Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-25

Ihere was cheer and IL was quiet Tor
some time.
Allen closed amid tremendous demon
stration. which showed promise of last
ing long. like the other but it was check
ed by the gavel
PLATFORM BROUGHT IN.
The rules committee report was laid
on the table also was the minority re-
port on the same subject. This kept
the convention working under the rules
of the last convention.
Former Vice-president Fairbanks then
came forward amid cheers from the Taft
side and presented the report of the COM
mittee On resolutions-the proposed plat
form.
The republican party is opposed to
special privilege and to monopoly. 1t
placed ppon the statute book the inter
state commerce act of 1887, and the inn
portant amendments thereto, and the
antitrust act of 1890. and IL has consist
entity and successfully enforced the pro-
visions of these laws.
1t will take no backward step to per-
init the re-estabiishment in any degree
of conditions which were intolerabIe
Experience makes it plain that the
business of the country may be carried
on without fear or without disturbance,
and at the same time without resort to
practices which are abhorrent to common
sense or justice. The republican party
favors the enactment of legislation sup
Elementary to the existing antitrust act
which will define as criminal offenses
which mark attempts to restrain and to
monopolize trade, to the end that they
who honestly intend to obey the law
may have a guide for their action and
that those who violate the law may
the more surely be punished. The same
certainty should be given to the law
prohibiting combinations, and monopolies
that characterize other provisions of
commercial law; that in no part of the
field of business opportunity may be
restricted by monopoly or combination,
that business success honorable achieved
may not be converted into crime and
that the right of every man to acquire
commodities and particularly the nee
essaries of life, in an open market unin-
fiuenced by the manipulation of trust or
combination, may be preserved.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.
In the enforcement and administration
of federal laws governing interstate COM
merce and enterprises impressed with
a public use engaged therein, there is
much that may be committed to a federal
trade commission, thus placing in the
hands of an administrative body many
of the functions now necessarily exer-
cised by the courts. This will promote
promptness in the administration of the
law and avoid delays and technicalities
incident to court procedure.
THE TARIFF
We reaffirm our belief in the protective
tariff. The republican tariff policy has
been of the greatest benefit to the coun-
try, developing our resources, diversity
ing our industries and protecting our
workmen against competition with cheap
er labor abroad, thus establishing for our
wage-earners, the American standard of
living.
The, protective tariff is~-so woven into
the fabric of our industrial and agri-
cultural life that to substitute for it
a tariff for revenue only would destroy
many industries and throw millions OF
our people out of employment. The prod
ucts of the farm and of the mine should
receive the same measure of protection
as other products Of American labor.
We hold that the import duties should
be high enough, while yielding a sufficient
revenue, to protect adequately American
industries and wages. Some of the exist
ing imported duties are too high, and
should be reduced
REIMBURSEMENT should be made from
time to time to conform to changing con-
without injury to any American indus
try. To accomplish this, correct Informal
ton is indispensable. This Information
can best be obtained by an expert COM
mission as a large use OF racts
contained in the recent tarifr of the board
demonstrated. The pronounced 1ea-
ture of modern industrial life is it's in
classification. To apply tariff rates justly
to those changing conditions. requires
naa@
than ever before.
The republican party has shown by
its creation of a tariff board its recog-
milton of this situation, ana its determl-
nation to be equal to it. We condemn the
democratic party for its failure either
to provide funds for the continuance of
this board or to make other provision
for securing the information requisite for
intelligent tariff legislation.
We protest against the democratic meth
cd of legislating on these vitality i'm
portant subjects, without careful inves-
tigation. We condemn the democratic
tariff bills passed by the house of repre-
sentatives of the 62nd congress, as secuon-
al, as injurious to the public credit and
as destructive of business enterprise.
COST OF LIVING.
The steadily increasing of cost of liv-
I
national but of worldwide concern. The
fact that it is not due to the protective
tariff system is evidenced by the exist
ence of similar condition of other coun-
tries which have a tariff policy different
from our own, as well as the fact that
the cost of living has increased while
rates of duty have remained stationary
or been reduced.
The republican party will support
prompt scientific inquiry into the causes
which are operative, both in the United
States and elsewhere, to increase the
cost of living. When the exact facts
are known, it will take the necessary
steps to remove any abuses that may
be found to exist in order that the cost
of food, clothing and shelter of the
people may in no way be unduly or
artihcially increased.
BANKING AND CURRENCY.
The Republican party has always stood
for a sound currency and for safe bank
ing methods. IT is responsible for the as
sumption Of specie payments and for The
establishment of the gold standard. 1t
fc 70 he