The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-05
REPUBI ICAN
PLATFORM
WILL BE a VERY BRIEF OOcU-
MENT-PRoTEcTI WILL BE
THE KEYNOTE WITH reel
PROCITY WELL TO THE
'FRONT.'.
SENATOR LODGE, OF MASSACF u
SETS, is PREPARING SKETCH.
THE PRELIMINARY HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO THE
PRESIDENT.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. May 5.-The
pIa torn to be adopted ny the ReDub-
lican National Convention has been
among the topics discussed at The con-
fe-ences which have taken place re-
Gently at the White House, in com
mittee rooms at the Capitol and at
different residences where a number
of Republicans have been assembled
Senator Lodge, who is slated Tor
Chairman of the Committee or Reso-
lurions at the con: en- zion. has pre-.
pared preliminary sketches OF various
topics that he thinks should be treat
ed, and has submitted Them to Seha-
tors and others for their approval or
suggestion as to amendment 1t is
expected that before the convention
meets complete platform viii be
prepared which will have the approval
of the President
The Principal Feature.
The principal feature Of The plat
form will be the tariff plank, which
will declare in the strongest terms
the adherence Of the Roruh'ican par
ty to the principles of protection. but
y W
the tariff. It will say that the party
is not committed to any schedule, tut
that changes should be made only
when changed business conditions or
the Treasury render it necessary or
advisable. Persons present at the O.
cent conferences say it already has
been agreed that the Tariff will be
revised in the Fifty-rinth Congress
if the Republicans win IN November.
There is at present determination
to make the platform as brief as pos
si1le, consequently the Endorsement
of the Admi nj stration and the Gets
OF the party will be pat in compact
form.
This Endorsement will he a general
approval OF the course Of the Presi-
dent and of the actions OF the Repub-
1icans in Congress.
The plank concerning combines in
effect will declare that the laws for
the reduction o. monOpclieS and the
restraint OF conspiracy, against coIl-
merce was enacted by the Republi-
cans and that the enforcement OF such
laws have been only by Republican
adminiSt ration. 1t also will say that
it is not the policy CT intention Of the
Republican party to assail legitimate
industry and business or to infringe
on the rights OF persons or property.
Special attention viii DC devoted to
the phraseooSS Of this plank
The Reciprocity Plank.
SC,Ie difficulty has been experience
ed in finding the prore- wording for
g reciprocity suggestion. Nearly all
the Senators who have attended the
recent conferences have contributed
| their share toward keeping the reci-
procity treaties negotiated by The Nc
E;nley administration closely confln-
ed III committee pigeon holes. Reel
procity has not been popular in Con
sresS and it was with Il great effort
that the Cuban legislation was passed.
Senator A}irich announced when
the Cuban Bill was under consilera-
ton that there would be no more
tar if legislation by treaty. If any
thing is said about reciprocity it will
be SO worded as to mean that reci-
proci1y shall be confined To slch ar
ticles as are not in competition with
products of the United States.
Mention OF the financial question
will consist of an allusion 10 the m:ain-
tenance of the gold standard by the
Republican party and promise TO
continue the finances OF the country
upon a sound basis.
Disfranchiselnent Of ;he negroes in
Southern States will be denounced as
an encroachme lent of the rights gu2raa-
reaI hy rho cf,r1Sri1IlriOD
The demand for restoration OF the
merchant marine of the country viii
De. renewed. bat it is not the intention
TO indorse any specific pan.
There are several other suggestions
as 10 planks in the platform, but the
desire TO have the platform as b1 ict
as possible may eliminate them from
considera ton a. Unnecessary at this
time.