Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1904 — THE PLATFORM [ARTICLE]

THE PLATFORM

Principles Upon Which Republicans Will Fight the Campaign. The Republican party in convention assembled presents with profound satlsfac tlon the achievements of the nation since the party was founded and Intrusted by the people with the control of our govern ment. „ It has reunited a divided country, freed the slaves, established the monetary system on a gold basis, restored the national credit, and developed the American system of protection, until the United States Is the leading industrial nation of the world. In the cause of humanity It fought a victorious war on land and sea that other peoples might be released from the burdens of oppression. These and other national deeds of peace and wap under Republican administrations have won the respect and praise of the world, and placed our country in the first rank amongst the bations. And now, under continuing wise and patriotic leadership, the Republican party moves forward, maintaining and extending Its policies and its purposes, and with unabated confidence again Invites the support and suffrages of the people. We heartily and unreservedly endorse the wise and patriotic administration of Theodore Roosevelt. The president has met the tremendous responsibilities of his great office upon the high level of national duty and national honor. His administration has been thoroughly Republican and genuinely American. It has advanced prosperity at home and maintained our national Interests abroad. The laws have been fearlessly and Impartially enforced as they were enacted by congress. Evil doers have been driven from the publie service. The people demand'a continuance of the present stable and prosperous conditions and we therefore favor ths nomination of Theodore Roosevelt for president, and hereby Instruct the delegates chosen by this convention to support his csndldacy. We pledge anew our confidence in the wisdom and efficacy of the protective tariff. Thia great Republican policy has abundantly justified Itself and Its maintenance la

essential to the continuance of our Industrial Independence and national prosperity. It is demanded alike in the interest of botti American labor and capital. We favor changes of schedules as conditions demand, but such changes should only be made consistently with the policy of protection. The Republican party has firmly established the gold standard against violent Democratic opposition. Our monetary system, which is the best In the world, is th*—rich fruit of Republican statesmanship. We have more money among the people than we ever had in the history of the republic, and It Is of unquestioned soundness and purchasing power. We commend President Roosevelt for his faithful enforcement of the laws applicable to combinations of capital In restraint of wholesome trade and commerce, which the Democratic party, when in power, refused to execute: and to further prevent corporate evils we have placed on the statute books additional laws providing for publicity, preventing rebates by railroads, and creating the Department of Commerce and Labor for the more effectual supervision and enforcement of the laws. We approve the reciprocity treaty with the republic of Cuba. Our relations with the new republic should always be such as are dictated by justice and generosity: to the end that the ties nahich bind the two peoples together in commerce and amity may continue close - and unbroken. We approve the course of President Roosevelt in protecting the imperiled interests of Americans upon the Isthmus of Panama; In promptly recognizing the Independence of the people and the republic of Panama, and in securing a treaty with that republic under which the United States may construct an interoceanic canal in the interests of the commerce of the world; and we further commend the president for the promptness and energy with which he is pushing forward the wtirk of this great enterprise American administration In the PhilipSines has resulted in peace to the people, onest government, equal justice to all, improvement in material cond’tlons and the spread of education. No nation’s work for civilization has surpassed that of the republic in the archipelago. To that policy we will steadfastly adhere. We favor the principle of arbitration in the adjustment of international disputes where they do not involve the national honor, and we commend the administration of President Roosevelt for its efforts to embody this principle in treaty compacts with other powers. The Repblican party can never forget the heroic services of our soldiers and sailors upon land and sea. We believe in a just pension polh-y toward those who have borne the burden and heat of battle; their widows and orphans. We heartily commend the administration of Governor Winfield T. Durbin and the officials associated with him in the management of state affairs. It has been an administration characterized by jealous regard for the welfare of the tax-paying public, by zealous and successful endeavor for the promotion of high standards In the conduct of the state’s Institutions, and by a manifest devotion to the principle of complete divorcement of public affairs from partisan purposes, and that the same scrupulous care and close accountability should be required in the transaction of the business of the state as in the conduct of theaffairs of any other great business Institution. It has been an administration rendered notable in the history of the state by the vindication, in a crisis, of the majesty of the law which has attracted to it the favorable attention of the country. During the last ten years of Republican control of state affairs the state debt ha» been reduced from $7,520,615.12 to $2,162,615.12, and the state tax levy has been reduced from 32 cents to 30% cents on each SIOO of taxable property. The average gross maintenance per capita of all the state Institutions has been reduced from $178.76 in 1893 to $160.18 in 1903, and with a population In these Institutions of 12,640, as shown by the last statistical report, this alone effects a saving to the tax payers of $234,867.92 per annum. During this period 50 per cent of the Contract labor In the state prisons has been abolished, and by statutory limitation only two more years remain for the continuance of the contract labor system In the Reformatory at Jeffersonville. We declare our opposition to any renewal of the labor Con tracts at the Indiana Reformatory, and we are in favor of providing, In the language of the statute, establishing the Reformatory ’’for the thorough training of each and every Inmate in the Institution, giving him such an education, training in Industry or handicraft as will enable him upon his re-

lease to more fully earn his own support and make him a more self-reliant and selfsupporting citizen.” Among other wise and just measures placed upon the statute books during this period are the acts creating a labor commission and providing means for the settlement of the disputes between the employer and the employe, and providing that alj fees of state officers ana miscellaneous receipts of state institutions be turned directly Into the state treasury. in 1893, under Democratic statutes and Democratic administration, these fees amounted to only $93J04.45 per annum; under Republican statutes and Republican administration in 1903 the fees from this source turned into the general fund amounted to $488,583.78, a net saving to the taxpayers of $388,879.33 per annum. During this period there have also been placed upon the statute books laws provld ing for factory Inspection, prohibiting the employment of child labor, and providing safeguards in the auditing of public expenses. Through the passage qf the mortgage exemption law. over lot),000 owners of homesare now receiving the benefit of a Just reduction of their taxes. Through Republican legislation and administration during tills period the benevolent and penal institutions have been lifted from political control and the wards of the state have been assured hunjane and efficient treatment. We renew our pledge of devotion to the policy of non-partisan-ship in the control of these institutions, believing that the trust imposed upon those having their affairs in hand is too sacred to be discharged with anv eud in view but the interests of the commonwealth and the welfare of those thus committed to its

care. These and other acts of legislation and administration Illustrate the devotion of the Republican party to the common weal, and to the continuance and amplification of such policies we pl'euge ourselves. We are in favor of such wise and just legislation as will adequately protect the shipping, producing and consuming interests of the state, and prevent unjust discrimination In rates and shipping facilities. We favor placing private banka under state control and regulation. Primary elections and party nominations should be amply safeguarded both by law and party practice. We heartily approve the action of the state committee In promulgating wholesome rules governing the selection of delegates to state, district and legislative conventions. The state committee/is directed to consider the advisability of a further system of ?>arty rules which shall apply to county, ownsblp and other local primaries or as sembllea, and Is empowered to adopt'thy same. We demand the enactment by the legislature of such additional laws or amendments to existing legislation as may be necessary to secure fair and honest nominations of candidates by all parties. Since the succession of the Republican party to legislative responsibilities In Indiana In 1895, more than thirty important laws for the benefit and protection of labor have been placed upon the statute books of the state, and these give assurance of further measures under Republican rule In the matter of legislation for the just safeguarding of the interests of the wageearner. No state In the Union Is more ably rep resented In the House of Representatives than the state of Indiana by Its Republican members. They are men of character, ability and Influence, and the people of the state have a just appreciation of the splcn did record they have made. The Republicans of Indiana are proud of the high rank and conspicuous services of Charles W. Fairbanks and Albert J. Beveridge in the senate of the United States, and most heartily approve the record of each of these distinguished leaders in that great legislative body. We congratulate all friends of wise and sane governmental policies on the return of Mr. Fairbanks to the senate for a second term, by the last General Assembly. Likewise, the next GAeral Assembly should act with equal wisdom in returning Albert J- Beveridge as his own successor to the place In the national councils where his splendid talents bsvo brought honor to his state and nation. We unreservedly endorse Senator Beveridge for re-election, and commend him to the Republican delegation In the next General Assmbly as the choice of the Republicans of Indiana, and ae deserving the unanimous support of the memben of his party In that body.