New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-27
THE PLATFORM.


The Republican platform adopted AZ
Saratoga win appeal strongly TO MI
Sanely progressive citizens. II is Il
programme of specific reforms. poiiu-
cal social and industrial. II the party
is returned 10 power the legislation 10
which II Is pledged would do away
with some of the most serious abuses
IN the state and realize the dream or
social Justice" i'm the working OF In
dustry and the administration Of law
go far as the state is at the present
stage of social evolution able 20 real
izs IL.
The Republican party commits itself
70 a reform in legal procedure 10 cor
rect the laws delays and 20 simplify
the attainment Of Justice. II would
limit campaign expenditures and es-
tablish additional safeguards against
corruption. II would develop agricuIt-
IRE. transportation and market faclii-
ties. thereby reducing the cost Of liv-
ing. The policy OF conserving natural
resources il would continue and de
velop. The platform contains q thor
oughly progressive declaration for
Corkmeus compensation which II Is
believed can be secured without in
ringing the Constitution, but It also
promises. If constitutional amendment
is necessary. to bring this about At
tention is given to the need Of better
laws to protect the lives, health and
welfare Of industrial employees and the
still greater need Of enforcing them.
The party takes no backward step Oh
the issue Of direct nominations and re-
form in election methods. II declares
FOR the short ballot, for the repeal OF
the obnoxious Levy election law and
for the direct choice Of party commit
tees. state convention delegates, candi-
dates for Congress, Senate and Assem-
bly, and local offices and for the oppor-
unity for party electors 10 express
their preference for state officers. This
opens the way for the adoption Of the
Hughes plan. the essential features OF
which We're direct opportunity for the
.oter without making deliberation i'm
|. roSslhe and an end to the self-perpet-
II nation Of party managers In power.
y The declaration for limitation Of cam
paign expenditures while not specifi-
cally applied 10 primaries, as We wish
il had been. IS broad enough 80 cover
them and gives reason to hope that any
direct primary law would stop the ex-
travaganCe which threatens the whole
system. The demands that indepen'
dent nominations he facilitated and for
separate judicial ballot are markedly
progressive.
We have never seen any reason 70
believe that majority Of the women
OF this state wish the ballot, but the
insistencc Of those who do want il -
such as 90 force the issue 10 the front.
and there IS no good reason why the
question should not be submitted to
the people. Therefore the suggestion
that the vote on holding constitu-
tjonaI convention, which must be taken
ANYWAY IN ltJb, I've hclh h'Nh '''''
when questions affecting the funda'
mental law can be considered by them
selves, is wise. II such convention is
ordered the suffrage question, the short
ballot and measures FOR Industrial and
social reform can have adequate con.
sideratiOn.
The platform makes a telling arraign'
ment of Democratic misrule under the
Dix administration and it quotes most
effectively in the present e1lgency me
tribute paid to Mr.. Taft in 1910 by
the platform adopted under the leader
shin Of Mr.. Roosevelt. Taken alto
pether. n aligns the Republicans OF the
state squarely in defence Of our his
toric constitutional system and points
fhe way 10 the achievement under IT
If the most farreachine political and
social reforms.