Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-06-17

,acred rights Of the people: true to the
saith and principles of our party, as de
clared in the platforms of our seve a
rational conventions. and proud of on
natchless leader, William j. Bryan
ealize that the is sues involved in th'
coming campaign in Pennsylvania ar
honest government. clean lOlitics an
he redemption of our state from Re
publican misrule and corruption.
We denounce the wholly unnecessary
increase of public officials and petty
,le:kships in the several departments OF
the state government, and the un-
iustifable and unwarranted increase OF
salaries. The payment of political OBJ
igations in this manner out of the stat,
treasury has already created a de
iciency of over S3,5OO. OOO crippled tn,
public charities robbed the public
schools and enormously increased the
curdens Of the individual taxpayers.
We believe that the most careful pro
vision should be made for the care of
the unfortunate insane of our state, anf
contend that the cause of the poor an,
afflicted is of far greater Importance to
the welfare of the commonwealth tina,
the creation of new offices and the in.
,rease of official salaries.
We dencunce the indecent haste dis
played and the disrespect shown the
people by the governor of the state in
the appointment to the vacancy in the
United States senate of NJ. s. Quay
who to prevent full investigation be-
fore jury of his countrymen. pleaded
the statute of limitations against thr
most serious charge of crime. In thi.
appointment. in the unwarranted re-
luction of the appropriation to pubic
schools he perpetrated wrongs against
the people and the state that demand
his condemnation.
We heartily approve of the course
pursued by those members of the Dem
acratic party in the house and senate
in the last legislative session who CON
teYded for the purity and honesty in tn
conduct of affairs and against corrup-
ton and public jobbery. and we com
mend their devotion to duty and the
high standard of reform to which they
have committed the Democratic party.
AS political organization we are
committed to a thorough reform and
promise. If intrusted by the people with
the opportunity and power to administer
the state treasury after clean and simple
business methods for the advantage of
the taxpayers of the state: and prompt
Dayment of school and charitable apprO-
priations as well as the moneys due the
counties, and not to withhold them in the
banks for the enrichment of politicians
We are committed to the thorough
purging of the list of employees in the
state departments and TIE elimination of
all unnecessary employees and a reduc-
ton of expenses.
We favor a revision of state tax laws
to the end that corporate property may
pay its due share.
We favor such Legislation as will enable
people of municipalities to derive just
benefit from franchises
We favor a revision of the ballot law
and denOunce Governor Stones veto of
the pro .'osed constitutional amendment
requiring personal registration of voters
in the cities.
We demand the immediate prosecution
of those found guilty of bribery in the
contest for United States senator.
We are opposed to all combination of
capital calculated to produce monopoly
or restrain trade as being inconsistent
with the spirit of free institutions, and
If their establishment cannot be con-
stitutionaliy prevented we hold that