Morris tribune., 1892-08-10
THE PLATFORM.
The Planks Upon Which the Democrac
= nf AIInnaankn Ctnndr

Auc AIN upon WHICH INC democracy
of Minnesota Stands.
II Democrats of Minnesota gathered In
delegate convention mtngle their rejoicing
with that Of their fellows in the nation that
the earnest voice of the rank and file of the
party was heard and obeyed by the national
convention and found expression in the nom
ination, of the able and courageous Cleveland
for our lsader and in the bold explicit declara-
ton that Republican protection is a fraud in
proof OF which we point to Homestead, where
the militia of a state is keeping peace in a
quarrel over the spoils between the real AID
the supposed benetcfaries of protection.
Elevator Combinations Denounced.
We denounce the rapacious and .onsciou =
less combination which has grown up in the
state with the connivance of Republican lie is
latures. Our grain markets have been mon
opoiized and our farmers robbed If the fruit
of their had labors. We reaffirm our belief
that t is combination rests upon the fact that
the rail Dads of til S tate have abjurod enc of
tn If rimary functions, the provision OF suit
able means for handling grain, and have
gi en- tn" S me over to the control of private
persons and we again declare our belief that
the remedy. simple but etficacious, lies in
le islation requiring the roads to resume this
proper function, thus giving to every station
a free and open market.
To Relieve the Burdens of Labor.
We recognize the great conspicuous fact
that the property of our government rests
upon labor. and that all legislation should be
shaped SO far as possible to relieve it from all
unjust and oppressive burdens, and to secure
to it its just share of the benefits of our gen.
era1 property.
State Interference in Education.
We are opposed to state interference with
paternal rights and the rights of conscience in
the education of children as an infrin cement
Of the fundamental Democratic doctrine that
the largest Individual liberty consistent with
the rights of others insures the highest type
of American citizenship and best government.
Change in State Tax Laws Favored.
We again call the attention of the voters to
the manifest injustice and inequality of our
tax laws under which wealth easily evades its
share of the public burdens and compels mod
crate accumulations to bear the part 1t shirks.
And we again invite the coming legislature to
q serious consideration of the subject TO the
end that a just, evenly bearing system may be
adopt d. D
The Democratic party has always been and
is today the consistent opponent of ell lie tisla-
ton the result of which is t. create ltw-made
wealth which impoverTshes the poor AMI those
of moderate means in order to enrich the few.
We condemn all use of the taxing powers for
this purpose. We CALI the. attention of the
people OF this state to tie fact that the min
erat wealth at the northern part of this state
is not bearing its just share of the pu:.lic bur-
dens. The nonresident millionaires who own
iron mines whose value is, at q moderate esti-
mate, SEQ t.00i, under our present statues
pay less than $4,000 per annum in taxes, In
exchange fer the votes of 1000 employees, co.
creed into voting the Republican ticket, the
Republican party has covenanted to perpet-
uate this system and to deliver to these men
the government of one of the counties of this
state.
We demand that this condition of things be
rectified. We denounce all bounties and ex-
emptions and demand that all taxes to be
raised in this state shall be as nearly equal as
may be. and that all property On which taxes
are to be levied shall have a cash valuation
and be equalized and uniform,
And we call upon all good citizens without
distinction of party to join with us in defeat
ing tho proposed constitutional amendment
known as chapter 2 of the general laws of 1891,
to be yotei upon this fall, which seeks to per-
petuate this unjust system of taxation; and
while tt pretends to levy taxes upon sleeping
ear and other similar corporations, it repeats
the existing constitutional tax of 3 per cent.
upon the gross earnings of our railroads, now
realizing for the state a revenue of $7z5,00
and annually increasing, and places the rate
of taxation upon the Earnings of such rail-
roads at the caprice Of the legislature. We
especially call attention to, and denounce the
form of ballot fe' this proposed amendment
to be voted on at the coming election. which
~ knO"u It's SeudJe liz NO.. L4,' as Del0g
especially designed to mislead the voters, and
we call upon all honest citizens to assist in re-
huking such trickery. arH
Resolved, That we are in favor of a radical
change in the laws of this state, and demand
such legislation as will provide for intelligent
and economical supervision of the building
and maintenance of our country roads.
Resolved, That TO" the better security CT
our government, we recommend an amend
ment to the federal constitution extending
the presidential term to six years ami making
q president Ineligible for reelection.
= We favor also the election Of president and
vice president and senators of the United
States by a direct vote Of the people.
Believing the contract system in force in
the 81 ,te penitentiary to be wrong in prin-
ciple, prejudicial to the interests of the state,
the welfare of the conviets, and al injustice
to honest labor, we demand its dis~continuance
at the expiration of the present contra is,
and provide FIR the employment by the state
and for the state of all convicts and persons
confined in the feudal and reformatory insti-
tutions OF the state.