Evening journal., 1916-04-20
THAT DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

mai bEMOtKATlC PLATFORM
CTRlPPED of its husk of yerbosty and false state
- ment the platform adopted by the Democratic
State Convention in Dover on Tuesday is sorrowful
piece OF work Placed side by side with the magnia-
cent declaration OF principles that had been made by
the Republicans in their State Convention one week
before the Democratic declaration is revealed to be
pititully weak in everything except instruction to
the Delaware delegates to support Woodrow Wilson
in the St. Louis National Convention In statement it
is mendacous and in logic unsound It was prepared
under the general direction of Senator Salisbury.
Therefore 1t is not surprising that the last modest
plank nailed on the hmsy structure was as follows:
We approve and commend the record Of our Sena-
tor Willard Salisbury. who by his industry and
scienious and able performance Of public duty has
given Delaware real representation in the United
States Senate"
The other panks are an attempted justification of
Wilson administration legislation including the ruin
Gus Underwood tariff law, and a labored defense of
the general Wilson policy.
There is one plank in the unusually nimsy platform
that is so weak that it special mention It
is follows:
"The consumers OF the country have been relieved
Of about one hundred millions OF dollars of taxation
which by an income tax has been justly placed upon
invested wealth best able to bear IT,"
Let IT not be forgotten that when the Underwood
tariff law was passed IL admitted that it would
not supply the revenue needed to run our national
duties imposed by 1t would result in a great redrc-
tion in the cost OF living and that the revenue not
supplied by the Underwood law would be supplied by
the Income Tax law which to be the handmaiden
Of the tariff law.
What is the result? The Underwood law has not
reduced the cost of living. That today is higher
than It when the Wilson administration took
charge Of our national affairs It may be added that
If it had not been for the European war the Under
wood law would have prostrated our nation CONNER
caly industrally financially and agriculturay. The
nation prospers today not because of Democratic tariff
legislation but in spite Of it, It prospers at the ex
pense OF the passion ana misery OF the people OF Eu-
II is of the importance to this country
that there be return to protective tariff before
European war ends and the nations involved in it
have opportunity readiust themselves and TO re-
enter the field of commercial industrial, financial and
agricultural competition.
SO far as the Income Tax law is affected. our ma
tional finances show that II did supply the def
cheney in revenue created by the Underwood law and
that large deficits have been shown monthly
1t will be seen, therefore that benefit has ac-
cruod to the public "a result Of Democratic policy
and action aud that consumers are still suffering
from not only the high cost of living but also from
the higher cost OF living Notwithstanding Democratic
pledges. the Underwood law and the Income Tax law
that ingorous trinity Of agents that was to bring
the cost of living away below level that existed in
1913 when the control Of our national affairs passed
into the hands Of Democracy that never has failed
to show its ruinous incompetency when it comes to
dealing with national affairs
The consumers of this country have not been re-
eved Of anything. All Of them suffering the ad-
ditional burden Of the higher OF living while
those who come within the scope OF the Income Tax
law also staggering beneath a direct tax imposed
American thrift for the benefit Of foreigners who
the real benefcares of the low duties imposed by
the Underwood Tariff law.