The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-13
TAE PLATFORM.
How the Democratic Party of Vlr-
gjnia Stands.

The Democratic party of Virginia. in
convention assembled would remind the
people that the election in November
next is of vast and far reaching impor-
lance. 1t involves the choice of people
at large, by the people at large, OF their
chief executive officer. for u term of four
years, viz: Governor, lieutenant-gover-
nor and attorney general. 1t involves
the choice by the people in the Legislative
and Senatorial districts of another
house of delegates for a term of two
years and Of twenty-one Senators for
term of four years. The general assem-
bly, which with the exception of nine
teen senator's will then be charged in time
with the duty of electing county judges
of the State for a term of six years and
important administrative affairs of the
State, and a Senator of the United States
SC that the result of the election will
deeply Effect the interest of the people in
their domestic and federal concerns The
Democratic party appeals to the intelli
gence and patriotism of the people, and
vouches it's record during successive ad-
miuistratioh Of the State government has
given it title to their continued conf
uence and support.
EDUCATION.
Following the wisdom of the founder
of Democracy it has cherished and built
up system of free schools which is now
the.pride and ornament of the State. In
1898 the amount appropriated to them
was the sum OF 100000. 1t is now con.
siderably over S0CO.0OU. The Female
Normal School of Farmville. the Poly
technic Institute of Blacksburg. the vir-
ginia Military Institute, the University
of Virginia and the Hampton Institute
are all monuments of The fostering care
of Democracy to the cause of public edu,
cation. We pledge to that cause our
loyal and generous support until every
child in the common wealth shall be as
sured an opportunity OF education.
DISABLED SOLDIERS.
With meagre resources the State has
done the best it could for disabled soldiers
and the widows of soldiers who lost their
lives In the war. and we commend them
to the most generous and favor consider
alton that it is possible for the legsla-
ture to extend.
ELEMOSYNARY INSTITUTIONS.
The institutions of the State for the
insane and the deaf, dumb and blind
show the progress of Democratic care and
they shall ever be the object of cur most
tender III generous consideration.
FINANCES.
The finances of the State have been han.
died by the Democratic party with econ
Omy and skill. 1t consummated Il settle.
ment of the public debt after the subject
had been long n source of turmoil and
trouble and without increasing the rate
of taxation. We applaud the general as
sembly for it's enactments whereby pub
lie expenses were substantially reduced,
and commend to them such careful re-
vision of the laws rs will bring about
more reductions. The calling of Il con
stitutioDal convention having been de-
feated ut the polls, this convention com.
mends to the general assembly consider
alton and submission to the people of
such constitutional amendments as may
conduce to the utmost economy of the
government consistent with efficiency.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
Where gool crops test the good hus-
bandry of our tillers OF the soil, the de-
preston of prices for agricultural pro-
duce and the general depression on com
merce, mining and manufacturing hav-
Ing so pressed upon the people that no
general prosperity csn exist when agri-
culture, the basis of all prosperity and in
dustry is prostra.ed. TheDemocrntic party
of Virginia has established depart-
ment of agriculture and will always do
It's utmost to promote agriculture as
the original, purest and most beneficent
OF avocatiCns, but it well knows that the
federal system of legislation which con-
tracts the currenCyand increases taxation
must inevitably result in the depression
of agricultural prosperity and it's de-
pendent industries, of commerce, mining
and manufacture, which organized trusts
and combines to sustain high prices of
their wares, while they feed upon the ruin
Gus prices of the agricultural products
until all at last are Involved in COM
mon ruin. The conditions that now sur
round us cannot be removed by State
legislation. They can only be removed
by the restoration of the national Democ-
racy to power. The existing Republican
&C mlnistration has devised no measure
TO reiieve but an increase of tariff taxa
tion and to cover it's inability to legs-
late mas sent rowing commission to
Europe to ascertain the wishes of it's
monarchles,and has applied the universal
gag law to the House of Representatives.
we reaflirm the platform of the ma
tionai Democratic convention adopted at
Chicago in July, 1896, and upon which
william Jennings Bryan was nominated
Tor the Presidency of the United States,
ana we extend our congratulations to our
nome champion upon the able and bril-
liant manner in which he discharged the
trust reposed in him. The fact that he
received more votes than any previous
Democratic candidate for the Presidency
ana more than any candidate of any
party saving his successful opponent. is
evidence that Democratic principles are
sun dear to the vast mass of American
people, an" that Democracy is still lv-
ing IN the hope of an early and complete
triumph.
we especially endorse the doctrines of