The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-07

| motion. which '. as adopted. that the chair
man appoint II subcommittee of nine. the
chairman to be an x-off1cio member 10
draft platform and submit it to the
whole committee for ratification. The
chairman delayed appointing the commit
| tee until the evening session.
| John Sharp Williams, leader of the
| Democrats in the lower house of Congress
and Missssippi's representative on the
the committee in printed form a copy OF
| the platform as drafted by him.
WILLIAMS'S PLATFORM
DEMANDS ECONOMY.
Mr.. Wiliams's platform demands. first,
economy III Federal administration. and to
that end the cutting OF of all unnecessary
and imperialistic expenditures.
Honesty in the public service is de-
handed and with II legislative iuvestiga-
Il n of the executive departments of the
Government known or believed to be cor
| rupt. and the punishment of those guilty
OF corruption. The platform suggests that
the Government should not permit itself
10 be robbed by entering into contracts
| with trusts.
The nomination and election of a Presi-
dent trained In the ways of the Constitu-
| tion is favored
| The tariff plank favors "a wise, con-
| servative and businesslke revision and re-
| duction of the tariff by the friends of the
| masses and Of the common veal, and not
| by the friends of its abuses 1t declares
| that the constitutional purpose of taxa
| ton laws is the raising of revenue to
| support the Government in its integrity,
| but in republican simplicity, and that due
regard should be paid to actually exist
| ing conditions. however wronsfuily
brought about.
The plank favors the reduction of tar
| to the point where foreign competition
| may enter the American market. when
ever trusts and combines. seeking monop-
| oily. raise their prices TO the American
| consumer above reasonable and just
] profit"
The Washington policy of Friendly re-
! lations with all nations and entangling
alliances with none" is favored. and 1t is
| proposed to secure as far as possible
| reciprocal legislation With other nations
| may be secured for the country's pro-
| ductions More friendly trade relations
| with Canada is considered especially de-
| sirable..
MAINTENANCE OF MONROE
DOCTRINE IS FAVORED.
The maintenance of the Monroe Doc
| trlne is favored. but it is not considered
| necessary that the United States shall
| administer the affairs of Central and
South America.
The foreign policies of President Roose-
| Welt are severely criticised. His utterances
| by letter to former Secretary Root on the
second anniversary of Cuban independ-
| epce. in which was an intimation that 1t is
the divine order that the United States
turoed countries. are considered reprehen-
sihle
We especially resent says the plat
| form, the doctrine Of President Roose-
| Welt that it is or can be the purpose Of
the United States to convert its army or
navy into constabulary for the purpose
ee Of collecting debts due by Central and d
countries or even to citizens of the Amer
ican Republic
The preservation. so far as possible. of
a fnr he Nn
In the Orient without unnecessary en-
| tanglement in foreign affairs. is favored.
The policy of colonial exploitation and
| absolutism, no matter where or by whom
| invoked. is denounced, and it is declared
that ''all men under the American flag
are entitled to the protection of the insti-
unfit for these institutions, then they are
unfit to be members Of the American body
polite.
ENFORCEMENT OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE LAWS.
The platform favors the enforcement
without fear or favor OF the interstate
commerce and antitrust laws, leaving to
the Congress the duty Of amending them
If needful and also the enactment of laws
to put an end to unjust discrimination
and favoritism extended by common car
rigrs TO ] trusts in restraint ara 10 Of ira Trade Gor
ment to national banks is declared in
iquitous.
A declaration is made that immediate
payment of the noninterest- t-bearing debt
of the country is not necessary.
The issuance OF interest-beRring bonds
when the Government has the money in
the Treasury or in bonds sufflcient TO pay
its expenses Is opposed.
Liberal appropriations for public works,
especially In the interest of navigation
with the view of cheapening transporta-
ton. is favored.
The reduction of the army, the main
tenance and liberal annual Increase of the
navy and the upbuilding OF merchant
marine ara favored.
Laws giving labor and capital impair
TALLY their just rights are favored.
Statehood for Okla ahoma and the Indian
Territory and for New Mexico and ter
ritorial government for Porto Rico are all
favored.
heroes who have served the country in
time of need, like Schley and Dewey, than
has been accorded them by the Repub-
lican administration, Is favored.
The negro question Is thus dismissed:
I'VE do not sympathize with those who
desire. or who would not by all lawful and
constitutional means prevent % the african
community within the bounds of the
American Republic"
Regret is expressed for the reckless dis
regard of the President for the usages of
International law in his dealings with the
Republic of Colombia.
Attention is called to the fact that
Democratic votes in the Senate saved the
Panama Canal treaty though a wide
divergence is declared to exist between the
Panama Republic question and the Pana-
ma Canal question. The building of the
canal Is called for. 1t Is also promised
that the Democratic party will speedily
and economically construct the canal. CIV
ing to the country that for which the
Democrats have so long contended-an in
teroceanic canal
PLATFORM PREPARED
by POE OF MARYL AND,
The platform presented by MIR. Poe of
Maryland follows: