Evening journal., 1912-07-03

We. the representatives OF the Dem
ocratic party Of the United States in
national convention assembled. reaf-
firm our devotion to the principles OF
Democratic government formulated by
Thomas Jefferson aud enforced by a
long and illusrious line Of Democratic
presidents.
Tariff Reform.
We declare IL To nr fundamental
principle or the democratic party that
the federal government under the con-
stitution has no right or power TO i'm
pose or collect tariff duties except for
the purpr>, of revenue, and we de-
mand thit the collection of such taxes
shall be iiuifed 20 the necessities OF
government honestly and economically
administered.
The high Republican tariff Is ths
principal cause of the unequal distri-
button OF wealth; II 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; II
raises the cost OF the necessaries OF
life TO them. but does not protect their
product or wages 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 in
dustries. We denounce the Republican
pretense on that subject and assert
that American wages are established
by competitive conditions and not by
the tariff.
We favor the immediate downward
revision OF the existing high and. In
many cases. prohibihve tariff duties.
insisting that material reductions be
speedily made upon the neeessaries OF
life Articles entering into competi
tion with trust controlled products and
articles Of American manufacture
which are sold abroad more cheaply
than at home should be put upon the
free list
We recognize that our system Of tar
IN taxation is intimately connected
with the business OF the country, and
We favor the ultimate attainment OF
the principles we advocate by legisla-
lion that viii not injure or destroy le-
ghmate industry.
We denounce the action OF President
Taft In vetoing the bills to reduce the
tariff in the cotton. wooden. metals and
chemical schedules and the farmers
tree list bill. all Of which were design
ri 70 give immediate relief 70 the
masses from the exacuons Of the
trusts.
High Cost Of Living.
The high cost OF living is a serious
problem in every American home The
Republican party in its platform at
lempts to escape from responsibility
Tor present conditions by denying that
hey are due TO a protective tariff. We
lake issue with them on this subject
and charge that excessive prices result
In a large measure from the high tariff
laws enacted and maintained by the
Republican party and from trusts and
commercial conspiracies fostered and
encouraged by such laws. and we as
scrt that no such substantial relief can
be secured for the people until import
duties on the necessaries of life are
materially reduced aud these criminal
eonspiracies broken up.
Antitrust Lew.
A private monopoly is indefenslble
and intolerable. We therefore favor
-. .-fr,~~c,r -, f.-..,,....t - 49,. -.
lnal as well as the civil law against
trusts and trust officials and demand
the enactment Of such additional leg
lslation as may be necessary TO make
It impossible for a private monopoly
10 exist in the United States.
We favor the declaration by law OF
the conditions upon which corpora
lions shall be permitted to engage in
Interstate trade. including among 9TH
ers the prevention Of holding compa-
nies OF interlocking directorates. OF
stock watering. OF discrimination In
price and the control by any one cor
poration Of so large a proportion of
any industry as 10 make it menace
TO competitive conditions.
We condemn the action OF the Re
publican administration in compromis-
Ing with the Standard on company
and the tobacco trust and its failure
10 Invoke the criminal provisions OF
the antitrust law against the officers
OF those corporations after the court
had declared that from the undlsputed
facts in the record they had violated
the criminal provisions OF tie law.
Income Tax snd Popular Election oi
Senators.
We congratulate the country upon
the triumph Of two important reforms
demanded In the last national platform
namely, the amendment OF the feder
Al constitution authorizing an income
tax and the amendment providing fol
the popular election OF senators-anc
we call upon the people Of all ths
states to rally TO the support OF IN,
pending propositions and secure theil
ratification.
Presidential Primaries.
The movement toward more popular
government should be promotet
through legislation In each state which
='lll permit the expression OF the pref
erenee Of the electors for national can
didates at presidential primaries
Campaign Contributions.
We pledge the Democratic party Z
.be enactment OF law prohibiting an
corporation from contributing to
campaign fund and any lndividua
from contributing any amount abov