The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-05-07
TARIFF THE MAIN Issue
Republican Leaders Discuss Various
Topics For National Platform.
WILL BE AS BRIEF As POSSIBLE

Whit De - DRiEF ~ Y S~'S -
Tariff viii Be Revised By 5sth Con-
sress " Republicans win-Reeiproe'
ity 4 Stumbling Block Fer the Con
ferees.
Washington. May 4.-The platform
20 be adopted by the Republican IA
tional convention has been among th6
topics discussed az the conferences that
have taken place recently az the White
House. in committee rooms az the capi-
tol and at different residences where a
number Of Republicans have been as
sembied. Senator Lodge. who is slated
for chairman of the commits'e on resO-
lutions a. the CONVERSION. has prepared
preliminary sketches Of various topics
that be thinks should be treated, and
has submitted them 20 senators and
others Tor their approval or suggestion
as 10 amendment u Is expected that
before the convention meets a com
plete platform Will be prepared which
will have the approval Of the presi-
dent
The principal feature Of the platform
will be the tariff plank which Will DE-
clare In the strongest terms the All
herence OF the Republican party 20 the
principles of protection but Will not
bind the party not 20 revise the tariff
Il will say that the party IS NOT COM
mitted 90 any schedule bat that
changes should BE- made only when
changed conditions OF business or the
treasury render IL necessary or al
yisable. Persons present al the To-
cent conferences say il already has
been agreed that the tariff viii be re-
vised in the 5sth congress If the g
publeans win Ia November
There is az present a determination
70 make the platform as brief a. possi-
bic. consequently the endorsement or
the administration and the acts OF the
party will b. put in compact form. This
endorsement VIII BE- a general approval
OF the course OF the president and Of
the Republicans in congress
The plank concerning trusts In effect
will declare that the laws for the regu-
latiOn 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 administration.
Il also will say that IL Is not the policy
or intention u the Republican party
10 assall legitimate industry and busi-
ness or 10 infringe on the rights OF
persons or property. Special attention
will be devoted 20 the phraseology OF
this plank
Some difficulty has been experienced
in finding the proper wording for
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 popular In congress, and Il
was with 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
legislation by treaty. II anything Is
said BY reciprocity IL Will be so worded
as TO mean that reciprocity shall be
confined 70 such articles as are not in
competition with products OF the United
States.
Mention OF the financial question will
consist OF an aIlusion 20 the mainte-
nance OF the gold standard by the Re-
publican party and a promise to con-
tinue the finances Of the country upon
a sound basis, 1
Disfranchisement Of the negroes In
southern states will BE- denounced as an
encroachment on rights guaranteed by
the constitution
There are several other suggestions
as to planks ~ the platform. but the
desire TO have the platform as brief as
possible may eliminate them from con-
sideration as unnecessary at this time.