The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-16
FIVE " OF PLANKs
Prepared at Suggestion Of the Presl-
dent Now ii Hands Of Prospective
Members of Resolutions Committee.
Cover Trusts, AntI-lnjunctlon, Rail-
road Rates, Tariff and Currency.

sdraIted% Dy Wade II. ELLIS, attorney
general Of Ohio, ami row in the pos
session Of prospective members Of the
resolutions committee Of the national
convention for consideration, are here
by given: # \. s
They are the p:allks on trusts, anti
Injunction, rail,cad rates, tariff revi-
sion and currency. The trust plank is
as follows:
"Thc republican party passed the
Sherman anti-trust law over demo-
cratic opposition, and enforced 1t after
democratic dereliction. It has been
q wholesome instrument for good In
the hands Of q wise and fearless ad-
ministration. But experience has
shown that It's effectiveness can be
strengthened and It's real objects bet
ter attained by such amendments as
will give to the, federal government
greater supervision and control over,
and secure greater publicity in the
management Of that class of inter
state corporations having power and
opportunity to effect monopolies, and
at the same time will not interfere
with the existence Of combinations
among business men, farmers and
wage earners 80 long as their conduct
or operation results n positive ben
eft to the public. !"
Relating To- railroads.
"A The exact text Of the plank relating
to railroads Is as follows:
1--WE approve the enactment of a
railroad rate law and q vigorous en-
forcement Of the present administra-
tion Of the statutes against rebates
and discrimination as q result Of
which the advantages formerly pos
sessed by the large over the small
shipper have substantially disappear
ed. IN this connection we commend
the appropriation Of $350.0o0 by the
present congress in order to enable
the interstate commerce commission
to thoroughly Investigate and give
publicity to the accounts Of the inter
state roads.
I'VE believe. however, that the In
terstate commerce law should be-
further amended SO as to give rail-
roads the right to make and publish
tranic agreements subject to the ap-
prevail of the commission. but main,
taining always the principle Of compe-
tition ictween naturally competing
lines and avoiding the common control
OF such lines by any means wnatso-
ever. and we specially favor the en-
actment Of such legislation as will
provide for federal restriction against
the overissue Of stocks and bonds by
interstate carriers.
Tariff and lnlunctlons.
More or less serious inaccuracy
has characterized the reputed textual
publications Of the plank relating to
the tariff. The exact text Of that
plank, as well as Of the plank concern
ing antiinjunction legislation follows:
q %"The republican party declares un-
equivocally for a revision Of the tarin
by special session Of congress I'M
mediately following the Inauguration
Of the next president and commends
the steps already taken. to this end
in the work assigned to the appropri-
ate committees Of the two houses,
which are now investigating the oper-
alton and effect Of existing schedules.
In all tarin legislation. the true prin-
ciple Of protection ID best maintained
by the imposition OF such duties as
will equal the deflcit between the cost
OF production at home and abroad, to-
gether with q reasonable proht to
American industries and the benefits
that follow are best secured By the
establishment OF maximum and mini
mum rates, which shall be applied
automatically to the trade Of other
countries IN accordance with their
treatment Of our trade. The minimum
should represent the normal measure
Of protection required for the beneflt
of our, own industries.
THE aim and purpose Of the repub-
lican policy Is not only to preserve
without excessive duties. that secur-
ity against foreign competition TO
which American manufacturers, farm.
ers and producers are entitled. but
also to maintain the high standard Of
living Of the wage earners Of this