Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-10-09

We denounce the prof.igate waste of
the money wrung from the people by OPP
prcssive taxation and the lavish appro-
DriatlonS OF recent Republican Congresses
which have kept taxes high, While the
labor that pays them Is unemployed and
the products of the peoples toll are de-
pressed in price until they no longer re-
pay the cost OF production. We demand
return To that simplicity and economy
which BELTS a Democratic government
and a reduction in the number OF useless
offices. the salaries of which drain tho
substance of the people.
We denOunce the arbitrary interference
hy Federal authorities in local affairs as
IL violation ofthe constitution of the Unit
ed States. and a crime against free in
situations, and we especially object to
government interference by injunction as
a new and highly dangerous form of OPP
preston by which Federal Judges, IN
contempt of the laws OF the States and
the rights Of citizens, become at once
Legislators, Judges and eXecutioners. and
we approvethe bill passed at the last seS-
sion OF the United States Sci ate, and now
pending in the House of Representatives
relative to contempts in Federal courts,
and pro:iding for trial by jury in certain
cases of contempt.
No discrimination should be in
dulged in 10y the government of the
United States in favor of any OF its debtors.
We approve of the refusal of the Fifty
third Congress 10 pass the Pacific railroad
funding bill, and denouuce the etfor. of
the present Congress to enact a similar
measure.
Recognizing the just claims of deserving
Union soldiers, we heartily indorse the
rule OF the present commissioner of pen
slons that no name shall be arbitrarily
dropped from the pension rolls and that
the tact of enlistment and serving shall
he deemed conclusive evidence against
disease and disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission of the terri
tories of New Mexico and Arizona into
the Union as States. and we favor the
early admission of all the territories hav
ing the necessary population and re-
sources to entitle them TO statehood, and
while they remain territories we hold
that officials appointed to administer the
government of any territory. together
with the District of Columbia and Alaska,
should he bona tide residents of the terri
tory or district in which their duties are
to be performed.
The Democratic party believes in home
rule, and that all public lands of the
United States should be appropriated to
the establishment of tree homes tor
American citizens.
We recommend that the territory of
Alaska be granted a delegate in Con-
gresS, and that the general land timber
laws of United States be extended to
SAID territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people
of Cuba in their heroic struggle for liber-
ty and independence.
The Federal government should care
tor and improve the Mississippi river and
other great waterways of the republic so
as to insure for the interior States "A salts
factory ard cheap transportation to tide
Whom of 10
public is of sufficient importance to de-
nland aid OF the government, such aid
should be extended upon de finiteplan
of continuous work until permanent i'm.
provement is secured.
We are opposed to life tenure in the
public service. We favor appointments
based upon merit, fixed terms of office,
and such administration of the civil SER
vice laws as will afford equal opportunity
to all citizens of ascertained fitness,
We declare it to be the unwritten law
of this republic, established by the Gus
tom and usage of 100 years, and SANCTION
ed by the example of the greatest and
wisest of those who founded and have
maintained our government, that no man
shall be eligible tor third term in the
presidential office.
differences between employers engaged
in interstate commerce and their EN-
plOves and recommend such legislation
as is necessary to carry out this principle.
Confident in the justice of our cause
and the necessity of its success at the
polls. we submit the foregoing declara-
ton of principles and purposes to the
considerate Judgment of the American
people. We invite the support of all
citizeLs who approve them and who de-
sire to have to them made effective
through legislation for the relief of the
people and the restoration of the coun-
trys prosperity.