The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-05-14
MAKING UP THE PLATFORM.
Republican Leaders Busily Engaged
In Drafting Declaration Of
Principles.

Wdohih6tohp way We ihC piotiOim
to be adopted by the republican ma
tional convention has been among the
topics discussed at the conferences
which have taken place recently at
the white house, in committee rooms
at the capitol and at different resi-.
dences where a number of republicans
have been assembled Senator Lodge,
who Is slated for chairman of the com.
mittee on resolutions at the conven-
ton, has prepared preliminary
sketches of various topics that he
thinks should be treated and has sub
mitted them to senator's and others
for their approval or suggestion as to
amendment. 1t Is expected that be-
fore the convention meets complete
platform will be prepared which will
have the approval Of the president.
The Tariff.
The principal feature of the plat
form will be the tariff plank, which
will declare In the strongest terms the
adherence of the republican party to
the principles of protection, but will
not bind the party not to revise the
tariff. 1t will say that the party Is not
committed to any schedule, 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
conferences cay it already has been
agreed that the tariff will be revised
in the Fifty ninth congress If the re-
t.. x1NAv.
There Is at present determination
to make the platform as brief as pos
sible, consequently the Endorsement Of
the administration and the acts of the
party will be put in compact form.
This Endorsement will be general APP
proval of the course of the president
and of the actions of the republicans
In congress.
The Trusts.
The plank concerning trusts in eff
feet will declare that the laws for the
regulation of monopolies) and the re-
straint of conspiracy against COM
merce were enacted by the republi-
cans and that the enforcement Of such
laws have been only by republican
administration. 1t also will say that
1t is not the policy or intention Of the
republican party to assail legitimate
industry and business or to infringe
on the rights Of persons or property.
Special attention will be devoted to
the phraseology of this plank.
Reciprocity.
Some difficulty has been experienced
in finding the proper wording for
reciprocity suggestion. Nearly all the
senator's who have attended the re.
cent conferences have contributed
their share toward keeping the reel
procity treaties negotiated by the Nc.
Kinley administration closely con-
fined in committee pigeon holes. Re-
ciprocity has not been popular In con-
gress and 1t was with a great effort
that the Cuban legislation was passed.
Senator Aldrich announced when the
Cuban bill WAS under consideration
| that there would be no more tariff leg
islation by treaty. II anything is said
about reciprocity 1t 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.
Other Topics.
Mention of the financial question
will consist of an allusion to the main
tenance of the gold standard by the
republican party and 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 inten-
ton to ind8r(R any specific plan.
There are several other suggestions
as to planks 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.
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