The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-09-29

In convention assembled, hereby make this de-
claration of principles:
We indorse and approve the administration
OF the president and of his cabinet, and indorse
and approve of thecourse of Hon. John L. Will
son, our Republican senator in congress.
We indorse the conduct of the administration
of President Mckinley relating to the measures
and events which led to the war with Spain,
the conduct of the war throughout, and are
now in favor of the retention of all conquered
territory.
We favor the existing gold standard, and OPP
pose the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
We indorse the action of the present Republic
can congress, which has re-enacted into law a
protective tariff, through the Dingley bill. and
restored prosperity to the country.
We favor such reform in our consular service
as will put 1t upon the same basis with that Of
any other nation in the world.
We demand the completion of the Nicaragua
canal IS United States waterway at the earli
est practicable time, and pledge our nominees
for representatives in congressIwhen elected, to
use their best efforts toward this end.
We are in favor of upbuilding the American
merchant marine and the protection of Ameri-
can rights in every quarter of the world with
an adequate navy.
We dcnounce the course OF the fusion repre-
attempt to detract from the achievements of
the national administration, and the methods
employed by them, perverting the truth.
We recommend q national system of irriga-
ton.
We recommend the establishment of o sys-
tenn of postal savings banks.
We glory in the achievements of our army
and navy in the prosecution of the war with
Spain, and especially, in the name of the peo-
pie of this state, thank the volunteers from the
state of Washington for their patriotic action
in enlisting in the defense of their country.
We demand the repeal OF the forestry reserve
order to the extent of reOpening for settlement
every acre of reserved land in this state which
is suitable for agricultural, logging or mining
purposes, and we pledge our nominees for con-
gress, when elected, to work to this end.
Firmly believing in the principle of equal
rights to all and special privileges to none. We
recommend to the voters of the state a careful
consideration of the proposed constitutional
amendment granting equal suffrage.
We favor the construction of the Puget
Sound. Gray's harbor and Columbia canal, and
the improvement of the Columbia and Snake
rivers, thus uniting all navigable inland seas
and rivers of this state with the Pacific ocean.
We recommend law which will result in a
general improvement of the state road system,
and particularly in the construction of roads
in mining localities, to aid In the development
of mines.
We recommend the enactment of law that
will compel common carriers at junction and
terminal points to transfer cars, and denounce
the present populist administration of this
state for squandering the money appropriated
by the last legislature to effect the relief herein
demanded and other needed relief in this
direction; and we demand the reasonable reg
ulation by the legislature of freight and pas
senger rates in this state.
We are in favor of the equal taxation of all
classes of property upon the basis OF value. and
we therefore oppose the amendment to the
constitution proposed by the late fusion legis-
lature upon the subject of taxation.
We are opposed to the principle OF requiring
candidates for judicial Office to pledge them
selves in advance to the carrying out by judi
cial decision of any party precepts or princi-
pies.
We condemn the partisan management by
Governor Rogers of the public institutions Of
this state.
We urge the restoration of the state normal
schools, and commend the citizens of this state
for their private maintenance of the schools,
necessitated by the failure of the last legisla-
ture to make proper appropriation.