The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-08-27
Democratic Platform.

ulist.
Democratic Platform.
Following are the three platforms
adopted at Ellensburg:
"Section /. The representatives of
the Democratic party of the state Of
Washington, in convention assem- led,
do hereby reaffirm our allegiance to the
principles of the party as formulated
by Thomas jefferson and firmly main
tanned by Andrew Jackson. We be-
lieve that a constant recurrence to those
fundamental principles OF free and
popular government, based upon indi-
vidual liberty and the consent Of the
governed. is necessary, especially when
the control of this government threat
ems to fall into the hands of aristoc-
raoy, monopoly and despotism.
"Sec. 2. We greet with hearty ap-
prevail the new declaration Of indepen-
dence enunciated by the Democracy Of
the United States of America at the re-
cent convention in Chicago; indOrse
every principle of its platform, and
pledge our united support to the candi-
dates there selected. We recognize in
the nomination of William Jennings
Bryan and Arthur Sewall an inspira-
ton from the Supreme Ruler of Ma
lions, by whose favor our country has
passed through every hour of trial and
of peril and has ever found leaders
equal to the occasion, grand as the op-
1nio RI "a
great as the greater need required.
'Sec. 8. We demand the free and
unlimited coinage of silver and gold at
the ratio of 16 to /, without waiting
for the consent of any other nation on
earth. We denounce the pretense Of
Republican international bi-metalism
as subterfuge; an attempt to estab-
lish gold aristocracy with the aid of
those who may be duped by meaning
less phrase.
"Sec. 4. We denounce the present
Republican administration of our state
as extravaganza, corrupt, scandal-breed
ing and a willful abuse Of the peoples
rights. With pretense of honoring
the memory of the great names of cham
pions of the people, it now bows down
to political bosses and has not enrolled
upon its banner the name of any man
unsubservient to the dictates of the
money power.
/ "Sec. 8. We call the attention of
the common people to the perpetuation
in our state of the gigantic Republican
ring, which uses the public patronage
to control future elections to perpetu-
ate itself in the control of the public
purse; uses the gigantic earnings Of
corporations (by the methods of Federal
receiverships) to dictate the election of
our representatives in congress and the
senate; abuses the franchise of the pub
lie press by opening the columns of it's
newspapers to but one side of public
discussions; demands of and receives
from its votaries absolute prostitution
of individual liberty to the dictates of
machine politicians.
! Sec. 6. We invite the serious at
tention of the laboring classes in our
state to the attempted control of the
elective franchise by threats on the part
OF the Republican leaders. They do
not hesitate to threaten their employees
with discharge unless they submit to
sale of the free voting right guaranteed
them by the constitution. Nor will
they stop at threats. but will openly
carry out the shameful abuse of power
unless checked by the righteous indig-
nation Of free people.
SEQ. z. We pledge the people of
this great state that when given the
control Of its government we will re-
duce the burden Of state taxation to the
lowest limit consistent with just and
careful administration of the govern
mental functions. We will stop the
present squandering of the great pub
lie domain. We will. so far as now
remains possible, use the public lands
for the benefit of the whole people, and
not for the purpose of pulling the
purse-strings of private corporations.
We will reduce the burdens laid upon
production by the greed of transporta-
ton companies, aided by legislation
purchased from Republican legisla-
lures. To this end we favor law pro-
viding for freight rates not exceeding
those of the Helm bill, and we favor
S-cent per mile passenger fare. We
will endeavor to make possible the car.
rying out of our system of public
schools, now closed as the result of Re.
publican extravaganza. Free common
schools are the nursery of good govern
ment. They should when necessity
demands, be preserved even at the ex-
pense of every other function of govern
ment. The Republican control of the
towns, cities, counties and state has re-
suited in the bankruptcy of our school
districts, and we demand the overthrow
/ Of such control
Sec. 8. We condemn the refusal of
the Republican party of this state to
divide it into congressional districts,
and pledge our party to fair division Of
the same.
Sec. 9. We condemn our present
election laws, contrived to throttle op-
position to the ring in power; pledge
our party to their unconditional repeal,
and the enactment of such laws az will
enable each voter to vote a. he pleases