Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-04
PLATFORM PLANKS.
Forecast Of the Coming Repub-
Iican National Convention.
Principal Feature Will Be Plank Re-
lating to Tariff.
Dissemination to Make Platform as
Brief as Possible.

Washington. May 3.-The platform
to be adopted by the Republican
| national convention has been among
the topics discussed at the conferences
when nave taken place recently at the
White House. in committee rooms at
the capitol and at different residences
where n number of Republicans have
assembled.
Sen. Lodge, who is slated for chair
man of the committee on resolutions
at the convention has prepared pre-
liminary sketches of various topics that
he thinks should be treated and has
submitted them to Senators and others
for their approval or suggestion as to
amendment.
1t Is expected that before the con-
vention meets, complete platform will
be prepared which will have the ap-
prevail of the president.
The principal feature of the platform
will be the tariff plank, which will de-
clare in the strongest terms the adj
hereDce 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 COM
fnitted to any schedule, but that
changes should be made only when
changed conditions of business or the
treasury render it necessary or ad-
visablc.
Persons present at the recent con-
ferences say it already has been agreed
that the tariff will be revised in the
in November.
There is determination to make the
platform us brief as possible, conse-
quently the endorsement of the admin
istration and the acts of the party will
be put in compact form. This endorse
ment will be a general approval of the
course of the president and of the ac-
tions of the Republicans in Congress
The plank concerning trusts in eff
feet will declare with the laws for the
regulation of monopolies and the re-
straint of conspiracy against commerce
were enacted by the Republicans and
that the enforcement of such laws have
been only by 4 Republican administra-
ton.
1t also will say that it is not the
policy or the intention Of the Republic
can party to assail legitimate industry
of persons or property. Special atten-
ton 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
not been properly in Congress and it
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. 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 Unit
ed 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 promise to con-
tinue the finances Of the country on a
sound basis.
Disfranchisement of the negroes in
Southern states will be denounced as
an encroachment on rights guaranteed
by tine constitution.
The demand for restoration of the
merchant marine of the country will
be renewed but it is not the intention
to endorse 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