The chief planks in the platform adopted at Chicago are
the Anti-Injunction plank, the Trust plank, the plank dealing with the Tariff, and the Currency plank. The first of these, the Anti-Injunction plank, is somewhat hedging and colour- less in its nature; but the Trust plank indicates a determina- tion for greater supervision and control, and greater publicity in the matter of "corporations engaged in inter-State corn- ' merce, and having the power and opportunity to effect monopolies." The Tariff plank declares " unequivocally for the revision of the Tariff by a • special Session of Congress." This, however, does not mean Tariff revision in the direction of Free-trade, for a very strong declaration is made in favour of the principle of Protection, and also in favour of maximum and minimum rates. The maximum rates are to be available to meet diseriminations by foreign countries, while the minimum represent " the normal measure of Protection." Free inter- change of products is favoured between the United States and the Philippines, except in the cases of sugar and tobacco,—the commodities which the Philippines chiefly desire to exchange. Under the heading of Army and Navy the platform has a sensible clause in favour of the policy of keeping the Republic "ready at all times to defend her traditional doctrines." We have not space to deal to-day with Mr. Taft's personality and record as a statesman, but may say that we do not doubt that if elected he will worthily maintain the traditions of the high office to which he Mipires. We say " if elected " advisedly, for though a victory for the Republican Party is probable, it is
by no means certain. , .
