The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-19
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES TO Be AVOIDED
AS FAR AS POSSIBLE IN THE PLATFORM

CHICAGO, June 10 The Republi-
can national platform for 1912 will be
short declaration of fundamental party
principles with avoidance of contro-
versial issues as far as possible.
A tentative draft of the platform
which the Taft forces expect to report
to the convention mas been drawn. AL
though the committee on resolutions
has not yet been appointed, leaders
who will have the making of the plat
form in charge have been mulling over
days.
The tentative draft Of the platform
is as follows:
The Republican party, assembled by
it's representatives in national conven-
ton, declares it's unchanging faith in
government of the people and for the
people. 1t reaffirms it's devotion to
the fundamental principles of consti-
tutional government established by the
fathers. These principles, which make
provision for the orderly and effective
expression of the popular will, for the
protection of civil liberties and the
essential rights of man, and for the in
depreciation Of the law by an untram-
meled and independent judiciary. have
| proved themselves capable of sustain
| ing the structure Of government
which, after more than a century of
people scattered over a wide and di-
verse territory, but bound by common
purpose, common ideals and common
affections to the constitution of the
United States.
Under the constitution and the prin
ciples asserted and vitalized by it, the
United States has grown to be one OF
the great civilized nations of the earth
1t offers a home and opportunity to
the ambitious and Industrious of every
race and from every cline. The Re
publican party faces the problems OF
the future confident in the strength
and the wisdom that the experience OF
the past has brought 1t will take nc
part in either changing or overturnine
the American form of government
The Republican party is now as al
ways a party of progress and of con
structive craftsmanship. 1t is pre-
pared, if again intrusted with the pow
err by the people, to go forward with
the solution of those new problems
which social, economic and politica
developments have brought into the
forefront of the nations interests.
1t will strive not only in the nation
but in the several states to enact the
necessary legislation to safeguard the
public health; to limit effectively the
labor of children who should be a
school; to protect wage earners en-
gagged in dangerous occupations; tt
substitute the principle of workman:
compensation for actions at law; t.
recover damages in case of injury; tt
retain public ownership and control o
those natural resources that are still
the public property and in all possible
ways to satisfy the just demands O
the people for the study and solution
] of the complex and constantly chang
ing problems of social welfare.
In dealing with these questions 1t l:
vitality important that the rights of ev
cry individual to the freest possible de
velopment of his own powers and re
sources and to the control of his owl
justly acquired property, SO far as
these are compatible with the simila
rights of others, shall not be interfere,
with or destroyed. The social and pc
litical structure of the United State
rests upon the civil liberty of the in
dividual, and for the protection of tina
liberty the people have wisely, in tn
national and state constitutions, pu
definite limitations upon their govern
mental officers and agencies.
To enforce these limitations, to sc
cure the orderly and coherent exercis
of governmental power, and to protec
the rights of even the humblest an
least favored individual, are the fune