The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-07-05
WANT LOWER TARIFF
Taxes for Revenue Only Is Lead
ing Plank of Democratic
Platform.
FAVORS VIGOROUS TRUST WAR
Income Tax and Popular Election OF
Senators is mmended-Govern-
ment Supervision of Inter
state Business Demanded.

The leading plank OF the platform
adopted by th/ Democrt tic national
convention at Baltimore calls for an
immediate downward revision of the
tarlH. On this subject the platform
says:
The Tariff Reform.
1--WE declare it to be a fundamental
principle of the Democratic party
that the federal government under
the Constitution has no right or DOW
er to impose or collect tariff duties
except for the purpose of revenue
and We demand that the collection of
such taxes shall be limited to the ne
cessities Of government honestly and
economically administered
'The high Republican tariff is the
principal cause of the unequal distri-
button Of wealth; it is a system of
taxation which makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer; under its opera
lions the American farmer and labor
ing man are the chief sufferers; it
raises the cost Of the necessities of
life to them, but does not protect their
product or wages"
The action of President Taft in We
toing the bills to reduce the tariff in
the cotton, wooden, metals and chem.
1cals schedules and the farmers free
list bills is denounced
Issue is taken with the Republican
platform and much of the present high
cost Of living is laid to the high tariff
laws.
Antitrust Law.
The platform declares that pri-
yate monopoly is indefensible and in
tolerable and says:
I'VE therefore favor the vigorous
enforcement of the criminal as well
as the civil law against trusts and
trust officials, and demand enactment
Of such additional legislation as may
be necessary to make it impossible for
private monopoly to exist in the
United States"
"The action of the Republican ad-
ministration in compromising with
the Standard Oil company and the to-
bacco trust and it's failure to invoke
the criminal provisions Of the anti
trust law against the officers of those
corporations after the court had de-
clared that from the undisputed facts
in the record they had violated the
criminal provisions of the law is de-
nOunced
I'VE regret that the Sherman anti
trust law has received judicial con-
struction depriving it of much Of it's
efficiency and we favor the enactment
of legislation which will restore to
the statute the strength of which it
has been deprived by such interpre
tation"
The platform urges people to sup
port proposed constitutional amend
ments, providing for an income tax
and election Of United States sena-
tors by direct vote of the people AS
justification of the demands of the
party for publicity of campaign ex-
penditures, attention is directed ito
the enormous expenditures of money
in behalf of the president and his
predecessor in the recent presidential
contest"
Asks Presidential Primaries.
Following Is summary of some Of
the more important planks:
Declares for presidential preference
primaries. Directs national committee
to provide for selection at primaries of
members OF national committee.
Pledges party to enactment Of law
prohibiting campaign contributors by
corporations and unreasonable cam
paign contributions by individuals.
Opposes AIdrich Bill.
In connection with demand for
such revision of the banking laws as
will give temporary relief in case OF
financial distress there is a denuncia-
ton of the Aldrich bill prepared by
the monetary commission. The pres
ent method of depositing government
funds is condemned and the party is
pledged to the enactment of a law for
the deposit of such funds by competi-
tive bidding in state or national banks
without discrimination as to locality.
Recommends investigation of agri-
cultural credit societies in Europe to
ascertain whether a system Of rural
credits may be devised suitable to con-
ditions in the United States.
Pledges party to enactment OF legis-
lation to prevent devastation Of low
er Mississippi valley by floods and the
control of the Mississippi is declared
to be national rather than state
problem. The maintenance Of a nav
igable channel Is also recommended.
Refers to Russian treaty and re-
news pledge to preserve sacred
rights of American citizenship at
home and abroad.
Fayors single presidential term ana
making president ineligible to re-eie-
ction.
Denounces Republican admin1stra-
ton on charge of extravaganza and de-
mands return to simplicity and econ
orny be6itting a democratic govern
ment.
Fayors efficient supervision and rate
regulation of railroads, express COM
canfSs telegraph and telephone lines
and a valuation of these companies by
the interstate commerce commission,
and also legislation against overis-
suauce of stocks of these corpora
tons.
Fayors national aid regarding post
roads.