Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-02
A DIZZY PLATFORM
THE NEW YORK PLATFORM is
FLAYED BY 1.-THE PUBLIC"
Bourke Cochran Calls It "A String of Plati.
tudes." Framed to Mean All Things to All
Men, and Offices to Some.-It Is Surely a
Dazzler.

Dazzler.
Judge Parker's platform, adopted by
the recent New York convention, is
marvel; it says SO little in such few
words. Bourke Cochran call it "a string
of platitudes." But that is not wholly
just, for each platitude is gem after its
own kind. Not solitary one could ex-
cite hostility in the most discordant COM
pany. Astounding in generalities and
a"horing specifications, its important
words are weasel words which may
mean anything you want or nothing at
all, as you please. One writer describes
its brevity we'll as the brevity not of wit
but OF dodge.
Nothing is 50 significant OF poverty rs
to policies of the democratic party in
New York, as Judge Parker's teeter-
totter platform. Its true inwardness is
more than limited at by Mr.. Bryan when
he refers to it as an attempt to "work a
confidence game upon the public"
Perhaps brief consideration of the
planks seliatum Of this "razzle dazzle"
platform may be worth while.
The first plank is reireshingly brave in
stating what nobody denies:
l. "This is government OF laws, not
OF men; one law for presidents, cabi-
nets and people; no usurpation; no ex-
ooutiva opcroo ohm unor tha 1ooicla.
tive or judicial departments,
Excellent. But with whom will that
declaration raise political issue? Who
has usurped, and how? Who has en-
croached, and when? While men of all
parties agree to the principle, all might
not agree to the application of the prn.
ciple to specific controversies. But no
specific controversies are named.
Next.
2. "We must keep inviolate the
pledges OF our treaties; we must renes
respect for law and that love OF liberty
and of peace which the spirit of military
domination tends inevitably to weaken
and destroy"
Precisely. Likewise we must be good
and true and beautiful in our lives. But
who denies any Of it? Where is the
issue:
Next.
3. "Unsteady national policies and a
restless spirit of adventure engender
alarms that check our commercial
growth. Let us have peace, to the end
that business confidence may be restored
and that our people may again in tran
guilty enjoy the gains of their toll"
RESTLESS spirit OF adventure" is prOba-
bly, yelled allusion to Roosevelt; but
you can't make an issue of that. Roose-
velt's own party would agree to the SEN
timent; but they would see nothing in it
condemnatory either of themselves OF
their candidate or OF their policies.
Next.
4. Corporations chartered by the
State must be subject to just regulation
by the State in the interest ST the PEG.
pie; taxation for public purposes only
no government part nership with pro.
tected monopolies."
But what would be just regulation?
What are the on.publc purposes for
which taxation is objected to? What is
meant by government partnership with
protected monopolies? Anybody may
have his own opinion about it, but how
can he tell from this vague general dec.
laration that Judge Parker's opinion is
the same as his?
Next
s. "Opposition to trusts and combina'
tons that Cypress the people and stiflle
healthy industrial competition"
That plank reads as if it had been
written by one of Hearst's editors and
revised by one of 2ockefeller's lawyers
But what does it mean? Opposition t,
an evil without method Of opposition
amounts to nothing even when sincere
When insincere it is bunco.
Next.
d. "A cneck upon extravaganza II
public expenditures, that the burden o
the peoples taxes may be lightened."
What is meant by extravaganza
Who has been extravagant, and how
Is it, for instance, the republican party
The platform does not say 80. Does il
consist, for instance, of collusive trans
actions with railroad monopolies, OF
river and harbor appropriations, or O
army and navy and pension expendi'
lures? The platform does not say SO.
Next.
7. Reasonable revision of the tariff
needless duties upon imported raw ma
terials weigh heavily upon the manu-.