Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-07-12
The Tariff Reform.

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tariff. On this subject the platform
says:
The Tariff Reform.
1--WE declare 1t to be a fundamental
principle Of the Democratic party
that the federal government under
the Constitution has no right or pow.
er to impose or collect tariff duties
except for the purpose Of revenue
and We demand that the collection OF
such taxes shall be limited to the ne
oessities of government honestly and
economically administered.
THE high Republican tariff is the
principal cause of the unequal distri-
button Of wealth; 1t is a system Of
taxation which makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer; under its opera.
lions the American farmer and labor.
ing man are the chief sufferers; 1t
raises the cost Of the necessities of
life to them, but does not protect their
product or wages"
The action of President Taft in W.
toing the bills to reduce the tariff in
the cotton, wooden, metals and chem.
icals schedules and the farmers free
list bills Ia denounced.
Issue Is taken with the Republican
platform and much Of the present high
cost Of living is laid to the high tariff
laws.
Antitrust Law.
The platform declares that a pri.
vate monopoly Is in%defensible and in
tolerable and says:
I'VE therefore favor the vigorous
enforcement of the criminal as we'll
as the civil law against trusts and
trust officials, and demand enactment
of such additional legislation as may
be necessary to make it impossible for
a private monopoly to exist in the
United States"
"The action of the Republican ad.
m%inistration In compromising with
the Standard Oil company and the to-
bacco trust and It's failure to invoke
the criminal provisions of the anti.
trust law against the officers of those
corporations after the court had de-
clared that from the undisputed facts
In the record they had violated the
criminal provisions Of the law" is de-
nOunced.
I'VE regret that the Sherman anti.
trust law has received a judicial con-
struction depriving 1t Of much of its
efficiency and we favor the enactment
of legislation which will restore to
the statute the strength of which 1t
has been deprived by such interpre-
tation."
The platform urges people to sup
port proposed constitutional amend
ments, providing for an income tax
and election of United States sena.
tors by direct vote of the people. AS
justification of the demands of the
party for publicity Of campaign ex-
penditures, attention Is directed ito
the enormous expenditures of money
in behalf of the president and his
predecessor in the recent presidential
contest"
Asks Presidential Primaries.
Following Is a summary of some of
the more important planks:
Declares for presidential preference
primaries. Directs national committee
to provide for selection at primaries of
members of national committee.
T Pledges party to enactment Of law
prohibiting campaign contributions by
corporations and unreasonable cam
paign contributions by individuals.
Opposes Aldrich Bill.
In connection with a demand for
such a revision of the banking laws as
will give temporary relief in case OF
financial distress there Is a denuncia-
ton Of the Aldrich bill prepared by
the monetary commission. The pres
ent method of depositing government
funds Is condemned and the party Is
pledged to the enactment of a law for
the deposit of such funds by competi-
tive bidding In state or national banks
without discrimination as to locality.
Recommends investigation of agri-
cultural credit societies in Europe to
ascertain whether a system of rural
credits may be devised suitable to con-.
ditions in the United States.
Pledges party to enactment of legis-
lation to prevent devastation of low
er Mississippi valley by floods and the
control Of the Mississippi Is declared
to be a national rather than a state
problem. The maintenance of a a
igable channel is also recommended.
Refers to Russian treaty and re.
news pledge to preserve sacred
rights Of American citizenship at
home and abroad.
Favors single presidential term and
making president ineligible to re-ele-
ction.
Denounces Republican administra-
ton on charge of extravaganza and de-
mands return to simplicity and econ
omy befitting a democratic govern
ment.
Favors eff icient supervision and rate
regulation of railroads, express com.
panies, telegraph and telephone lines
and a valuation Of these companies by
the interstate commerce commission,