Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-21
THE PnovprorAs PLArFoRM.

THE PROVT8TONAB PLATFORM.
The provisional platform framed By
the committee appointed by the state
organization for presentation to the
impending republican state convention
contains some commendable features
and some that are not so commendable.
The prevalent idea OF a platform is q
series OF crisp, pointed declarations
covering the real issues of the cam
paign, while the makers of this provi-
sional platform have shown too great
a tendency toward rhetorical declama-
ton, with the result that the docu
ment uses up a great many supernuous
words for what 1t has to say.
The tribute to President Roosevelt
and declaration of continued confidence
in his Leadership are quite essential to
any republican platform draft, but the
indiscriminate laudation OF the entire
Nebraska delegation at washington as
champions of the presidents policies.
which they have assisted In framing
into wholesome laws" presume, alto
bObhOA wv AhuCh POpuiai lbhO-
rance. Everybody knows that one. Of
our senators has never been In har-
mony with the presidents policy Of
railroad rate regulation; that he side
stepped from the committee on inter-
state commerce in order to avoid show
ing his hand when the tight was on;
that he was counted constantly along
with the railroad senators while they
dent and block his plans at every
stage, and that he wheeled into line for
the rate bill only after the railroads
had admitted they were whipped and
ordered their senatorial agents to COM
promise as best they could. Both Ne
braska senator's, II is true, voted for
the rate bill on its final passage, but
not until after one of them had ex-
posed his corporation sympathies by
voting with the railroad senators on
several vital amendments.
The republicans of Nebraska in
their state convention a few years ago
iCUuhCu UOLn Ih0lE bchdJOTb lOI kOluS
counter to the sentiment Of their con-
situents in opposing the presidents
demand for Cuban reciprocity. If the
coming convention were willing to pass
over the recalcitrant senator's peculiar
lodging on the rate bill In silence It
would be showing sufficient charity.
Surely he is not entitled to the same
credit for unfolding the president as
belongs to the other senator and the
six republican congressman in the
house, who were on the firing line from
start to finish.
On state issues the provisional plat
form is fairly explicit, as far as 1t goes.
1t demands a direct primary law. It
favors election of United States sena-
tors by direct popular vote. 1t prom
Uses an effective anti-pass law. 1t
pledges legislation comforting ample
authority upon the new state railway
commission to enforce rate regulation
corresponding to that provided for in
the federal law. II approves an en-
ployers' liability act depriving defend
ant corporations of the fellow servant
plea and recommends further legisla-
| ton to solve the grazing land prob
lem.
What 1t says about the attempted
evasion of taxes by the railroads is
pointed, but 1t could go further in
| telling what should be done to compel
the railroads to pay their taxes in the
future. 1t could have added a promise
of legislative reapportionment, which
is urgently demanded In the north and
western parts of the state. which have
been so long and so flagrantly discrim.
mated against. 1t could have added q
recommendation OF some sort of q
board of control on the Iowa plan tc
keep personal and political contention
out of our state institutions. 1t coult
and should have given Omaha and
South Omaha a promise Of real munich
pal home rule.
These omissions can, of course, bt
yet attended to. The democrats ant
populists have placed their candidates
on fairly clear-cut platforms, and the
republicans should see to 1t that theil
candidates are not handicapped b!
equiyocal statements or back-actioneC
declarations.