New-York tribune., 1908-06-07
TALK WITH PRESIDENT.
Chairman and Platform Discussed
Political Situation CanUassed.
fFrou The Tribune Bureau.

fFrom The Tribune Bureau1
washington. June 6.-The President. Secre-
taries Root and Taft and Senator Burkett. OF
Nebraska, had an hours conference at the White
House this afternoon. during which the general
political situation was thoroughly canvassed-
Paragraphs of the platform to be presented at
Chicago were considered. the subject Of the
craftsmanship Of the Republican National Com
mittee discussed and topics relating to
legislation to pressed at the next Congressional
session were touched on. Although nothing was
officially made public after the conference. 1t is
understood that Secretary Taft expressed him.
self in cavor OF the selection of Frank H Hitch
cock to manage the coming campaign as chair
man o2 the Republican National Committee, and
the President Secretary Root and Senator
Burkett cordially agreed with him in the belief
that he would be an excellent man for the place
In the belief Of one Of to-days conferrees, 1t
is safe to say that by next Tuesday the principal
paragraphs of the platform will have been
drafted in Washington and will be ready for
transmittal to the leaders at the convention
Secretary Taft Is. of course personally superv15-
ing the preparation Of the resolutions, for 1t VIII
be on the manner in which these articles Of
faith are received by the voters Of the country
that mis- success defeat may depend.
In addition to the expected declaration Of
loyalty to the policies of President Roosevelt,
the platform will contain some vigorous express
sions on number Of other important SUBJECTS.
Tariff revision will. of course, be championed.
and the party will pledge itself to bring about
rearrangement of the schedules Immediately
after the close Of President Roosevelts term.
next March. This is with the emphatic under
standing that the country re-elects Republican
House of Representatives. If the turn Of the
political wheel should elect Democratic ma
jority in the House this autumn, there Will he
no tariff revision next year.
This announcement will be made with consid-
erable emphasis. for on the face Of the PROPOSE
ton 1t may be seen that no revision could be
brought about by Senate and House divided
on the great issues involved. Therefore the
voters of the country will be informed that if
they want changes in the present tariff schedules
they had better see to it that the Republican
party be retained in power both in the execu-
tive and legislative branches of the government
The Republican leaders will not hold out hope
of tariff revision on any other terms. 1t has
been suggested that IL the Democrats should win
the November elections. the Republicans could
hurry through a tariff bill between Decem-
Der and March This idea is regarded as futile.
for during short session of Congress little else
can be accomplished than the passage of the
big appropriation bills.
Another plank in the platform likely to be
found when it leaves the hands of its makers
will be declaration on the subject Of railroad
securities. A law will be advocated providing
for the government supervision of all new issues
of stock. The investors of the country, it is
held, have right to know the value Of the rail-
road shares In which they place their money
This right is regarded as much the vender's as
the buyers, because railroads are quasi public
properties and their issues of stock are SC
| enormous that they have come to be looked on
by the people in much the same light gov
ernnent securities. paragraph declaring for
such law will. IT Is believed by the President
and Secretary Taft. add strength to the plat
form and in the light of recent exposures in
the world of railroad finance lend confidence 20
business