The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-13
A PLATFORM.

This is about the time when men
obscure and unknown in the political
world, save probably within the con-
fines Of their OWL communities, under
take to gain prominence and have
their names coupled with those of
we'll known men or with party move
ments, for it is getting near the pc
Rod when discussion of platforms is
regarded as proper and timely. Men
OF that sort are not confined to any
one state or party. They are in all
parties and in all communities and
states and for a brief period they
have the satisfaction of seeing their
names in print and possibly their
ideas discussed, and their vanity is
satisfied.
One of these is Stephen M. Spark
man, a representative from Florida.
OF course, he is a democrat, and just
now a screed by himself, is making
the rounds of the newspapers in the
west made conspicuous by the fire.
quency with which appears in their
columns the line, Copyright, 1903,
w. R. Hearst" AS a platform build
er MI. S%parkman claims to be a little
better than a novice and will full
confidence in their worth he submits
plans and specifications for such a
structure and urges their adoption by
the democrats when next they meet
in national convention.
Like all good democrats who have
entered what appears to be a COM
petitive contest of platform construc-
ton he takes the tariff as the basis
of the structure he would rear, super
imposed by the trusts. He holds the
n responsible for the existence of
the other, Notwithstanding that his
tory records it that trusts obtained
during the halcyon days of the Will
son bill and Cleveland's Golden club
ideas. There should be no uncer-
tainty in the platform declarations
of the democratic party, either as to
tariff or as to monopolies. "They
should" he says, "be in line with its
we'll known attitude in the past upon
these questions"
Having provided in a general sort
of way for the superstructure, MI.
.Sparkman applies himself to the more
difficult and delicate task Of prepar-
ing specifications necessary for it's
completion. AS his premises he as
serts with the force of an axiom that
under our present economic and in
dustrial system there is an undoubt-
ed relationship between the prevail
ing tariff system and the trusts"
Arguing from this basis he says:
"Therefore, in addition to the gen.
eral demand for a return to the demo-
cratic theory Of a revenue tariff,
there should be a specific and urgent
demand for the immediate revision of
the tariff wherever the duties now
imposed furnish shelter to monopolles.
The platform should demand, not
only the removal of this tariff shelter
as a means of trust disestablishment,
but it should demand the enactment
of adequate prohibitory legislation
both for the purpose of dissolution
through the courts of these illegal
combinations, and Furnishing those
who are guilty of participation in its
violation. But all trusts and monop-
olies are not fed and supported BY
the tariff. There are combinations
of capital that have become, by rea-
son of their control of the markets.
practical monopolies which may not
be illegal organizations, or capable
of being reached by any proh1h1tory
or penal laws congress may constl-
tutionally pass or that it would be
wise under our dual system OF govern
ment to. enact. These combinations
are no less harmful and inimical to
the public welfare than monopolles
resulting from illegal organizations.
Our platform should demand that this
class of combinations be brought I'M
der government supervision and con-
troll"
In his next plank the distinguished
advocate of free trade and disciple
Of Cleveland gets mixed and apparent
" forgets what he has said in the pre-
ceding one. Only a few lines back,
it will be remembered. he makes a
demand for government supervision
and control of the illegal combina'
lions he declares have an existence,
thanks to the republican tariff. Still