The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-07-07
Maine Republican, Platform.
The following Ia the platform adopted
The Renuhlican party stands for:


The Republican party stands for
Protection which safeguards American
well-paid labor against the competition Of
cheap foreign labor. The Democratic party
stands for free trade and the wholesale intro
duction of foreign products into our home
market. In the cause Of home labor the Re
publican party wages an open, aggressive and
relentless war against the Democratic party
1t upholds the tariff legislation of Mckinley
and Dingley, which has induced capital 10 in
vest, as never before, in home industries has
given well paid employment to American
labor, and has, besides building up a home
market which has become the wonder Of the
world, expanded our foreign trade - an eG-
tent never equalled in our history.
sound currency, with gold as the basis
which has given to labor and to business more
money and better money than the country
has ever before enjoyed Upon this issGe il
opposes free silver, fiat money, state banks
and every form Of financial heresy and Bryan
ism with which the Democratic party has
threatened and still threatens the prosperity
of the American people.
The reciprocity OF Blaine and Arthur and
Harrison and Mckinley and Dingey, which
covers the interchange with foreign countries
of articles which we do not produce, and our
own products needed in such countries. 1t
opposes suSh reciprocity with Canada as will
flood our markets with Canadian lumber, fish,
hay, potatoes and other farm products, as II
would seriously embarrass many of Names
important industries, and especially that Of
agriculture. Under present arrangements our
trade with Canada is constantly increasing,
with the balance largely in our favor. We
believe in letting well enough alone.
Proper aid by the general government in
building up the American merchant marine,
to the end that our great commerce shall be
carried largely in American built and Ameri-
can manned ships
\ Republican administration has given to
the country in the last four years great navy,
which should be maintained at sufficient
strength to uphold the honor Of the flag and
TO protect our citizens the world over.
1t has brought into the family of nations
the new republic of Cuba, has withdrawn
from that republic every United States soldier,
a ter establishing conditions which have made
the way clear for the the successful admins
tyation of a republican form Of government.
1t has maintained SO far as is practicable,
condition of peace in the Philippine islands,
has gradually introduced good government
there, has fostered public schools and public
Improvements, and in due time will, as pre-
dieted by cx-Secretary Root in his speech to
the Chicago convention, follow the same
policy in these islands that has been follow
ed in Cuoa.
1t has made possible the building Of the
Panama interoceanic canal, has undertaken
the task of building it, and has accomplished
this without strife or bloodshed.
1t has passed and is now executing laws for
the protection of labor, and for the scrutiny
and restraint of great corporations, monopo-
lies and trusts.
We heartily commend the administration Of
the affairs of the state by Gov. Hill, with a
tax rate OF only "a mills, and with half the
towns in Maine receiving more money from
the state for school purposes than they paid
into it in taxes, there remained in the treas
ury at the close of 1903 the largest cash bal
ance in its history. Every temporary loan
has been paid, aud the principal of the bond
ed debt had been reduced during the year
1908, $4,000 which has been followed in the
present year by further reduction of $780,
coo, without a dollar of tempora. loan, thus
making Gov. Hills administration one of
debt reduction and tax reduction. The bur
dens OF our state government are now borne
in Ia gsr measure than ever before by great
corporate interests many Of which are locat-
cd outside of the state. This policy we COM
mend and mean to maintain. The finances
of the state are today in better condition than
they have been for 30 years, and state taxes
are lighter than they have been at any period
since the close of the civil war.
Upon this record we ask the people Of
Maine for their continued confidence and sup
port.
The Republican party demands the faithful
and mpal tial enforcement of the laws of the
state which prohibit the manufacthre and
illegal sale of intoxicating Liquors, and we in
sist on the positive action to this end Of every
public officer, The duties of whose Office re-
quire enforcement Of these laws.
We highly commend the course of our sena
tors and representatives in Congress and fully
appreciate their high standing and influence
in legislation and extend TO them this expires
sion of our hearty approval.
We declare ourselves as opposed to the
present fee system for state and county Off.
GERS and pledge our support to the passage OF
a law abolshing the fee system and placing
all state and county officers on a fixed salary.
We have full confidence in the ability in
teg ity, coulase ard patriotism of President
Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks, and we
pledge to them our cordial and earnest sup
port at the national election.
We heartily indorse the nominee OF this
convention, as our candidate for Governor,
and pledge him our united and hearty sup
port at the polls.