Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1912 — PLATFORM WILL BE PROGRESSIVE [ARTICLE]

PLATFORM WILL BE PROGRESSIVE

Bryan and O’Gorman Write Principal Planks. TARIFF AND MONEY FEATURES -<> Downward Revision of High Protective Duties Demanded—Central Bank Plan Opposed, Direct Primary Law Urged. Baltimore, June 28. —Progressive ideas predominate in the platform prepared for submission to the Democratic national convention. The real work of writing the declaration of principles upon which the party will make its campaign for the presidency was turned over to William Jennings Bryan and Senator O’Gorman of New York, members of the sub-committee of the committee on resolutions. The plan was to let Bryan and O’Gorman prepare the first draft to be submitted to the sub-committee to be passed upon by them before reported to the full committee. Tariff and Money. The two most important features of the platform as prepared are the planks on tariff and money. Mr. Bryan w r rote both these planks. The tariff plank declares for an immediate downward revision of the present high protective tariff, especially upon the necessities of life, and the removal of duty on those commodities which are controlled by trusts and sold cheaper abroad than at home. It also declares that the federal government has no right to Impose tariff duties except for the purpose of revenue and that the collection should be limited to the necessities of the government -when honestly and economically administered. In this same connection the present administration the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill will be severely arraigned. Revision of Banking Laws. The plank referring to the financial and banking systeni contains an arraignment of Wall street manipulations and of the present national banking regulations, Here Mr. Bryan wrote his pet Ideas for the adoption of legislation which will insure protection for the eighteen to twenty million bank depositors. It will oppose the establishment of a centraUbank, but will provide for a revision of the banking laws which* will not only insure protection but prevent any small group of financiers or politicians from controlling the banks and the money of the country. Ther is a plank devoted to the election of senators by the direct vote of the people and declaring for a direct primary law which will do away with the political boss and boss-ridden conventions. There is also a recommendation for a constitutional amendment making presidents ineligible for re-election and fixing the term of office at six years. Merchant Marine. Taking up th ß merchant marine proposition a declaration is made for the devlopment and strengthening of the commercial ties which bind us to the republics of the south without additional burden on the people or subsidies from the treasury. A private monopoly is termed Indefensible and Intolerable. Legislation is recommended for the criminal and civil punishment of trust magnates. A law Is also recommended against duplicating directors among competing corporations. A federal license law for corporations to prevent watered stock and control of any one commodity is also expected as a plank. There Is a comprehensive plank on interstate commerce, urging more strength for the present laws governing railroads. There is a reiteration of the 1908 plank favoring the protection of the laboring man from injustice under injunctions.