Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-27
GORMAN' PLATFORM
Uttered by Maryland Demo
cratic Convention.
A CANDIDATES. VIEWS
TARIFF PLANK THE CHIEF FEA-
TURE OF INTEREST.
The Cry Of "Imperialism" Sounded
but Probably Will Not
Be Pressed.

spective candidate for the presidential nonli-
nation On the democratic ticket, had de-
clared himself only in d general way on the
great political issues upon which the presi-
Dental contest is to be waged. In the plat
form of the Maryland democratic state con-
vention, adopted at Baltimore yesterday
the democrats of the country are afforded a
more definite expression of Senator Cor
mans political views.
The maryland platform is the platform
which he would have the democratic ma
tional convention adopt and upon which he
would Re willing to go before the country
as the candidate for the presidency of the
party holding such political principles. That
Senator German intends to use his influence
in the national convention to secure recog-
milton Tor the Maryland plank was evidenc-
ed yesterday by this declaration to the con-
vention:
Il have believed and 1 now believe that
this little state of ours, with it's commercial
interests-the gateway between the sections
will exercise potent influence in restor-
ing the democracy to. power to its rightful
place at Washington. an influence greater
than that exercised by any other state
The Maryland platform will undoubtedly
be read With great interest by democrats all
over the country, especially by the national
delegates who will be called upon 10 weigh
Candidate German In the balance of their
favor. AS the cree is known by its fruits
they will be able to tell Candidate Gorman's
political principles by the fruits of this. his
tree. for the Maryland democratic conven-
ton was Arthur Pue Germans convention.
The Tariff Plank.
The section Of the platform which will
attract the largest share of attention is the
tarin plank. Mr.. German has been known
In the past as leaning toward a protective
tariff rather than to free trade. Witness
his action in the preparation of the Wilson
German tariff bill. when, with the aid of
FEW senatorial associates, he crammed
down the throat Of the House the measure
which the democratic executive stigma
tized as infamous and refused to sign
Senator German has stiffened up, If any,
thing, in his tariff views since those un-
happy days. His platform of yesterday
says:
1t tht democratic party) will revise the
tsriff in conservative spirit of fairness to
all interests. Its anxious purpose
will be to iegislate with such due regard
Tor the labor and capital involved In our in
3Cstrlal enterprises as to promote their
healthy growth and to carefully guard
against the infiction Of injury upon estab-
iished industries by abrupt. unjust and rad
ical measures"
That sounds pretty we'll to the repub-
licfns. But how Will II sound to the Champ
Clarks, the Bourke Cockrans and the other
lee traders who are now urging the de-
mocracy to take stand for the abolition
of customs houses from turret to founda-
ton stone?" At this moment Mr. Bourke
Cochran, who was sent to the breach by
the democrats in the House. in the closing
days of the past session their champion
is circulating 1O.0OOa copies of speech in
which he joins with Champ Clark, repre-
sentative of the democracy of the middle
IN ant hot he la,,
be purged of custom houses. And that SEN
timent was wildly applauded by the DEM
ocrats of the House.
Senator German will go to ST. Louis as
the champion of that species of tariff re-
vision. Undoubtedly he will be a member
of the committee on platform and will
plead earnestly for the Incorporation of
his idea into the national platform. The
free traders will be there. too, and the out
come will be watched with interest
Another of the German ideas upon which
there Is difference Of opinion in the demo-
cratic party Is his proposition with refer
ence to the isthmian canal. Senator Cor
man got out of step with his party at the
very outset of the march last winter. He
insisted on fighting the canal on the ground
that the concession was obtained by dis
honorable means on the part of this ma
ton. That charge was disproved. his demo-
cratic colleagues in the Senate dropped
away from him one by one while the demo-
Gratis of the House stood practically unan-
there were left only small group of SEN
ators who agreed with Senator German.
Returns to His Mutton.
In his platform Of yesterday Senator Cor
man goes back to his mutton. in these
words: I'VE cannot lose sight of the
disturbing fact that the methods under
which the the territory was acquired were
in defiant disregard of treaty law and OBJ
legations toward a sister republic too weak
to resist the ungenerous action of our gov
ernment."
| VIII the national convention follow SEN
ator German and try to grind with the
] water that has passed under the wheel? The
| isthmian canal is an assured fact now. Our
men are on the canal strip, 1t Is Uncle
| Sans territory. the Frenchmen and the
| Panamians have our gold in their belts
and Yankee picks and shovels are nyng or
the isthmus. What kind of back-trackfne
policy will appeal to the voters next No
| vember, who have been clamoring for ac
tion for years?
| From out the mouldering and mildewed
| heap of the wreck of the Kansas City plat
| form Senator German dragged a plank for
| his structure. The subhead of the platform
/ Is imperialism" The ultimate proposition
| is one of scuttle In the Philippines. long
| ago abandoned by the rank and file of the
| party, who have acquiesced In the Amerf
| can policy. VIII Senator German be able
| TO make any neadWay In the natlOnal con-
| vention with that plank?
The remaining features of his platform
| are devoted to general recrimination OF
| the republican party and President Roose.
| velt In that respect he is following recog-
nized tenets of the democracy, for notice
| has been served by other leaders that, lack.
| Ing strong and definite issues, general
| onslaught should be made on the repub-
/ licans on the charge of extravaganza, cor
| ruption and graft OF course. there are nc
| specifications IN the general charge
| Reviewing the German platform, 1t ap.
! pears therefore that the senator win de-
| pend mainly upon his tariff principles In ap-
| pealing for the favor OF the convention. As
! Grover Cleveland led his party to the ex.
| tremes of free trade. Senator German is
| setting his banner so close to the republic n
| lines Of protection that 1t is question
| whether his party will follow.