The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-27


providing for fixing and enforcing liens
therefor.
Ninth We demand such further
amendments 10 the present fellow servant
law rs will attain the purpose sought
10 be accomplished thereby aud us will
protect employees of railway aud other
corporations IN their lives and against
injury.
Tcntll-Uhc democratic party will con
1inur its well established policy Of dis
DOsng of the public school lands Of the
state 10 those desiring homes, 80 ~ TO
promote. ns far ns practicable, the set
Element of the country and lis speedy de
yclOpmcnis. 10 the end that the school
fund may De more speedily Increased
from that source. We favor such logls-
lation NJ will facilitate the sale of such
lands. rather than the indclinil" pcrpcl-
uation of n lease system.
Eleventh We demand n reformation
in our criminal laws Among the re
forms impcrntiyrly demanded is an
amendment 10 III" code of criminal pro-
ccdurc authorizing The appellate courts to
presume that nll matters of venue were
proven on the trial. that the accused
pleaded to the Indictment aud that lh"
jury was sworn, unless such questions
were in issue in the trial court and w"r"
there acted upon before appeal; an
amendment 10 article I23, Code Of Grim
ina Procedure, 10 III" effect that ~" np-
pcllntc court shall not hc required to re-
verse Judgment unless failure 0l the
trial court 10 observe the requirements ol
1hnl article probably injured III" defend,
ant aud deprived him Of II iHlr irlnl' ana
the correction of the evil Of professional
Jury service. We further demand that
jury laws be- revised and that the num-
lcr Of exemptions from jury SERVE" he
reduced And that IN every criminal
'cnsr trials shall b" nlil," fair ana impair
tinl ns between the state and defendant,
ana 10 that end that the state hay" the
same number of pcrcmptury challenges
allowed defendant,
Twelfth We believe that lhc system of
hiring cunvicls 10 individuals or corpora,
iiOns IL contrary to public puIlcN ana
should hc discontinued at the earliest
practicable moment consistent WIN the
host interests of the state. We favor
the adoption of the amendment Ia section
I. article I. Of the constitution, submit
ted by the Twenty lourth legislature,
which will permit the investment of
portion of the school fund in agricultural
nnds for the benefit of the pcnitcnlnry
Nstcu This will provide necessary
employment for ConNlctS, restrict com
petition with free labor. assist in avoid
Ing taxation To support The pcnitcntin-
fics, aud furnish safe investment for
the fund. but the "mount of money for
this purpOsc should he carefully limited
Thirteenth We favor such careful aud
guarded laws NJ may he necessary Ia en-
able the state board of cduCntion in the
Investment of the school fund IN county
lhOnds, 10 compete with private investors,
su that this fund may not lie idle in the
treasury.
Fourteenth The constitution well de-
clNrcs that n general diffusion of knOwl-
edge is essential Ia the preservation of
liberty, and we therefore demand II care
full outstanding aud faithful admniSlrn-
tion of the school fund and revenue of
ahr state To the end that the constitutions
al provision requiring the public free
schools 10 be maintained for ut least sin
months in the year shall he observed
faithfully, and that the university. ITS
branches, and other educational instiI-
iions shall receive all proper and AIDE
umtr support for their maintenance aud
growth
Fifteenth Having founded the Con
tcdcratc home. the democratic party
takes special pride in the nrcrssaricS and
comforts II provides for the disabled he
rocs and pledges n continued improve
mont and enlargement of its benefits.
Sixteenth We pledge to all classes and
races equal protection in the enjoyment
tbt life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness, Provision has already been made
my MS for the control and management of
NOlorcd schools by cuurcd trustees. The
Prairie View normal school should he
enlarged, making provision for industrial
features and gradually converting il into
a university for the roorcd people. To
tins end we favor setting apart mmCdi-
a,oly for this purpose 10000 acres of the
wnnppruprNtcd public domain.
Seventeenth We favor the election of
United States senator's 10y direct vote
of the people.
Eighteenth We demand that our rep.
rcSrntatlNcS and senators in congress he
requested 10 USE all honorable means To
secure adequate appropriations for the
improvement of the ports aud inland
waterways of the state.
Nineteenth We demand that the con-
,inucd aud persistent discrimination hy
railways in favor of alien shippers and
against our merchants manufacturers
ana farmers shall cease.
IWCntiCth-WC hold that il is the alb
Solutc duty Of the state Ia provide ample
aud sufficient asylum accommodation for
the unfortunate insane of the state, and
We pledge the Democratic party to the ne.
ComphShmCnt of that purpose
NVnhdCnt ot the justice of our cause,
and relying upon the deliberate Judgment
of the nVoplr. we invite the cn-nnrrntinu
aud support of all citizens, Irrespective
'Nt past party affiliations, who approve
these principles aud desire an efficient
state and national administration.
tS,Sn'd( J\O II REAGAN.
Chairman.