Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-09-07

J. r. VIM. Snohomish;
twelfth. VIM. Payne, Jefferson: at {
large, 5. Eilicott, King.
4 recess till / 2. =. vas 'aksn -
await the report IT the Committee on .
HE PLATFORM.
The convention rcassembled at :
p. NJ.
The Committee on Resolutions pre-
sented the following platform, which
was adopted as whole:
The Democratic party ii Washington
Territory. through its representatives in
convention assembled, declares as fol-
lows:
That we fully approve oil the principles /
proclaimed by the National Democratic /
Convention adopted at st. Louis June ., ,
1888, and heartily endorse the nomina- .
ton OF Grover Cleveland for President /
and Allen G Thurman for Vice President /
OF the United states.
That we assert that the Republican
party is practically under the control OF
captalistic power. and. that III obeylng
the behests of organized trusts and cor
porations it has refused to reduce or even
modify the existing tariff rates; and We
declare that in the rejection OF the fish
cries treaty the Republican Senators
voted through partisan spirit only. and
that to obstruct beneficial legislation has
characterized the Republican party dur
ing the whole of President Clevelands
Administration.
That we most heartily congratulate
the country at large upon the successful
and prosperous condition OF the masses
and people generally, brought about and
existing under the present Democratic
Administration.
The public lands are the heritage Of
the people and should be held by the
Government as a sacred trust, to be dis
posed of to actual settlers in small hold
ings. The Government having hereto
fore, and under Republican rule. made
unwise and improvident grants of large
tracts OF the public lands to corporations
for the purpose of aiding in the construc-
ton OF important lines OF railway, and
said corporations having in many in
stances failed to construct the railway in
accordance with the generous conditions
of said grants, the Government should
now avail itself of this breach of contract
and resume control of the granted land,
thereby closing for the future forever the
open gateway through which the system
of landlordism is now bearing such sor-
rowful and calamitous fruit in the fairest
portion of Europe is effecting an entrance
to this free republic.
That we do most sincerely congratulate
the people of Washington Territory upon
the restoration to them by the Demo-
cratic Administration OF MANY thousands
of acres of land. brought about by the
decision in the Guilford Miller case, for
merly held and controlled by the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company. That
company, having more than twenty
years ago been granted lands amounting
to an empire in extent, to aid in the con-
struction of line of railroad from Lake
Superior to Puget Sound, upon the most
magnificent terms and conditions. which
terms and conditions have been fragrant
ly violated by said railroad company, it
has now no legal or equitable claim TO
those lands, and can receive none of
them except as an act OF grace on the
part OF the Government. We therefore
demand that the Government shall re-
sumo control of these lands. except such
as have been sold to bona fide puichas-
ers. In such case the purchasers title
should be confirmed and the company
should be compelled to accoun. TO the
Government for the proceeds OF such
sales. All other OF the company's enor-
nous grants should be restored 10 the
public domain, to be opened for settle
ment under the existing law Of the Uni
ted States.
That we believe the. control Of large
areas of land by individuals or corpora
tons is wrong in principle and dangerous
to the public welfare.
We favor the enactment by Congress
and the Territorial Legislature Of laws
regulating freights and fares upon rail-
roads, $50 as to prevent extOrtionate
charges and unjust discrimination, and
favor the enactment of laws imposing
severe fines and penalties upon any rail-
way company or its agents that shall
give or offer to give, directly or indirect
ly, any passes, tickets or other transport
tation to any member of the Legislature
or any other officer thereof, or to any
delegate to any political convention. We
highly commend the efforts of the Con-
gress OF the United States to control the
unjust discrimination OF great corpora
tons in the matter of freight and fares,
and urge upon that body to further
amend the Interstate Commerce act so
as to better protect merchants and
shippers.
That We are opposed to the American
policy Of interfering with or destroying
any now legally existing private or
public bushes interests, by sumptuary
laws or otherwise, without Just compen-
satiOn and due process Of law.
| No cOrdiallv apprOvp all nets IF Eou-
gress which prohibit the importation OF
contract labor into the United States,
and We urge that the principle be ex-
tended as far as possible, SO as to pre-
vent the importation of such labor from
other States and Territories into our
own Territory, and we deprecate in I'M
measured terms the employing by cor
pOrations or individuals of bodies Of
armed men, as dangerous to civil liberty
and deserving of unlimited censure, and
demand the speedy punishment of all
such persons, whether employer or en-
ployed.
We do further believe that eigh.
hours manual iah u. in the mines, mills,
foundries, building and all similar enter
prises which constantly tax the physical
energies of man, is Just and proper APP
portionment vi time for toll, and urge
appropriate and speedy legislation GO
ing to effect that end.
That we are still in favor of annexation
to Washington Territory of the pan
handle OF Idaho, and We respectfully de-
mand cOnsummation OF that measure by
Congress.
We congratulate the people of the
United States that Congress has at last
passed an. act preventing the importa-
ton Of Chinese, and express our hearty
approval of the act
We consider the admission of the
Territory OF Washington to statehood a
non-partisan question, and demand
immediate admission Of this Territory.
We favor the enactment of laws for
the protection of the life and limbs of
employees engaged in. dangerous pur-
suits.
We are in favor of the liberal appro-
priation for improvement and defense OF
our rivers and harbors, rs ably advocat-
ed by the late Samuel ]. Tilden.
THE ROsLYN TROUBLE.
]. Hamilton Lewis Of King offered
the following resolutions, which were
passed:
Be it further resolrcd, That the Demo-
cratic party of Washington Territory, in
convention assembled, do most severely
denounce as unjust, harsh and tyranni-
cal the method adopted and the course
pursued by the Northern Pacific Rail-
road Company in this Territory, of i'm
porting nonresident contract labor to