New-York tribune., 1904-08-13
CANDIDATE AND PLATFORM.

Judge Parker IN his speech at Esopus Iast
Wednesday described the Democratic nauonai
nla+form as "admira BILE" He intended his near
ers m thinb-apd rightly-that the platform was
an admirable one TO stand on, though rom
an examination of his speech one might DC
tempted 10 believe that he felt It was an Au-
mjrable" platform to run away from. Indeed,
ON most of the positive and important issues OF
the campaign Judge Parker showed hlnlseH
rather awkwardly out Of touch with the party
which gave him its Presidential nomination
The Democratic candidate referred at Rose
mount with becoming modesty to his success IN
forcing on the national convention vague ana
indirect expression OF opinion on the money
question The convention refused TO recant or
modify its free silver coinage declarations OF
1Sa6 and 1900; but driven to the wall, It con-
sented 10 let Judge Parker run for the Presi-
dencv on the undcrs nding that he personally
had been converted since 1900 to the single gold
standard. Judge Parker noted, but did not dis
cuss- This divergence Of opinion. He did not pre-
tend that his own views and those OF the con-
vention on this issue had been or could be, har-
monized.
The national platform denounced protection as
"a robbery Of the many to enrich the few II
demanded tariff limited 10 the needs OF the
government economically administered"-tha
IS. presumably, a tariff for revenue only. Judge
a
eral issue OF tariff for revenue or tariff for pro-
lection. He merely criticised the inequalities OF
the present rates, and INDUCED the hope" that
''some measure OF relief" might be given by the
joint action of 4 Democratic House Of Repre-
sentatiyes and a Republican Senate. He is ap-
parently willing 10 tolerate the robbery" OF
protecton-at least until the Presidential can
vass is over. II elected, however he would
have to yield, as Mr.. Cleveland yielded. TO party
German anti-tariR crusade
The Democratic platform attacked the trust
issue with q good deal Of herceness. It said.
among other things:
We demand an enlargement Of the powers OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
We demand strict enforcement Of existing
civil and criminal statutes against all trusts,
combinations and nonopoes: and we demand
the enactment Of such further legislation as
may be necessary to effectually suppress them.
Anv trust or llnla VFllI ombina tior engaged Il,
Interstate commerce which is monopozing any
branch Of business or production should not be
permitted to transact business outside the State
OF its oriSin. Whenever il shall be established
I'm any court Of competent jurisdiction that such
monopolization exists. such prohibition should
be enforced through comprehensive laws TO be
enacted on the subject
Judge Parkcr's comment on this declaration IS:
What is needed is not so much other and diff
ferent laws as officials having both the disposi-
ton and the courage to enforce existing law
IT Democratic candidate. while posing as an
Cnt my OF tie trusts not only belittled the party's
Ge nand for aggressive antitrust legislation, but
also carefully avoided approving the contentious
On which the Supreme Courts Northern Securi-
tics decision was based
The Democratic platform insists that two
"ought to do for the Filipinos what we have
dome already for the Cubans"; that we ought
to promise at once TO set them upon their feet
free and independent TO work out their own
destiny" Judge Parker says nothing about
| freedom" or Independence" He fatty de-
| clares:
The accident OF war brought the Philippines
into our possession and we are not at liberty to
disregard the responsibility which thus came to
| us; hut that responsibility will be best sub
possible for self-government, and giving them
| the assurance that IT Will come as soon as they
are reasonably prepared for IT.
But though he broke with the platform on
these four important issues Judge Parker knew
| that he could not escape the associations 10
| which his candidacy condemned him. He rec.
ognized that his personal views must in the end
| yield 10 the fixed doctrine of the organiza ton
| which he serves-that its viii must be law In
Democratic legislation or Democratic admins
tration. AS a candidate, therefore though he
may have dissented individually from the con-
| ciusions OF the platform in many particulars. he
did disereetly aud wisely in describing Il to the
| representatives OF the men who framed II MS
wholly Admirable"
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