The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-07-11
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

lnorS IL one SululuS ~ ihS.P 4N
which readers of the republican plat
form must keep in mind II they
would estimate that document at ITS
real value. That principle is that
every statement and promise IN the
platform must be Judged in the
light of history and character OF the
party which made it. If any utter
ance will bear two constructions the
one which is in harmony with the
past of the party is the one to be pc
lieved. Where there is Vagueness
and uncertainty in the language the
wise critic will inquire what abuse
characteristic of the party the Ian
guage cloaks.
After the usual Introductory mat
ter the republican platform promises
at all times to uphold the authority
and integrity of the courts. Nobody
is attacking the authority of the
courts in this campaign, unless Col.
Roosevelt may be charged with the
offense, and this promise should turn
the voters attention to what use the
republican law officers have made OF
the courts in the past. They have
upheld the authority and integrity OF
the courts by condoning criminal vio-
lations of the antitrust law and set
Ting trust litigation by private
agreement.
The authority and integrity of the
courts has been to them in such mat
tiers a beautiful abstraction. To car
ry this policy further, the platform
makers propose in a succeeding par
agraph a Federal trade commits
sion." which they frankly state is to
supplant the courts in dealing with
certain great questions. While the
language is not cleor this commission
is evidently the Roosevelt-Perkins
court of Big Business, rich mans
court, to advise the combines how
near they may come to criminal con-
spiracy without going to Jail. 1t is
to assume the functions of a Lord
Chancellor and keep the corpora
tons conscious.
Next in order comes the treatment
of the tariff. Specifically, this is a
stronger declaration in favor OF
downward revision than was the
probation of a republican congress
and president, and there is no likeli-
hood that any real relief from tariff
oppression would ever be provided
under it.
1t says some duties are too high.
1t does not say the duties on steel
and wool are too high. The inter-
probation of it must be in the light
of the Payne-Aldrich bill and the
Taft veto Of genuine tariff revision
measures. The tariff commission is
approved, but one will search in vain
for any approval OF the efforts of
that body to separate the cost of the
wool on sleeps back from the cost
of the rest of the sheep. Scientific
revision of the tariff is called for and
this comes fro ma party whose idea of
scientific tariff making has always
been to call in the men and interests
to be benefited and ask them how
much they think they ought to have.
Two paragraphs widely different
as to matter and singularly alike in
manner may be considered together.
They are the demand for an equita-
BILE method of retiring civil service
employees and the revival of the mer-
chant marine. Their language may
be taken to mean anything. Their
true import is probably civil pen
sion list and a ship subsidy. This
conclusion is concordant with the re-
publican policy of special privilege.
The financial policy announced in
the platform seems to point to the
Aldrich banking and currency bill.
It closes with bid for the farmer
vote by holding out the prospect of
some method by which the farmers
may borrow money easily and cheap
ly. The American farmer, who has
for a long while been paying mort
cages, not making them, will know
how to estimate this paragraph at it's
real value.
The platform discusses various
other matters. Some of them are |
not in dispute and others have no
as political issues. In clos
ing, the platform challenges criti-
;ism Of the administrations of Nc
kinley, Roosevelt and Taft. The |
administration is rather ,
'emote for criticism in this campaign,
hough it is open to effective attack.
As to others, Roosevelt's alliance ;
With the trusts and Taft's opposition
o genuine tariff reform are sufficient !
% condemn both administrations