The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-07-12
TARIFF REFORM IS
DEMOCRAT|CCREED.
Leading Plank Of Platform
Adopted by Baltimore Con-
vention.
FAvoRs FIGHT ON TRUSTS
Action Of Republican Administration
In Compromising With Standard
oil and Tobacco Combines
condenned--vleWs on
Other Subjects.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on
Other Subjects.
Following are the principal planks
| Of the platform adopted by the Demo
cratic national convention at Balti-
more.
The Tariff Reform.
I'VE declare 1t to be a fundamental
principle OF the Democratic party
| that the federal government under
the Constitution has no right or pow
or 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 me-
cessitles Of government honestly and
economically administered.
THE high Republican tariff Is the
principal cause of the unequal distri-
button Of wealth; 1t Is a 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; 1t
raises the cost OF the necessaries Of
| life to them, but does not protect their
4 product or wages.
I'VE favor the immediate down
ward revision of the existing high,
and In many cases, prohibitive tariff
duties, insisting that material reduc-
lions be speedily made upon the nee
essaries OF life. Articles entering In
to competition with trust controlled
products and articles of Americas
i manufacture whore sold abroad more
iheaply than at home could be put
/ upon the free list,
I'VE denounee the action of Presi-
dent Taft in vetoing the bills to re-
duce the tariff in the cotton, wooden,
metals and chemicals schedules and
the farmers free list bills, oil of
which was designed to give immedi-
ate relief to the masses from the ex-
actions OF the trusts.
"The Republican party, while
promising tariff revision, has shown
by It's tariff legislation that such re-
vision Is not to be in the peoples In
terests and having been faithless to
It's pledges Of 1908 1t should no longer
enjoy the confidence of the nation.
High Cost of Living.
THE high cost Of living is Sc
rious problem in every American
home. The Republican party in its
platform attempts to escape from re-
sponsibility for present conditions by
denying that they are due to a pro,
tective tariff. We take issue with
them on this subject and charge that
excessive prices result in a large
measure from the high tariff laws en-,
acted and maintained by the kepub
lican party, and from trusts and com
merctal conspirators fostered and en-
couraged by such laws, and we assert
that no substantial relief can be Sc
cured for the people until import du
ties on the necessaries of life are ma
terially reduced. and those crimina
conspiracies broken up,
Antitrust Law.
"A private monopoly Is indefensi
BILE and intolerable. We therefore ia
vor the vigorous enforcement Of the
criminal as well as the civil Law
against trusts and trust officials, and
demand enactment of such additions
legislation as may be necessary t
make 1t impossible for private mo
nopoly to exist In the United States
I'VE condemn the action of the Re
publican administration in compro
missing with the Standard Oil Com
pany and the tobacco trust and TT
failure to invoke the criminal pro
visions Of the antitrust law agains
the officers of those corporations aft
err the court had declared that from
, the undisputed facts In the recort
| they had violated the criminal provis
. ions of the law.
I'VE regret that Sherman anti-trus
law has received a judicial construc
ton depriying 1t of much of its ei
fieacy, and we favor the enactment o
I legislation which will restore to tn,
I statute the strength of which II hal
been deprived by such Interpretation
Income Tax and Popular Election Q
Senators.
I'VE congratulate the country upol
the triumph of two important reform
demanded In the last national plat
|, form, namely. the amendment of tn
federal constitution authorizing an il
come tax and the amendment proyiC
" Ing for the popular election of sena
: tors, and we call upon the people c
all the states to rally to the supper
! Of the pending propositions and secur
I their ratification.
I'VE note with qualification tn
= !, unanimous sentiment in favor c