Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-09-16

The following platform was sub
mitted for ratification to the Demo-
cratic State Convention ut Ellensburg
First-The Democrats of the State of Washing.
ton, in Convention assembled. hereby re- affirm
our answering allegiance to the Chicago plat
form aud our fidelity to the leadership of that
matchless tribune of the people, William Jen-
nings Bryan.
Second-we denounce the Republican party
and its leaders for their hypocrisy. insincerity
and duplicity in pretending in national conven-
ton of that party at st. Louis In 1896 to favor
free coinage of silver by international agree.
ment with the leading commercial nations of
the world. Being called to power on that
solemn pledge. the present Secretary of the
treasury, with the sanction of President Nc.
kinley, formulated and caused to be sent to
Congress q bill irrevocably committing the
country to the single standard, retiring the
greenbacks and turning over the control Of The
nations currency to the national banks. We
assert that the money question il the para
mount issue before the people. The Federal
money metals of the United States. The first
coinage bill passed by Congress under the con =
stitutlon made the silver dollar the unit Of
value and admitted gold to free coinage at a
ratio measured by tine silver dollar unit. We
are opposed to farming out to banking corpora
tons the governments sovereign power of
issuing and controlling the money of the pco'
pie.
The act of 1873 demonetizing silver was sur
reptitious, passed without the approval or
knowledge Of the American people. This in
famous act demOnetizng silver has caused the
steady appreciation of gold, II corresponding fall
In the prices of commodities produced by the
people, heavy increase in the burden all debts,
public and private, the enrichment OF the money
lending class, the paralysis OF industry and the
Impeachment of the people.
We therefore renew our demand for the free
and unlimited coinage Of both silver and
gold at the present legal ratio of l6 TO l. with
out waiting for the aid or consent or any other
nation. We demand that standard silver dollars
shall be full legal tender. equally with gold,
such legislation as will prevent for the future
the demonstration of any kind Of legal tender
money by private contract.
1hird-We condemn the Dingley tariff as the
most oppressive and iniquitous bill that has
ever disgraced our statute books. II was en-.
acted on the imperious demand OF corporations
| and trusts which contributed to the scandalous
amount OF sl6, OO6 ,OU 1t taxes the masses for
| the benefit Of the classes; It forbids the ex-
pxnsion Of our commerce anc deprives the
producers of the great American staples of &C
cess to their natural markets. The Democratic
party 10 In favor Of such tariff as, In conjunc-
tOn with an income tax, will produce a revenue
amply sufficient for the needs of the govern
nounce all forms of taxation which has for its
primary object the enrichment of the protected
classes to the great injury and impoverishment
Of the producing masses.
\
come tax to the end that industry may be less
| burdened. and that the aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, aud, IL
| necessary, we favor an amendment to the
Federal constitution authorizing the levy and
collection of such tax.
Fifth-We demand the immediate construction
and control by the United States government of
the Nicaraguan canal as \ measure of the high
est importance to the American people, and
| necessary for the protection and expansion OF
| American commerce, and perfection of our ma
tional defense.
| Sixth-The war with Spain upon all principles
| of humanity. patriotism and law of nations, was
| a just, righteous and necessary one on our part
| and We heartily indorse the action of Congress
| In declaring war against spain, and we point
with pride TO the acts Of Democratic Congress
men in forcing an unwilling administration TO
| declare war. and afterwards giving to that war
| their uureserved support; and we commend
| them for opposing the bond feature of the war
revenue bill, as an unjust discrimination which
permits the corporations and rich to escape
taxation. while It saddles the tax upon the poor
| and those least able to bear the burden.
| Seventh-We denounce unfair and bitterly
partisan the discrimination of the present Sec
| rotary Of War Us carried out by his department
| against the volunteers from this State, in re-
Q1ring them to remain at home while troops in
| vast numbers from Eastern States were trans.
ported ut an enormous expense across the
continent and forwarded to the seat Of war at
Manila. That the volunteers from the State of
Washington have not participated in the
| splendid achievements of the land and naval
forces Of the nation at Manila is through no
| lack of courage or efficiency on their part but
wholly chargeable to the partisanshp and
general imc0mpetency of the war department
| ResOired, That the soldiers and sailors of our
army and navy who have carried the flag OF
of their country into foreign lands in defense Of
human rights. and in vindication of the Ameri
| can honor, have covered 1t with imperisha BILE
glory, and the nation owes to those who have
! fallen as well as those who survived grateful
| and lasting remembrance.
Eighth-We heartily endorse the course pur
| sued by our United States Senator, Hon. George
Turner. and we look with exultng pride at thu
brilliant records made in Congress by our owl
illustriOus Congressman, James Hamilton Lewis
| and ". &. Jones.
| While We do not favor an aggressive policy Of
general territorial expansion, we are opposed tC
surrender to Spain any of the territory thai
penditure of blood and treasure of our people
We do not favor surrendering to Spain thu
domination of the people ofany Spanish colone,
who co operated with our forces against oul
enemy in the late war.
We are opposed to the assumption Of any
portion OF the debts of Spain incurred in obtain
| ing her sovereignty in Cuba, and also to the
| imposition Of any portion thereof upon the PEG
| pie of that island or to recognition thereof
Ninth-We favor the fullest investigation Of
all conditions existing in the Philippine islands
affecting the interests and obligations of our
country in the matter of their future treatment
and disposition. to the end that final action in
| relation thereto shall be intelligent and based
upon full knowledge of all facts that Gun Affect
the interests of the United States
Tenth-We favor the amendment of the
present election laws and the repeal OF the
provision that candidate named can appear
but once upon the Official ballot.
Eleventh-We favor the establ ishment OF q
State railroad commission directly responsible
to the people, to the end that passenger and
freight rates may be reduced to reasonable
basis and we demand the passage OF q law IN
forcing the constitutional provision prohibiting
the receipt and use of passes by public officials
Twelye-As u n,eans of securing to the farmer
and producer cheap transport alton and ready
market for their products and staples, we favor
an open river to the sea. We pledge onr Repre-
senatives aud Senators in Congress to work
mediate opening to navigation and improve
mept Of the Snake and Columbia rivers.