Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-29
Tariff, Trusts and Financial
Planks to be Direct, but
Suffrage and Initiative
May be Dodged.
DOCUMENT READY
TO BE SUBMITTED
Will be Lengthy, but Not
Because Planks are Long,
but Because so Many Sub
jects are Treated. M


the members OF the subcommittee OF
the convention committee on resolu-
tions, began gathering in their room
shortly after 10 O'Clock today. Mr..
Bryan was not among the first to ar
rive, and the other members generally
began work on the theory that COM
paratively little progress Is being
made in his absence.
Apparently when the committee
ceased it's labor yesterday the plat
form had been completed, but like all
other documents of the kind phrase
illogical and other imperfections were
discovered at every reading. There
was not much discussion today by
the subcommittee and the full COM
mittee of minor propositions which
previously it had been decided should
be omitted. These questions were the
female suffrage and the use of the in
itiative. referendum and recall. 1t
had been practically decided that
these and other features should be
left to the discretion Of the states,
but some of the members felt that an
expression. by the national convention
would be helpful and along the lines
for which the progressive wing Of the
party has struggled for the past sew
eral years. These points were left
undecided until the last minute.
Platform Appeal Made to Roosevelt.
The differences on such questions as
these have been those of policy and
expediency only. The committee has
been united absolutely In support OF
the progressive idea and the members
have outvied with one another in their
efforts to have the platform express
the very foremost thought Of modern
democracy.
There also is an effort to SO frame
the platform as to appeal to the repub-
lican progressives In the hope that
many of them may be won over, and
indeed, In the opinion Of some, that
Col. Roosevelt may be induced to
abandon his further presidential am
bitions and join the democrats in
bringing about results on which they
declare his views are in accord with
their own With these purposes in
mind the old time democracy doc
many fields.
Platform Unusually Long.
This inclination has led to the max
ing of an unusually long platform, but
its length will be found to be due to
the variety of subjects rather than
to the elaboration Of any particular
plank. Indeed there has been con-
sistent effort to blue pencil unneces-
sary words. When, for instance Sam
uel Gompers appeared before the com.
mittee in the interest of labor he was
asked by Mr.. Bryan, who is the DOM
mating factor in the committee, whe-
ther the Denver labor plank was not
satisfactory.
1T was" replied Mr. Gompers, RE-
affirm it and we will be satisfied"
"Rewrite that plank replied Mr..
Bryan, "but put it in half the words
and make each of them bristle."
With the exception OF the declara-
ton regarding Mississippi river i'm
provements not a single plank of the
platform has found its way outside
the committee room when work was
resumed today.
Tariff for Revenue Only Favored.
Giving special prominence to the
tariff an effort will be made to demon
strate that the republican policy of
protection has been responsible in
large degree for the present high cost
of living and for the development Of
trusts and monopolies. There will be
positive declaration for revision
downward to the basis Of tariff for
revenue only, with especial stress up
on the word "only";; but to meet the
demands largely of Senator Newlands
and at the same time indorse the piece
meal revision of the house Of represen-
tatives the opinion will be expressed
that the reductions should be made
gradually with view Of disturbing
business to as slight an extent as pos
sible.
The Financial Plank.
1t is hoped to so shape the financial
plank as to convince the bankers Of
the country that there Is possibility
of revising the finances without re-
sorting to the central reserve plan
suggested by Senator A1drich and the
monetary commission. The Aldrich
plan is denounced on the theory that
1t would place the issuance Of the
currency and it's continued control
when issued in the hands of practical
ly one business corporation, which it
is contended would be the result of the