The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-02
New York Democrats Adopt Platform Meeting All Issues in MaSterIy StyIe-The Doc ufnent Is Pronounced a Vote Getter.
One Plank Provides for, Govern ment Ownership and Opera ton of Anthracite Coal Mines. Demands Tariff Revision.

Saratoga, N. Y, October 1.-The plat form as adopted by the democratic con- vention today calls for steadfast fidelity to American principles for the lack of which it arraigns the republican party. demands the return to the principles of Thomas Jefferson to stop demoralization of the country; opposes trusts that inju- riously affect consumer and employer and drive out small manufacturers. espe- cially condemns the so-called beef and coal trusts for .'unreasonably depriving the people of necessaries of life."
 Restriction of the accommodating of wealth is advocated and the amendment of the tariff law by placing the neces- sities of life on the free list is demanded. The Dingley tariff law Is condemned as a whole. The president is criticized for dilatory conduct and is accused of not wanting to offend the trusts.
 The platform asserts that the propo- sition to amend the United States con- stitution to enable the federal govern ment to proceed against the trusts, is a mere subterfuge to get delay; condemns the neglect of the national and state administration to enforce the sherman law. and the Donnelly state law; favors trade expansion but objects to this coun- try "aping England in trying to establish a colonial government" condemns the action of the government in it's treatment of the Filipinos; demands justice for Cuba in the matter of trade by reducing the tariff to a strictly revenue basis; de- mands public ownership of anthracite coal mines by the right of eminent do- main and the payment of full damages to owners, so as to ensure peace in the mining regions and relieve the consumer; arraigns the state administration for ex- | travagance in the administration of state I affairs; declares in favor of 100-ton barge canal; denounces the present state | excise laws and demands the return of all monies received to the county where | collected; sympathizes with the Jews in | Romania; favors the election of United States senators by direct vote; condemns the national administration for trading | judicial positions for state aid.
 The declaration regarding national own ership on anthracite mines is as follows:
 National Ownership of Mines.
 we advocate the national ownership and operation of the anthracite coal mines by the exercise of the right of eminent domain with just compensation to owners. Ninety per cent of the an- thracite coal deposits of the world being in the state of Pennsylvania, national ownership can be but in the interest of the whole people.
 Fuel, like water, being a public neces- sty, we advocate national ownership and operation of the mines as a solution of the problem which will relieve the coun try from the sufferings which follow diff ferences between labor and capital in the anthracite mines. This course will insure peace in the mining regions, and remove the cause for differences leading not only to suffering, but ofttimes to bloodshed and insurrection. It will relieve the con sumer of coal not only in this state but throughout the whole country; insure steady employment and ample compensa- tion to labor; transfer children from the mines to the schools; insure strengthen and preserve the stability of the busi- ness interests and popular institutions of our country. Whatever differences of opinion may exist over other propositions of public ownership, the propriety of the policy as applied to anthracite coal mines must be apparent to every citi- gen."
 Other blanks devoted to national topics were. in full as follows: Commercial free dom and revision of the tariff:
 Demands Revision of Tariff.
 We believe with Jefferson in commer- cial freedom. Tariff taxation like all other taxation should be limited to the neces- sities of the government economically ad- ministered It should be imposed for pub lie objects only, and never for private purposes. It is not the province of the government to abuse the power of taxa tion by enriching the few at the expense of the many. Protection 10 the consum- CTS from unjust tariff exactions IS the protection which the people demand: and the manufacturers of the country re- quire relief from imports upon their raw materials by increasing the cost of their product through their efforts to enter foreign markets.
 When tariffs are not needed for reve- nue they should be eliminated, and there. by extend and promote our market abroad. The policy of reciprocal trade is the traditional democratic policy and is in harmony with the spirit of the times.
 The period of exclusiveness is mast The expansion of our trade and com merce is the pressing problem.
 The immediate revision of the tariff Is the supreme duty of the hour.
 No unnecessary withdrawals of circu- lating medium.
 Contracts Circulation.
 we are opposed to any system of tax aticn that raises hundreds of millions of dollars more than is necessary to pay the expenses of the government and locks the same in the vaults of the treasury, there by contracting the circulating medium of the country that Is needed by the peo pie in the transaction of their business. creating stringency Tn the financial center of our country and compelling merchants and manufacturers to pay ex orbitant rates of interest.
 Trusts and Monopolies-The demo- cratic party is opposed to the gigantic corporate combines commonly known as trusts, which practically establish mon opolies, destroy competition, control the raw material and increase the price of finished product. thus injuriously affect ing both producers and consumers: thav lessen the employment of labor. arbi. trarily fix the terms and conditions there of and deprivate individual energy ann small capital of their opportunity for betterment. They effectually appropriate the fruits of industry to the benefit of few thousands at the expense of the many millions of the people. thus concen- trating wealth in certain limited classes