The Van Buren press., 1912-07-06
TARIFF REFORM IS
DEMOCRAT|CCRE
Leading Plank Of Platform
Adopted by Baltimore Con-
vention.
FAvORS FIGHT ON TRUSTS
Action Of Republican Administration
In Compromising With Standard
OIL and Tobacco Combines
ondemned-Views on
Other Subjects.

Following are the principal planks
of the platform adopted by the Demo
cratic national convention at Balt'
more.
The Tariff Reform.
I'VE declare Il 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
cesslties OF government honestly and
economically administered.
The high Republican tariff Is the
principal cause of the unequal disti
button of wealth. It is a system OF
taxation which makes the rich richer
and the peer poorer; under It's opera
lions the American farmer and labor
ing man are the chief sufferers; y
raises the cost OF the necessarles OF
life to them, but does not protect their
product or wages.
I'VE favor the immediate down
ward revision Of the existing high
and in many cases, prohibltiye tarin
duties. insisting that material reduc
tlons be speedily made upon the nee
essarles OF life. Articles entering In
TO competition with trust controlled
products and articles Of American
manufacture whore sold abroad more
cheaply than at home could be pui
upon the free list.
I'VE denounce the action of Presi
dent Taft IN vetoing the bills to re
duce the tariff in the cotton, woolen
metals and chemicals schedules ant
the farmers free list bills, all Of
which was designed TO give immedi
ate relief to the masses from the OK
actions Of the trusts
"rhe Republican party, whll'
promising tarin revision, has showi
by its tariff legislation that such rs
vision is not TO be In the peoples In
terests and having been fathless tC
It's pledges Of 1908 It should no Longer
enjoy the confidence Of the nation.
High Cost Of Living.
THE high cost OF living Is Sc
rious problem In every American
home The Republican party in III
platform attempts 10 escape from re
sponsibilty for present conditions By
denying that they are due TO Il pro
tective tariff, Wo take issue will
them on this subject and charge tina
excessive prices result In larg'
measure from the high tariff laws en-
acted and maintained by the kepub
lican party, and from trusts and com
mercial conspirators fosterod and on
oouraged by such laws and We asser
that no substantial relief can be so
cured for the people until import du
ties on the necessarles Of life are ma
terlaly reduced, and those crimlna
oonspiraclos broken UP.
Antitrust Law.
"A private monopoly In Indefensl
bio and intolorablo We therefore ia
vor the vigorous enforcement OF th'
criminal as well as the civil Law
against trusts and trust officials, ant
demand enactment Of such addItIona
legislation as may be necessary tt
make It impossible for a private mo
popoly 20 exist IN the United States
"Wo condemn the action Of the Re
publican administration In compro
missing with the Standard OIL Com
pany and the tobacco trust aud IN
failure TO invoke the criminal pro
visions Of the antitrust law agalnB
the officers Of those corporations aft
er tho court had declared that from
tho undisputed facts In tho recort
they had violated tho criminal proyIs
ions OF tho law,
I'VE regret that sherman anti.trus
law has received n judicial conslruc
ton dopfiylng II Of much OF lts Of
foacy, and we favor the enactment o.
legislation which will restore to IN,
statute tho strength Of which Il has
been deprived by such Interpretation
Income Tax and Popular Election o.
Senators,
we congratulate the country upot
the triumph Of two important reform'
demanded In tho last national plat
form, namely, the amendment OF the
federal constitution authorizing nm In
como tax and the amendment proyld
ing for tho popular election OF eena
tors, and We call upon tho people oI
all tho states 20 rally 20 tho support
OF tho pending propositions and secur,
their ratification
I'VE note with qualification the
unanimous sentiment IN favor oI
e1es~s4esseeesssaON.sSN