The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-19
California Platform for
Tariff Revision.
AN ANTITRUST PLANK
A Demand That the Federal Govern
ment Take Strong Measures to
Crush Combinations. Wall De-
feats Hearst in Wis
c0nSin.
consin.
(By the Associated Press )

Santa Cruz, Cal, May 17.-By a
majority of 10 votes the Democratic
State convention tonight instructed
the delegation to the national conven-
tion at st. Louis to vote for Congress-
man w. r. Hearst for president. The
vote stood:
For instruction, 365 against 346.
The day was consumed in attempt
ing to effect permanent organization,
drafting resolutions oratory and clear
ing the decks for a vote
During the morning and a portion
of the afternoon the headquarters of
the committee on platform and reso-
lutions was the scene of the contest.
The forenoon was spent in reaching a
decision on the declaration of princi-
pies. There was some unexpected de-
lay on the tariff plank. The plank
presented by the subcommittee to the
main committee was thought by some
to SAVIOR too much of Republicanism
and substitutes were proposed. The
matter was finally settled by refer
ring the plank to the subcommittee,
who agreed upon a plank satisfactory
to the convention. The platform as
adopted is in part, as follows:
The primal purpose of the tariff
must be the raising of sufficient reve-
nue. to carry on the government
economically administered.
'The difference between parties is
one of the degree of protection to be
afforded. The abolition of the tariff
on products of foreign countries is
not contemplated by the Democratic
party. Nor is it possible so long as
a tax on imports continues to be the
principal source of income of the gov
ernment.
Continuance of the present rate
of tariff tax, neither necessary for the
providing of revenue nor the equali-
zation of the difference between the
cost of production at home and
abroad, is unjustiiable, and it's sole
effect is to encourage the formation
in the United States of trusts and
monoDolies
"The fact that many of the princf-
pal products of the United States
manufactured by trusts and monopo-
lies, and which are protected against
competition by executive and unneces-
sary tax, are shipped to foreign market
and there sold at lower prices than
prevail in the markets of the United
States, justifies the Democratic party
in demanding that the Dingley bill
be promptly revised and that all un-
necessary and excessive rates be re-
6uced or abolised inthe interests or
the American consumer.
"The Democratic party pledges it
self to a careful and fair revision or
the existing duties levied on articles
similar to those produced by trusts
and industrial combinations and which
permit and encourage the creation of
monopolies."
Continuing. the platform says:
eve demand a strict and impartial
enforcement of all existing antitrust
laws and the enactment of such addi-
tional acts by Federal and State gov
ernments as will prevent the forma-
tion of monopolistic combinations and
trusts which control prices. We
believe that the Federal government
must assert such control over excessive
combinations of capital that the evils
of the trust system will be eliminated
without loss of advantage, which ac-
crued from a more perfect organiza-
ton of industry and trade"