The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-03
Democratic Platform

We, the representatives OF the demo-
cratic party in national convention as
sembled. reaffirm our devotion to the
principles Of democratic government
formulated by Thomas Jefferson and
enforced by a long and illustrious line
Of democratic presidents.
Tariff Reform-We declare 1t to be
q fundamental principle of the demo
cratic party that the federal govern
ment under the constitution has no
right or power to impose or collect
tariff 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
estly and economically administered.
The high republican tariff is the
principle 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
tions 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
product or wage. The farmer sells
largely in free markets, and buys al
most entirely in the protected mar
kets. In the most highly protected In
dustries such as cotton and wool, steel
and iron. the wages Of the laborers are
the lowest paid In any Of our Indus,
tries. We denounce the republican
pretense on that subject and assert
that American wages are established
by the competitive conditions and not
by the tariff.
We favor the Immediate downward
revision OF the existing high, and in
many cases, prohibitive tariff duties
insisting that material reductions be
speedily made upon the necessities Of
life. Articles entering into competi
/ ton with trust-controlled products
and articles OF American manufacture
which are sold abroad more cheapl,
than at home, should be put upon the
! free list.
We recognize that our system 10
tariff taxation is intimately connectet
with the business Of the country, and
we favor the ultimate attainment O.
/ the principles we advocate by legisla
ition that will not injure or destroy
Legitimate industry.
We denounce the action Of Presi
/ dent Taft in yetoing the bills to re
duce the tariff in the cotton, wooden
metals and chemicals schedules and
the farmers free list bill. all OF which
we're designed to give immediate re
lief to the masses from the exactions
OF the trusts.
The republican party, while promis-
ing tariff revision, has shown by its
tariff legislation that such revision is
not to be in the peoples interest, and
having been faithless to its pledges o.
1908. 1t should no longer enjoy the
confidence of the nation. We appea
to the American people to support III
in our demand for tariff for revenue
only.
High Cost OF Llving-The high cos
OF living is serious problem in ev
tery American home The republican
party, In its platform, attempts to es
cape from responsibility for present
conditions by denying they are due t.
la protective tariff. We take issus
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 republi
t can party, and from trusts and com
mercial conspiracies fostered and en-
tcouraged by such laws. and we assert
that no substantial relief can be Sc
cured for the people until import dut
| les on the necessaries of life are ma
! terially reduced, and these crimina
conspiracies broken up.
| Antitrust Lava private monopoly
1 is indefensible and intolerable. We
/ therefore, favor the vigorous enforce
ment OF the criminal as well as the
tcivil law against trust and trust off
Gals, and demand the enactment O.
such additional legislation as may BIZ
necessary to make II possible for {