The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
PARTY LEADERS BUSY ON
PLATFORM PLANKS FOR
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
Declarations of Principles Always
Prepared in Outline Before
Delegates Meet.
LODGE AND WILLIAMS
May Serve as Chairnen of Com
mittees on Resolutions-The
Tariff Question.
,cial TO the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-The work Of
choosing delegates TO the great national
conventions for this presidential year is
practically completed. The strife over con-
troll of the conventions In the interests OF
this or that candidate has been confined
this year, as it was in 1900, almost wholly
to the Democratic party. This work is the
real battle of preconvention politics. In
the privacy of rooms in various parts OF the
country the leaders of the parties have
been at work for many weeks studying the
principles of their respective parties and
preparing declarations of those principles
for presentation 10 the committees on plat
form of the conventions. 1t is in this i'm
portant matter, as il Is in respect to the
election of delegates. the people have a
voice in determining finally what shall be
done, but really behind it all are the di-
recting hands of master political leaders,
who prepare the final touches.
SO it is that possibly twenty of the great
leaders of either party, representing as
many States in all parts of the country,
may be said really to control nominations
and dictate the precise terms in which the
declarations of party principles shall be
made. 1t is not meant to infer from this
evidence Of control by few great leaders
that II is accomplished by wrongful means
or that the course is inimoal to the lib
critics and general welfare of the people
1t is only evidence. as is certain TO be
found by all students of government. that,
while the will of the majority controls,
that will is, and must ALWAYS be, guided
by few masterful hands. 1t Is probable
that this was what was meant by Mr.. Ham
ilton when he said in substance that a
small, compact government controlled by
a few men would be better than too much
participation of democracy, which would
smack of the witagemote and the hundred
Of the earlier days OF English liberty. 1t
is probably easily demonstrable that Mr..
Jefferson, who was alleged TO entertain
opinions squarely opposed TO those of Mr..
Hamilton, was, In his day and generation
as thorough an example of maSterful di-
recting power as could now be found in
the ranks Of the political leaders of the
present day. He guided his party. He
rules of party action. just as Mr.. Hamilton,
and his friends and coworkers rallied
around his standard and bowed to his will
with the same devotion as was accorded to
Mr.. Hamilton by the Federalists.
The party Of Democracy this year has
chosen Its delegates to the national con-
vention. or will have done so in few days.
II Is just as certain as that the convention
will be held that few able and adroit lead
ers In that convention will dictate the
course OF action. and 1t will be ratified by
the majority. So IL will be in Chicago. And
the masters OF both parties, the giant in
tellects who have brought renown to their
respective parties by public discussion of
fundamental party principles through many
years OF conflict, will frame the platforms
OF the parties and the majorities in the
conventions will ratify the work. The pre-
pared platform declarations will be scanned
by the chosen representatives of the peo-
COnvanti0nS a 70
MY be made IN the original drafts of these
declarations. but in the main the platforms
Of the party leaders. will be adopted by the
conventions and become the guiding faith
Of the parties In the coming contest
There Is marked difference between the
Republican and Democratic parties in the
matter Of the presentation of party prin-
ciples. It Is noticeable fact that many
times during the life of the Democra tic
party has that political organization ma
teriaily changed its attitude with respect
to public questions, thereby necessitating
change IN its declaration of principles.
Within the recent history of the party
marked changes have been made I'm what
has been termed the paramount issues of
the times. On the other hand since It's
organization the Republican party has adj
htred strongly to the principle of protec-
cardinal article of faith, and while a mum
Der Of issues have been presented and dis
cussed in campaigns. as incidents of the
particular times, far as the Republican
party has been able TO control the situa-
ton IT has adhered to the protective doc
trine as the prime issue of all campaigns
even during the memorable battle OF the
monetary standards in 1896. This year, ii
is. admitted by the leaders of both parties
Tie tariff issue will predominant.
= I =
During the past few weeks numerous
conferences have been held here in Wash
ington among Republican leaders to dis
cuss the issues of the coming campaign.
and especially to discuss the ways and
means of presenting the issues through the
national party platform. 1t it not doubted
that for the most part the platform has
been tentatively prepared, at least the
more important planks. The Democrats
h*ve also held conferences for like pur-
poses. Representative Williams. of Mis-
sissippi, the minority leader on the floor of
tie House, has tried his hand at platform
making, and 1t is believed that in a maya
zine article which he printed during the
winter he outlined the principles for which
the Democratic party will stand in the
campaign. The precise language to be
used in the case of either platform will
OF course, be left 10 the committees on
resolutions OF the two conventions. But il
is the outlining OF the issues that is COM
mttteed to the party leaders.
in the convention Of four years ago the
Republican platform was read TO the as
sembled delegates by Senator Fairbanks
of Indiana, chairman OF the committee on
resolutions. Eight years ago this duty was
performed by Senator Foraker, of Ohio
and the general expectation is that Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts, may have the
honor in the coming convention although
OF course, that cannot be settled until the
convention meets and the committee is
organized. In the Democratic convention OF
1896 there was a fierce controversy over
the platform declarations. and a memorable
debate participated in by then Senator
Hill, OF New York, Senator Villas. of Wis
cnnsin. Senator Tillman, OF South Caro-
lima, Governor Russell. of Massachusetts
and Governor Altgeld, of Illinois. The
contest was mainly over the money plank
In 1900 the fight over this question was
confined TO the committee on resolutions
and the decision OF that committee, which
was, with respect to the disputed issues
settled by simply reafiirming the position
convention with comparatively little dis
cIssion.
| with reference to the tariff issue the Re-
| p1blicans In the convention of 1895 occupied
| a. favorable position. Four years OF Demo.
cratic domination and trial OF the Demo
cratic policy of tariff revision upor
''revenue only" lines had brought the coun-
| tsy into sore distress. so far industrial
/ affairs and business were concerned The
| Republicans nominated the foremost cham.
| pson of the protective principle then living
II: the country, and made clear and explic-
/ protection. On that and the money issue
/ the campaign was won by the Republicans
aud the first work performed by the new
/ administration was the enactment OF the