The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-04
BLUE PRINT.
Outline Of the Principles to BE De-
clared at Chicago.

Washington. May 4.-The platform
to- be adopted by the Republican ma
tional convention was among the
topics discussed at the conference
which took place recently at the
White House, in committee rooms at
the capitol and at different residences
where q number Of Republicans have
been assembled. Senator Lodge. who
is slated for chairman of the commit
tee on resolutions at the convention,
has prepared preliminary sketches Of
various topics that he thinks should
be treated and has submitted them to
senators and others for their approval
or suggestion as to amendment.
It is expected before the convention
meets a complete platform viii be pre-
pared which will have the approval
of the president.
The principal feature of the plat
form will be the tariff plank. which
will declare in the strongest terms the
adherence of the Republican party to
the principles Of protection, but will
not bind the party not to revise the
tariff. L 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 adViSa bic Persons present at the
recent conference say it already has
been agreed that the tariff will be re-
vised in the Fifty-ninth congress if
the Republicans win in November
There is at present a determination
to make the platform as brief as pos
sible, consequently the endorsement of
the administration and the acts Of the
party viii be put in compact form
This endorsement will be a. general
approval of the course of the presi-
dent and of actions of the Republi-
cans in congress. The plank con-
corning trusts in effect viii declare
that the laws for the regulation of
monopolies and the restraint of con-
spiracy against commerce were enact
ed by the Republicans and that the
endorsements OF been
only by a Republican administration.
1t will also say that if is not the
policy or intention of the Republican
party to assail legitimate industry and
bushes or to infringe on the rights
of persons or property Special at
tention will be devoted to the phra-
seology OF this plank
Some difficulty has been expert
enced in finding the proper wording
for reciprocity suggestion Nearly
all the senators who have attended
the recent conference have contrib
uted their share toward keeping the
reciprocity treaty negotiated by the
Mckinley administration closely con-
fined in committee pigeOnholes. Reel
procity has not been popular in con-
gress and IL was with great effort
that the Cuban legislation was passed
Senator Aldrfch 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 wiz be so
worded as to mean that reciprocity
shall be confined to such articles as
are not in com petition with products
of the United States.
Mention of the financial question
Will consist Of an allusion to the main-
tenance of the gold standard by the
Republican party and a promise to
continue the finances of the country
upon a sound basis Disfra nchisement
Of the negroes in southern states will
be denounced as an encroachment of
rights guaranteed by the constitution
The demand for restoration of the
merchant marine Of the country will
be renewed, but it is not the intention
to endorse any specific plan.
There are several other suggestions
as to planks in the platform. but the
desire to have the platform as brief
as possible may eliminate them from
consideration as unnecessary at this
time.