The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-28
PLATFORM SOUNDS
DOOM OF GRAFTERS
All Planks Strong-Taft, Tariff
and Congress Endorsed-Direct
Primaries Urged.

Primaries Urged.
SARATOGA. Sept. 2s.-As expect
ed, the plank in the Republican State
platform. which was intended by Col
onel Roosevelt to overshadow al, else,
was that which declared Tor continn-
alton of the graft hunt. The direct
primary plank, over which the biggest
fight was made, was distinct com
promise although 1t pledged the par
~ to direct nominations eventually.
President Taft's administration is also
enthusiastically endorsed.
The platform as prepared by the
resolutions committee says in part:
We declare relentless warfare
upon official and legislative wrong
doing in this State. The crook and
CRATER and unfaithful man in public
service shall be put out and kept out.
Taft Endorsed.
We enthusiastically endorse the
progressive and statesmanlike leader
ship OF william Howard Taft, and
declare our pride in the achievement
of the first eighteen months as Pres
ident of the United States. Each SUE
ceeding month since his Inauguration
has confirmed the nation in its high
estimate OF his greatness of charac-
ter. intellectual ability study. com
mon sense. extra ordinary patience and
perseverance, broad and statesman
ship-like comprehension OF public
questions and unfaltering and answer
wing adherence to duty.
He has strengthened our prestige
with foreign nations. Under his adj
n1inistration the prosecution OF those
implicated in the sugar and other GUS
toms frauds have been continued and
convictions obtained; there have been
impartial and energetic enforcement
of the Sherman antitrust act a sub
stantial reduction of governmental ex-
penses the esta biishment of better
business methods. remarkable pro-
gress in the construction of the Pan
anna canal and the withdrawal from
private entry OF over 1000. 900 acres
of the public domain, to preserve for
public benefit -aluable coal and other
mineral deposits, timber and water
power sites.
THE Payne tariff Law reduced the
average rate Of all duties IL per cent.
BY increasing the duties on some lux
uries and articles not of ordinary use,
making, however. no increase on any
common food product, ii turned a ma
tional deficit into a surplus. Its max
imum and minimum rates give us
for the first time equality of oppor-
tunity with other nations in our for
etgn trade. In providing, upon the
suggestion OF President Taft. for
tariff board. ii affords the means of
still more accurately determining the
difference in cost of production at
home and abroad. Advances in the
cost of living are only the local re-
Election of a tendency that is world
wide and cannot be truthfuliy said to
be due to the present tariff.
Congress Upheld.
''The Congress has responded to re-
comm EN- dations of the president by
enacting measures Of far-reaehing i'm
portance TO the people. including valu-
able amendments to The interstate
commerce law. postal savings bank
law. law providing for the publicity
of campaign expenses, the creation of
a bureau of mines. with a view to the
better protection of mine workers, and
laws extending the regulation of safe
~ appliances
The test OF civilization is an or
derby and efficient government. one
Of the essentials of which is a iu-
dietary OF upright. able. industrious,
courageous men, promptly admins.
tering the law to rich and poor alike |
We count II fortunate that the presi- !
dent has secured as a member OF our
highest tribunal a man with the great
Intellectual power and the splendid
legal attachments OF Charles E. j
Hughes.
We congratulate the people on the
notable progress of the State under
the four years administration of
Governor Hughes. which has been con
epfcuous for the highest standards of
efficiency.
The record of Republican legisla- |
ton during the past eighteen wears !
conserving the public interest by i'm /
proving the conditions OF labor. Is
unequaled in our history. One hun |
dred and sixty such enactments were /
written In our statutes, covering the t
whole range of labor interests in the |
workshops, factories. mines and quar- /
ries and upon all forms of public |
work.
We believe that capital. honestly
employed. should be permitted to feel /
that sense of security essential to
stimulate its legitimate investment |
and thus safeguard the prosperity /
which has been so well established /
under Republican administration
The platform favors the betterment +
OF agricultural pursuits, the conserva-
ton, development and utilization or
natural resources. the completion OF /
the barge canal, the abolition of grade /
crossings and conservative State ac-
ton in the prevention and cure OF
tuberculosis
Better Primaries.
We believe that the same safe
guards should surround primary cleo
tons as have been shown to be ef-
fectiye in preventing repeating and |
frauds at general elections, We there
fore favor extending the signature
Law an now applied to general elec-
tons to primary elections.
ITO Governor Hughes IS due thu
credit of arousing the interest OF tbs
people and convincing them of the
need OF directly electing their parry
officers and directly nominating their
party candidates. We promise legis-
lation which viii enact these prin-
ciples into law"
The vote In the resolution commit
tee was 90 to Is on the adoption OF
the majority report The "old guard
although they realized that they were
Kicked to fraxxle" FROM the start,
kept at II right up to the very end.
Both factions were very bitter when