The Mena weekly star., 1907-04-25
IIHE PLATFORM OUTLINED.
What MT. Bryan Wants in the Next Democratic National
 Document.
TARIFF TO BE TIVE DOMINANT FEATURE
National Committeeman Dahiman, of Nebraska, Says Government own ership of Railroads Will Not De Mentioned if Mir. Bryan Controls Convention--Other Planks.

Convention--Other Pianks.
 Omaha. Neb., April 21.-The demo cratic national platform of 1908 will not, if w. J. Bryan controls the con vention, demand absolute govern ment ownership of the railroads. This is authentically announced by James c. Dahlman, national commit teeman from Nebraska. The state ment is in the nature or an official announcement, for the reason that Dahlman is in close touch with Bryan, and has recently been in conference with him over the plans and policies of the forthcoming campaign.
 From the same source 1t also Is stated that tariff reform will again be- come dominant feature of the plat form.
 The platform, according to Mir. Dahlman. has already been mapped out, and indicates some radical changes from that of 1904.
 While Dahlman was not able to go into the minute details of the plat form. he says the five prominent blanks in Bryan's declaration of prin- ciples will concern trusts, govern ment ownership of railroads, the tariff, state regulation and money; the railroad ownership plank, of> course, being conspicuous by It's absence.
 On all of the leading issues, the platform will differ greatly from the last one adopted at St. Louis, al though many of the blanks in the platform of 1904 will be components in next years declaration.
 Constitutional guarantees will have a strong indorsement ana the accept ance of campaign contributions from trusts and large corporations will re- ceiye severe condemnation. Indeed, the campaign contribution plank is to be one of the foundations of the plat form, the one on which Bryan's friends hope to carry the country in opposition to Roosevelt or any of his followers.
 The Bryan platform will define the necessity for and a proper use Of money contributed for running cam paigns
 Usurpation of power by the presi- dent will also be made a strong point of the platform, and the convention will be asked to declare that Presi- dent Roosevelt, in this respect, as well as in the matter of accepting or approving campaign contributions, has overstepped true democratic princl- ples, ts " Sili1teM ssn&Ss Z.
 While imperialism win again come in for condemnation it is not to re- ceive the significant attention given to other parts of the document.
 The tariff reform plank will be an especially strong one and will be so worded as to indicate reasonable con servatism on tariff reduction and to relieve the people from tariff scare.
 Many democratic state conveu- tions, particularly Nebraska, have pldCSu tIt party ou iCNoiu oS i"'p' ing government ownership of raii- roads and telegraphs. While it is not stated in so many words, it Is given out that Bryan will not ask the national convention to insert such a plank.
 The advantage of state regulation is expected to be worked out in Nebraska, where many drastic laws have been passed governing common carriers The leaders believe that in Nebraska and other states where similar laws have been enacted will be proved the success of state regula- tion
 Free silver is dead. and Mir. Bryan will admit it by accepting a platform from which it's mention will be eradi- cated. The monetary question is con sidered settled
 Election of senators by direct vote of the people, reformation of civil service rules, and strong foreign policy will be strongly proclaimed and pledged.