Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-08


well be advised TO reject practically
all of it, The Democratic house
has ignored or repudiated the most
commendable planks Of the plat
form, and there IS no reason why
Wilson should be burdened in the
coming campaign by the ram
shackle remaining planks The
Democratic platform declared that
"our pledges are made to be kept
The Democratic house, the one
branch Of the national government
which the Democrats control. has
already proved that the best pro-
vision in the platform was made
only to be broken.
With the navy plank and one or
two other Democratic and undcsir-
able planks eliminated, the plat
form is left undemocratc, unpro-
gressive and unsound. 1t is absurd
~ extreme in one point and scan
dalously inadequate in nearly
every other point. 1t is absolutely
without constructive policy or com
prehensive understanding of the
urgent needs Of the people and the
Irresistible tendencies Of the times.
The platform, though made by
Bryan. was made for Wilson. The
usual procedure at conventions was
reversed, and the platform was
made after the nomination Of the
- r. 20 a
and a characteristic one, that the
principles Of the Democratic party
should be modified to suit the cam
didate rather than the candidate Sc
lected to At the principles Of the
Democratic party Yet this plat
form can not suit the candidate, for
there is hardly a word in It that
conforms TO Or. Wilson's recent ut
terances since he ceased TO be a re-
dictionary and became a militant
progressive. The country demand
ed a progressive candidate and a
progressive program.
The Democracy has given the
country as its candidate a convert
to progressive principles, yet there
are but few planks in the plat
form which echo his progressive
sentiments or express the progress
sive spirit Of this progressive age.
The country expected and had
right to expect, from Conscien-
tious and courageous Democrat a
constructive platform; yet there is
hardly a paragraph in the platform
which is constructive.
There is hardly a paragraph
which offers a satisfactory solution
of the conditions It criticises, or
proposes a practicable remedy for
the evils of which the citizens so
justly complain.
The platform is Bryans and Is a
Characteristic combination Of Bry-
ans ignorance and egotism. He has
sacrificed the real issues of pro-
gressive Democracy to substitute
his own visionary views and fan
tastic fancies. 1t Is more than DR..
Wilson's privilege TO reject plat
form which misrepresents the Dem
ocracy and embarrasses himself
it is his duty both to himself and
TO the citizens.
DIR. Wilson is in a peculiar and a
delicate position before the country.
There are many devoted Democrats
still In doubt as to his actual at
titude and his permanent position
upon the leading issues of the day,
A platform, therefore, which does
not express accurately and agrees
sively wilson's actual views must
prove embarrassing to him and TO
the Democracy as we'll since those
skeptical citizens who doubt the
genuineness Of DR.. Wilson's CONVEX
sion to progressive principles win
have their doubts confirmed by a
platform which contains few posi-
tive or progressive utteranCes 9TH
er than the unsound and extreme
plank on the tariff.
The tariff plank reflects Bryan's
free trade views and recalls Bryan's
attitude as congressman. At that
time he called the manufacturers
robbers" and the working men
"beggars," when they came before
the ways and means committee to
present their arguments in favor Of
the principle of protection.
Evidently Bryan's views have not
changed Always violent and al
ways visionary, he is more ready to
destroy than resourceful to con-
strlct.
The most positive plank in the
platform is the tariff plank. That
plank declares that the Federal gov
eminent has no right or power to
collect tariff duties except for the
purposes Of revenue.
That plank repudiates the whole
protective theory and concludes
with an appeal to the American
people ito support us in our de-
mands for a tariff for revenue
only"
There is some modification of
this declaration in the text Of the
plank, but as a whole the tariff
plank boldly brings into question
the whole theory of protection and
makes the Democratic fight fight
on the basis of a tariff for revenue
only, against the Republican idea
of a tariff for protection and de-
Velopment of American industries.
The Democratic plank declares
that protection does not tend TO
increase the wages of American
workmen, but that those wages are