger than
that, and yet Mr.. Knox is the attorney
general. MT. Cleveland was much
more emphatic in his condemnation
of trustsand yet he did nothitg to dis
turb them. There is notagreat trust
in the country that would refuse to
contribute literally to the democratic
campaign fund if the party would
adopt Mr.. Hills antitrust plank and
then allow the trusts to select the
candidate.
The ST. Paul Globe-A paper owned
by Mr.. j. j. Hill, the head Of the
great railroad cembine-has already
published an editorial booming ex-Sen-
ator Hill, and the reason given for his
nomination was that he could not be
controlled by the corporations. This
is fair sample Of corruption politics.
What is dangerous corporate COM
bination?" Is.any party likely to de-
clare 10 favor of such thing? II not
how can Mr.. HIPS platform present
an issue?
But the money plank of Mr.. Hills
proposed platform is the most unique.
one. "Ne believe in hard money!
How alluring such a platform would
look to an artful dodger. A man
could stand on that platform and adj
vocate gold, silver, nickel or copper,
andafter election declare that "hard
money" simply meantmoney that was
hard to get. While Mr.. Hill's money
plank may mean anything or nothing
SO far as metallic money is concerned
he wants it understood that he is "un-
alterably opposed to irredeemable pa
per money" AS the republican party
does not advocate 'irredeemable pa
per money it is evident that Mr.. Hill
is not striking at the republicans. He
is simply trying to get even with the
popullsts who supported the democrat
ic ticket when he sulked and skulked.
He can forgive the gold democrats " no
voted the republican ticket and swal-
lowed high tariff, Imperialism and the
trusts in order to keep the New York
financierS Ia control of the federal
treasury, but he is not willing to for
give the populists who were patriotic
enough to come to the rescue of the
democratic party in its hour of need.
Mr.. Hill adds that IF--anything
further is necessary on the money
question "a simple declaration in ia
vor of the general principle of bimet-
alism" would answer the purpose.
The simple declaration would enable
a dishonest man to advocate bimetal-
lism before election day and then
after the election, place republican
construction on the word bimetallism
and support legislation intended to
fasten the gold standard upon the
country. Mr.. Hill has no word of
condemnation for the "asset currency
or the ''branch bank" He has moth
ing to say against banks of issue or
against the plan to make the silver
dollar redeemable in gold. He plays
l ftanp os% - y L.