The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-04
DISCUSSING THE
 NEW PLATFORM Republicans Hold Numerous Caucusts at White House HAVE ARRANGED THt OUTLINE Among Other Things the Whole Ad- ministration Will Be Endorsed.
 Tariff Plank Is Principal
 Feature.
HAVE ARRANGED THt OUTLINE

Washington May 3.-The platform to be adopted by the republican national convention has been among the topics dis cussed at the conferences which have been taking place recently at the White House. in committee rooms at the capi- tol, and at different conferences, where a number of republicans have been as- sembled. Senator Lodge who is slated for chairman of the committee on reso- lutions at the convention, has prepared preliminary sketches of various topics that he thinks should be treated, and has submitted them to Senators and oth- CTS for their approval or suggestion as to amendment. It is expected that be- fore the convention meets, complete platform will be prepared which will have the approval of the President.
 The principal feature of the platform will be the tariff plank, which will de- clare in the strongest terms the ad- herence of the republican party to the principles of protection but will not bind the party not to revise the tariff. It will say that the party is not committed to any schedule. but that changes should be made only when changed conditions of business, or the treasury render it necessary, or advisable.
 Tariff Will Be Revised.
 Persons present at the recent confer ences say it already has been agreed that the tariff will be revised in the Fifty ninth congress if the republicans win In November. There is at present deter imitation to make the platform as brief as possible, consequently the endorse ment of the administration and the acts of the party will be put In compact form This endorsement will be a general ap- proyal of the course of the President and of the actions of the republicans in con- gress
 The plank concerning trusts in effec. will declare that the laws for the regu- latiopsof monopoles and the restraint Of conspiracy against commerce were en- acted by the republicans and that the enforcement of such laws have been only by republican administration. It will also say that 1t is not the policy or in- tention of the republican party to assai, legitimate industry and business. or to infringe on the rights of persons or prop erty. Special attention will be devoted to the phraseology of this plank
 Some difficulty has been experienced finding the proper wording for a reciproc- ity suggestion. Nearly all the senators who have attended the recent confer ences have contributed their share to- ward keeping the reciprocity treaties ne- gotiated by the Mckinley administration closely confined in committee pigeon holes. Reciprocity has not been popular in congress, and 1t was with a great ef- fort that the Cuban legislation was passed.
 Talked About Reciprocity.
 Senator Adrlch announced when the Cuban bill was under consideration that there would be no more tariff legislation by treaty. If anything Is said about reciprocity it will be so worded as to mean that reciprocity shall be confined to such articles as are not in competition with products of the United States.
 Mention of the financial question will consist of an alusion to the maintenance of the gold standard by the republican party and a promise to continue the finances of the country upon a sound tasis.
 Disfranchisement of the negroes in the southern states will be denounced as an encroachment on rights guaranteed by the constitution
 The demand for restoration of the mer- chant marine or the country will be re- newed, but 1t Is not the intention to en- dorse any specific plan. There are sev- eral other suggestions as to plans in the platform, but the desire to have the plat form as brief as possible, may eleminate them from consideration as unnecessary at this time.