Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-06-18
PLATFORM PLANKS.
TEXT or THE FIVE FORMULATED
~ THE PRESIDENT AND
SECRETARY TAFT.
THEY ARE ALL VERY sTR0NG FOR REFORM

Resolutions on Trusts, AntI-lnjunctIon
Railroad Rate, Tariff and Currency
a. Drafted by Wade ~ ElIls-Thest
Planks May Be Changed by the Re
publican National Convention.
]
Chicago, June 1.-THE five most i'm
Chicago, June 16.-The Ave most i'm
portant planks Of the Republican plat
form, formulated by President Roose
welt and Secretary Taft and drafted
by Wade H. Ellis, attorney general OF
Ohio, and now in the possession Of
prospective members of the resolu.
lions committee of the national con-
vention for consideration, are hereby
given:
They are the planks on trusts, anti
injunction, railroad rate, tariff revision
and currency. The trust plank Is as
follows:
1.-THE Republican party passed the
Sherman antitrust law over Demo
cratic opposition and inforced it after
Democratic dereliction. 1t has been a
wholesome instrument for good In the
hands of wise and fearless admins
tration. But experience has shown
that its effectiveness can be strength
ened and its real objects better at
tanned by such amendments as will
give to the federal government greater
supervision and control over, and Sc
cure greater publicity in the manage
ment of that class of interstate corp0r.
atoms having power and opportunity
to effect monopolies and at the same
time will interfere with the existence
Of associations among business men,
farmers and wage earners SO long as
their conduct or operation results in
a positive benefit to the public. m5
The exact text of the plank relating
to railroads is as follows:
I'VE approve the enactment Of q
railroad rate law and a vigorous In
forcement of the present admlnistra-
ton of the statutes against rebates
and discrimination as result of which
the advantages formerly possessed by
the large over the small shipper have
substantially disappeared. In this con-
nection we commend the appropri-
alton of $35O,OOO by the present con-
gress in order to enable the Interstate
Commerce commission to thoroughly
Investigate and give publicity to the
counsel of interstate roads.
1--WE believe, however, that the in
terstate commerce law should. be
further amended SO as to give rail
roads the right to make and publish
traffic agreements subject to the ap-
prevail of the commission, but main.
tanning always the principle of COM
petition between naturally competing
lines and avoiding the common con-
troll of such lines by any means what \
,oever and we specially favor the
enactment of such legislation as. will
provide for federal restriction
against the over-issue of stocks and
bonds by interstate carriers"
More or less serious lnaccuracy has
the reputed textual pub
ications of the plank relating to the |
ariff. The exact text of that plank,
Is well as of the plank concerning |
legislation, follows:
"The Republican party declares ur
'quivocally for revision Of the tariff
" a special session of congress i'm
following the Inauguration
# the next president and commends
he steps already taken to this end In
he work assigned to the appropriate
committees Of the two houses, which
re now investigating the operation
md effect of existing schedules. In
II tariff legislation the true principle
4 protection is best maintained by
he imposition Of such duties as will
quail the difference between the cost
I production at home and abroad, to-
ether with a reasonable profit to
american industries and the benefits
hat follow are best secured by the
of maximum and mini
lum rates which shall be applied au-
to the trade Of other coun-
ries in accordance with their treat
lent of our trade. The minimum
hould represent the normal measure
I protection required for the benefit
our own industries. The aim and
urpose of the Republican policy is
OF only to preserve, without excess
70 duties that security against foreign
to which American manu-
lcturers, farmers and producers are
ntitled, but also to maintain the high
tandard Of living Of the wage-earners
this country who are the most d.
oct benehciaries of the protective
ystem. Between the United States
nd the Philippines we have in q free
lterchange Of products with such
as to sugar and tobacco
J will avoid injury to domestic In
rests. 4
I'VE declare for such an amendment J
the statutes Of procedure in the {
,deral courts with respect to the use {