Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-08-30
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

roiloWinS is the platform adopted
10y the State Democratic Con nvention
at Norfolk:
The Democrats of the State of Yir-
ginia, in convention assembled, re-
affirm their allegiance aud unfalter-
ing devotion tn the National Demo-
cratic party, and declare their ad-
miration for the leaders from Jeffer-
son to Bryan, who have borne the
party's standards in victory and de-
feat.
We commend the administration
of Gov. Tyler as eminently wise,
patriotic and efficient.
As a convincing assurance of the
results which may be expected from
the continued control and manage
ment of the affairs of the State by
the Democratic party, whose mem
bership embraces the great mass of
the white people of Virginia, we
point to the record Of what it has
already accomplished within a recent
period.
Since 1885 the public debt has
been satisfactorily settled, the
annually accruing interest has
been promptly met and the market
value of the bonds is nearly par.
The credit of the State has been
placed beyond question. There has
been a net gain of over 100000 in
the gross yearly revenue, without
any increase of rate of taxation, and
without any increase in the average
assessed value of agricultural lands.
The public school system mas been
steadily maintained and improved.
In 1885 there were 5000 schools,
while in 1901 they number 1888.
In 1885 the annual expenditures,
State and local, for public school
purposes was about 81, 400, 900,
while in 1901 it will exceed
$2,100,O00.
Disabled Confederate soldiers and
the widows of these, who were
killed, have been as literally cared
for as the resources of the State
would permit. The annual outlay
for pensions and for the Soldiers
Home is not less than $4,000. An
agricultural department has been es-
tablished and also bureau of labor.
Notwithstanding several years of
severe financial depression, popula-
ton has grown, cities and towns
have been established; manufact-
nres, trade and commerce have ad-
vanced; lands heretofore vacant are
being occupied and the volume of
farm products constantly increasing;
capital already invested is yielding
profitable returns and outside capi-
tai is seeking investment.
1t is settled and unfiaggiug pur-
pose of the party to further i'm
prove the public school system, to
extend the greatest possible aid to
deserving pensioners, and to omit
nothing in the way of enactments
and executions of laws that will tend
to promote the intellectual aud ma
terial progress of the Commonwealth.
We promise that in all department Is
of the government that rigid econ
omy shall be practiced, which the
taxpayers are entitled to demand.
The condition of the public roads
is matter of serious importance to
all the citizens, and we are in favor
of the adoption of effective measures
to secure the obvious and manifold
advantages to be effected by their
speedy and permanent improvement
at the expense Of the counties in
which they are located.
We are in favor of the enactmen,
by the General Assembly of a bill
modifying the fellow servant doc.
trine SO as to impose just and rea
sonable liability upon hazardous
transportation companies in respect
to their employees.
We declare unalterable opposition
to criminal trusts and to every lille
gal combination of capital. We de
nounce such trusts as serious men
ace to public welfare, restricting tn
opportunities and absorbing the sub
stance of the people. They are tn
direct product of partial and unius
legislation, and reckless multipli
cation of corporations without suit
able provisions for their control. Th
rights of American freemen mus
not be sacrificed in the interests o
corporations banded together fo
their destruction. We arraign tn
Republican party, both for its fail
ure to enforce existing laws and t
enact others against the trusts.
The Democratic party recognize
as it has ever done, the great in
lportance of the fish and oyster il
dustries of the State of Virginia an
it pledges itself to foster and er
courage these Industries by all nee
essary legislation, and that publ
rocks and bottoms shall be held fl
the exclusive use of our own citizen