The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-27
Platform as Adopted Demands
Taxation Tor Revenue
Only.
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
Republican Parry Held Responsible for
ersssnt ssr'ous condltlon-Anti.
Trust Law-PopuIar Election
OF osnators by the People
Favored - Work Of
Democratic Con-
orese Praised.

Democratic Con-
ersss Praised.
Baltimcre.-Following is the plat
form In full as adopted by the Demo
cratic national convention:
We. the representatives OF the Dem
ocratto party Of the United States, in
national convention assembled. re-
amrm our devotion to the principles
OF Democratic government formulated
by Thomas Jefferson and enforced by
Q long and illustrious line Of Demo
cratic presidents.
TsrlH Reform.
We declare II TO be funda-
mental principle Of the Democrat.
10 party that the federal govern
ment under the constitution has no
right or power to impose or collect
tarfn duties. except for the purpose Of
revenue. and we demand that the col
lection OF such taxes shall be limited
to the necessities of government hon.
estiy and economically administered.
The hish Republican tariff Is the
principal cause OF the UNEQUAL dis
uibution Of wealth; II 10 q system OF
TAXATION which makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer; under It's opera
tons the American farmer and labor
Ing man are the chief sufferers; II
raises the cost Of the necessaries of
lie to them. but does not protect their
product or wasea The farmer sells
largely In free markets and buys al
most entirely In the protected mar
keta In the most highly protected
industries. such a. cotton and wool.
steal and iron. the wages Of the labor.
er are the lowest paid In any OF
our industi1eA We dsnouncs the Re
publican prstenss on that subject and
assert thar American wages are es-
Aoifshed by competitive conditions
and not by the tarifY.
We favor the immediate downward
rsvssion OF the existing high and In
many cases prohibitivs tariff duties.
mssstfng that material reductions be
speedily made upon the necessaries OF
hnA Articles entering into comqett
Ton with trust controlled products
and articles Of American manufacture
which are sold abroad more cheaply
than at home should be put upon the
tree list.
We recognize that our system Of
tartn taxation u intimately connected
With the business Of the country, and
we favor the ultimate attainment of
the principles We advocate by legis
lasion that will not injure or destroy
legitimate industry.
We denounce the action of Prest
dent Taft In vetoing the bills to re-
duce the tarin In the cotton. woolen.
metals and chemicals schedules and
the farmers free list bill. all Of which
were designed TO give immediate re
lief TO The maases from the exactions
Of the trusis.
The Republican party. while prom.
isins tarir rovision, has shown BY
its tarin legislation that such revision
is not 70 be In the peoples interest
and. having been faithless to its
pledges OF 1908. II should not longer
enjoy the confidence OF the nation.
We appeal to the American people
TO support US In our demand for q
tarfn for revenue only.
High Cost of Llvins.
The high cost Of living 10 a Sc
rious problem In every American
home. The Republican party. in
its platform. attempts to escape
from responsibility for present con.
ditions by denying that they are
due to protective tariff. We take is.
sue with them on this subject and
charge that excessive prices result I'm
large measure from the high tariff
laws enacted and maintained by the
Republican party and from trusts and
commercial conspiracics fostered and
encouraged by such laws. and we as.
sert that no substantial relief can be
secured for the people until import
duties on the necessaries OF life ara
materially reduced and these criminal
conspiracies broken up.
Antitrust Law.
A private monopoly 10 indesensi.
BILE and intolerable. We therefore
favor the vigorous enforcement q,
the criminal a. we'll as tho civil
law against trust and trust officials
and demand the enactment OF such
additional legislation as may be neces.
sary TO make II impossible for a pr,.
vate monopoly 10 exist In the United
States
We favor the declaration by law
OF the conditions upon which corpore.
tions shall Nc permitted 10 engage In
interstate trade. including. among
others. the prevention OF holding com.
panies. OF interlocking directors. OF
stock watering. OF discrimination IN
price. and The control by any one cor.
poration OF so large proportion OF
any industry as 20 make n q menace
% competitive conditions.
We condemn the action Of No Re.
publican adUluls,ra'ion IN cor,rror1ts-