The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-23
THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1904
A PLATFORM TO RUN ON


Framed to meet the exigencies of a
situation created by the masters of the
Republican party, the platform adopted
by the national convention at Chicago
yesterday is apparently made to run
on, not to stand upon. Declaring
fixed adherence to- the extreme tenets
of the doctrine Of protection, it throws
a sop to that large faction in the Re-
publican party which recognizes the
dangers with which the Dingley tariff
menaces the country by stating that
to a Republican president and a Re
publican congress only may be intrust-
ed the duty of making changes in the
tariff. The tariff revisionists are given
to understand by this that the presi-
dent may, when the time comes, in
augurate a movement looking to tariff
reduction. This is a sophism. The
convention is dominated absolutely by
the protected industries and the plat
form is clearly an avowal of an inten-
ton to adhere to the present tariff
schedules. If the Republican leaders
had any intention of revising the tariff
in accordance with the demand that is
so general throughout the West some
consideration would have been given to
Cummins, of Iowa, or Hansbrough, of
North Dakota. The standpatters had
the convention. Nine men, headed by
Henry Cabot Lodge, Of Massachusetts,
all committed absolutely to the inter-
ests of the men who hold the purse
strings of the party, framed the plat
form. They declare that protection is
a cardinal policy Of the Republican
party; they decline to admit that the
time has come to revise the schedules.
and they put quietus on the advo-
Gates of reciprocity by declaring for
reciprocal commercial ARRANGEMENTS
only when they can be made consistent
with the principles of protection.
The demand of the country, without
regard for party, for revision of the
present tariff and the establishment of
reciprocal trade relations with neigh
boring countries, is ignored. The over
towering influence of the protected in
dustries is shown in this, for it must
be clear to the men who stand for the
leadership of the Republican party that
there is a great majority of the people
of this country who favor trade extern
sion on reciprocal basis. For months
the Republican press of the West. at
least, has agitated for reciprocity.
For the rest the platform is negative.
1t has been provided as a perfunctorv
adjunct to a campaign in which the
candidates will frame policies as local
conditions demand them. Having
bound Roosevelt to perpetuate the mol
icy of a protective tariff. the men who
provide the money for the Republican
machine are willing to let him wander
at will afield.
The principles enunciated by the Re-
publicans in national convention make
it clear that no relief is to be had from.
the unjust, even criminal, exactions of
the tariff lords. The people must
look elsewhere for the means of eman-
cipating themselves from the thrall-
dom of the robber barons who exploit
the republic at their will under the
license of the protective tariff and the
eyes of the country will now be turned
upon the Democrats. Through the ST.
Louis convention may come the means
of salvation, and if the Democracy be
true to it's highest and best inspiration
this year the despoilers of the producer