The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-04
PLATFORM g REPUBIy'.zANS zS Rough Draftss s0f Various R iks. WILL NOT "STAND PAT" Necessity for Tariff Revision
 Will Be Recognized. Disfranchissment of the Negro will Be Condemned as Encroachment
 on Rights Guaranteed by
 ths Constitution.
WILL NOT "STAND PAT"

Washington, May 3.-The platform to be adopted by the Republican Na- tional Convention has been among the topics discussed at the conferences which have been taking place recently al the White House, in committee rooms at the Capitol. and at different conferences where a number of Re- publicans have been assembled.
 senator Lodge, who Is slated for chairman of the Committee on Resolu- tions at the convention, has prepared preliminary sketches of various topics that he thinks should be treated, and has submitted them to Senators and others for their approval or suggestion n as to amendment. It Is expected that before the convention meets a com plete platform will be prepared which Will have the approval of the Presi- dent.
 The Tariff Plank.
 The principal feature of the platform will be the tariff plank, which will de- clare in the strongest terms the adhe- renee of the Republican party to the principles of protection, but will not bind the party not to revise the tariff. It will say that the party is not com mitted to any shedule, but that changes should be made only when changed conditions of business or the Treasury render it necessary or advis- able.
 Persons present at the recent confer ences say 1t already has been agreed that the tariff will be revised in the Fifty-ninth Congress If the Republi- cans win In November. There Is at present determination to make the platform as brief as possible. conse- quently the endorsement of the admin istration and the acts of the party will be put in compact form. This endarse1 ment will be general approval of the course of the President and of the ac- tions of the Republicans fin Congress.
 Concerning Trusts.
 The plank concerning trusts in effect will declare that the laws for the reg ulation of monopolies and the restraint Of conspiracy against commerce were enacted by the Republicans and that the enforcement of such laws have been only by a Republican admins tration. It also will say that it is not the policy or intention of the Re- publican party to assail industry and business, or to infringe on the rights of persons or property. Special atten- tion will be devoted to the phraseology of this plank
 Some difficulty has been experienced in finding the proper wording for a reciprocity suggestion. Nearly all the Senators who have attended the recent conferences have contributed their share toward keeping the reciprocity treaties negotiated by the Mckinley administration closely confined in com mittee pigeon holes. Reciprocity has been been popular in Congress, and 1t was with a great effort that the Cuban legislation was passed.
 No Tariff by Treaty.
 Senator Aldrich announced when tho be no more tariff legislation by treaty If anything Is said about reciprocity, it will be so worded as to mean that reciprocity shall be confined to such articles as are not in competition with products of the United States.
 Mention of the financial question Will consist of an allusion to the mainten- ance of the gold standard by the Re- publican party and a promise to con- tinue the finances of the country upon a sound basis.
 Disfranchisement of the negroes in Southern States will be denounced as an encroachment on rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
 The demand for restoration of the merchant marine of the country will be renewed. but 1t is not the intention to endorse any specific plan.
 There are several other suggestions as to blanks in the platform, but the desire to have the platform as brief as possible may eliminate them from con sideration. as unnecessary at this time.