New-York tribune., 1908-06-19
The PLhTFORX.
President

The Republican platform dOOpIeu dI ouiNoSo
yesterday fits the candidate. or perhaps 1t would
he equally true to say that the candidate In his
personal opinions exactly represents the pre-
vailing sentiment of the party, which is doubt
less the reason for his success In the conven-
tjon His ideas on tariff reform, often expressed
in public precisely coincide with the consensus
of the partys opinion. His position in regard
TO iniunctions. the result of his own observation
of the operation of the writ while on the bench,
and declared long before he became a candidate
for the nomination. is the position OF the ma
iority of the party's representatives upon this
vexed question and, In general. platform and
candidate represent the overwhelming sentiment
of the party for the continuance of President
Roosevelts progressive policies. There Is no
attempt to dodge or equivocate, no placing of
radical candidate upon A conservative plat
form or what the Democrats did four years ago,
of a conservative candidate upon radical plat
form There no diSguises, no efforts 10
catch one shade of opinion with the candidate
and another with the declaration of principles.
The party enters the field confidently, affirming
its allegiance TO those policies and doctrines
known of all men which have made it so won
derfuly successful in recent years.
The injunction plank may be considered first,
because the warm debate which il provoked has
caused it to predominate in interest though not
in importance over other topics on which there
was unanimity of opinion. In the form in
which il was adopted it is naturally gratifying
10 us. for it takes the attitude which we have
taken on this subject. and follows the sugges-
ton which we offered on Wednesday. 1t is not
an anti-inuncton plank. 1t is not in favor Of the
creation Of special class exempt from the oper-
alton of the writ, but merely calls for the pre-
scription by statute the regular procedure In
iniunctions of what is the almost universal
,1zx-.a. orn1
to us that this instead of weakening the courts.
would strengthen them by giving legislative
standing To what now has no basis but judicial
custom and thus silencng the complaint of the
ignorant about 'usurpations of the judiciary"
1t is q good plank. being clear. susceptible of
only one meaning and straddIe. and. while 1t
NAV NOT satisfy extremists of either sort, II re-
fleets the common sense Of the majority.
The tariff plank calls for a special session to
revise the tariff schedules Immediately upon the
new Presidents taking office. thus committing
the party to the performance of this duty Mt the
earliest opportunity after the people have had
chance to vote upon the issue. The provision Of
maximum and minimum schedules will be step
in advance over any tariff hitherto adopted, for
the administration of these schedules by the
President will make reciprocity feasible without
resort TO special treaties which have hitherto
proved insuperable obstacles TO tariff agreements
between this and other nations
The platform utterance regarding currency
form will satisfy the most thoroughgoing cur
rency reformer. The country needs "a more
elastic and adaptable system" Such q system
must meet the requirements of agriculturists,
manufacturers, merchants and business men
generally. must be automatic in operation min
"imiZing the fluctuations in interest rates"
With an elastic currency whose expansion and
contraction are automatic in character. this
country Will be well guarded against sudden
strains on credit and against artificial imitation
as any foreign nation is or can he. The panks
on the trusts and on the railroads adhere to the
administrations policy Of developing the regula-
ton of corporations engaged in interstate trade,
b,1t at the same time Of modifying the existing
law i'm the direction Of greater liberality where
aynerience has shown that it operates with un-
due harshness and there is no recognition of
any special obligation TO any class or interest
The permission Of traffic agreements between