Milford chronicle., 1904-05-06
DISCUSSING
The PLATFORM
Republican Leaders Decide on Tariff
as Principal Feature.
RECIPROCITY AND THE TRUSTS

Washington, May 4.-The platform
to be adopted by the Republican ma
tional convention has been among the
topics discussed at the conferences that
have taken place recently at the White
House, in committee rooms at the capt.
tol and at different residences where a
number Of Republicans have been as
| sembled. Senator Lodge, who is slated
for chairman of the committee on reso-
lutions 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
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 principal feature of the platform
will be the tariff plank, which will de-
clare in the strongest terms the ad-
herence 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
mitted to any schedule, but that
changes should be made only when
changed conditions of business or the |
treasury render It necessary or ad-
visable. Persons present at the re-
cent conferences say It already has
been agreed that the tariff will be re-
vised in the 59th congress if the e.
publicans win in November.
There is at present a determination !
to make the platform as brief as possi-
Bile. consequently the endorsement of
the administration and the acts of the
party will be put in compact form. This
will 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-
ation Of monopolies and the restraint
Of conspiracy against commerce were
enacted by the Republicans, and that
he enforcement of such laws have been
)nly by Republican administration.
It also will say that it is not the policy
IT intention of the Republican party
o assail legitimate industry and busi-
less or to infringe on the rights of
,ersons or property. Special attention :
will be devoted to the phraseoIogy of =
his plank. :
Some difficulty has been experienced !
n finding the proper wording for a :
suggestion. Nearly all the o
enators who have attended the recent il
have contributed their 4
hare toward keeping the reciprocity Ii
reaties negotiated by the Mckinley y
closely confined in com II
littee pigeon holes. Reciprocity has N
OF been popular in congress, and it p
as with a great effort that the Cuban "
gislation was passed. W
Mention of the financial question will h,
insist Of an allusion to the mainte- r
lnce of the gold standard by the Re- II
lblican party and a promise to coE- w
nue. the finances of the country upon n,
sound basis. mr.
of the negroes in so
uthern states will be denounced as an is
croachment on rights guaranteed by be
e constitution. 10,
There are several other suggestions te,
to planks in the platform, but the m,
sire to have the platform as brief as fill
ssible may eliminate them from con-
eration as unnecessary at this time.