The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-03-14
TAFT men ARE
HARD At WORK
ON PLAIFOR
Every Plank Has in View the
Character and Achieve
ments Of President
Leaders Say Nomination Of
Roosevelt Would Produce
Queer Situation

"
| IA ready assuming that William
i " r. Taft will be the nominee OF
the republican party. the reg
silar leaders today were busy discuss
ing the character Of the platform that
is to be adopted in the Chicago conven-
tion in June.
II. became known that at several i'm
portant conferences among the repub-
lican leaders that the question of a
| platform has been carefully considered
/ and 1T has been determined to put In a
plank strongly indorsing the attitude
of President Taft In vigorously prose-
cutting the trusts under the Sherman
law
Every single plank that Is being con-
s:dered has in view the character. per-
sonality and achievements Of President
Taft The republican leaders In the big
states say that they would not know
how to frame platform were Colonel
the candidate They say they would
have to omit all reference to the ac-
compIishments OF the Taft adniinistra-
tion. which to their mind is the best
platform on which the republican party
can so before the country.
/ TARIFF A FEATURE
The platform will deal chiefly with
! the tariff, and the pledge of the last
republican convention for a tarin that
/ will equal the difference in cost of pro-
| duction at home and abroad. with fair
profit for the American manufacturer,
will be repeated. The convention will
indorse the idea Of 4 tariff commission
and put the principle OF protection and
wages ur to tnr deu1octsts as the big
issue of the campaign.
Even though Colonel Roosevelts
friends should find that they are de-
cidedly in the minority. It is known
that they will make their fight to have
the platform contain an endorsement
of the initiative. referendum and the
recall of judges and judicial decisions.
| This proposition will be fought with
all the power at the command of the
regular republicans. IT became known
| today that Elihu Root, William Barnes,
former governor Frank S. Black, and
/ William Berri. the last mentioned
being Brooklyn newspaper publisher
will be the delegates at large from
New York, and that they will lead the
fight against the initiative, referendum
and the recall Of judges and judicial
decisions.
Root Out for Taft
Elihu Root, In all probability, will
| be designated by the regular repub-
Iicans to make draft OF a platform
that will be the basis for the delibera-
tions OF the resolutions committee at
the convention. There has been some
talk that Root was not very strongly
for the nomination OF President Taft.
It is now known definitely that Root
is out in the open for the president
and IL working for him with his coat
off, Colonel Roosevelt has called SEN
ator Root the ablest man In public life
He has said that he has the best and
most logical brain OF all modern states
/ men. IT is Root who will lead the
Tight IN the convention against the
initiative, referendum and recall.
One OF the big issues OF tho conven-
tion. 1t was stated today by ono of the
most influential leaders OF the repub-
lican party. will be the question
whether or not there should be COM
mission, similar to tho Interstate COM
merce commission. to handle tho trusts
i and decide questions involving rates,
charges. etc. The supporters OF Presi-
S~r< ~ ~ a. ~~voc eos5 ,.5,11 ~.~.Y~ - l..x,~
the convention recommend a federal
Incorporation bill. with an officer sim
| liar to the controller OF the currency,
in charge of the operation of the law.
This would be a substitute for the COM
! mission idea.
LA FOLLETTE PLANKs
| Admitting that they can not hope to
nominate their candidate. the friends Of
Senator La Toilette announce that, once
tho nominee is selected. they will make
their fight to have inserted in the plat
| form pIanlxs providing for:
The Initiative, referendum and recall;
direct nominations and elections. not
only in states, but throughout the ma
tion as whole; graduated income
and inheritance tax government own
ership Of express companies, to be run
at cost to the people; physical valuation
OF the railroads. 50 that the government
can fix rates, and general regulation Of
prices OF all commodities.
In other words. Senator La Follette's q
| friends will advocate socialism in the
Chicago convention and some Of Roose-
/ velt's friends will back them up The
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