The Raymer enterprise., 1912-07-04

adopted by th/ Democrjuc national
convention at Baltimore calls for an
Immediate downward revision Of the
tariff. On this subject the platform
says:
Tho Tariff Reform.
we declare 1t to be fundamental
principle Of the Democratic party
that the federal government under
the Constitution has no right or pow
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; 1t Is a system of
taxation which makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer: under Its opera.
tions 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. woolen. metals and chem.
icals 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 a pri
varA 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 1t 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 Its 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" Ia de.
nounced.
We regret that the Sherman anti.
trust law has received a judicial con.
strucuon depriving It Of much Of its
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 contributions by
corporations and unreasonable cam.
paign contributions by individuals.
Opposes AIdrieh Bill.
In connection with a demand for
such a revision OF the banking laws as
will give temporary relief In case Of
financial distress there Is a denuncia.
tion Of the Aldrich bill prepared by
the monetary commission. The pres.
ent method Of depositing government
funds is condemned and the party ls
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 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 tho
control Of the Mississippi 10 declared
10 be a national rather than a state
problem. The maintenance OF q nav.
gable channel Is also recommended.
Refers to Russian treaty and 70.
news pledge TO preserve sacred
rights Of American citi1enship 1t
home and abroad.