Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-28

. AnnarentIy when i. the committee
ceased its labors yesterday the plat
form had been completed, but IKE all
ether documents of the kind, phrase
illogical and other im~perfections were
discovered at every reading, so that
the members found quite a bit OF al
ditional work to be done when they
came together this morning IN oroer
tn have their document in shlp-shape
for the full committee, which was
called to meet at IL o'clock. IL really
met soon after that hour.
There was much discussion. both In
Nthe subcommittee and in n lull
committee, of minor propositions
which previously 1t had been decided
s,,o,,ld be omitted. Among these were
The question of woman Suffrage ana
the use of the initiative. referendum
and recall. 1t practically a been
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 progress
sive wing of the party had struggled
for several years. These points were
left undecidM until the last minute.
Platform Planks Concise.
Tne differences on such questions
as these have been those of policy and
expediency only. There have been no
differences of conviction. The COM
mittee 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.
The strongest and best terse words
have been sought in framing every
plank in the hope that the partys
declaration of principles would be so
vital and so instinct with conviction
that no one could have any doubt OF
the purpose of the party to fulfill its
pledges and relieve the masses of the
neople from what are denounced as
the abuses by the privileged classes.
There is also an effort SO to frame
the platform as to appeal to the Re
epublican progressives in h hope tnat
many of them may be won over, and,
indeed, on the part of some, that
Colonel Roosevelt may be induced to
abandon his further presidential am
billions 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 Democratic doc
trines will be so extended as to cover
many fields.
' This inclination has led toy the con-
struction of an unusually long plat
form. 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 a consistent effort to blue-pencil
unnecessary words. When, for In
stance, Samuel Gompers appeared be-
fore the committee in the interest OF
labor, he was asked By Mr.. Bryan,
who is the dominating factor In the
committee, whether the Denver labor
blank was not satisfactory. ut was"
replied Mr.. Gompers, "reaffirm 1t and
we will be satisfied"
"Rewrite that plank" replied Mr..
Bryan; "bnt put it in half the words
and make each of them. bristle."
Is Guarded Closely.
Wfth the exception of the declara-
ton regarding Mississippi river inn
provements. not a single plank of the
platform had found its way outside
the committee room when work vas
resumed today. 1t has been held in
the hands of a stalwart secretary,
who guards 1t as he would a cabinet
Of jewels; but its outline and most
Of its declarations have become