The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-09-11
ONO DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Following is the platform adopted by
he State Democratic convention at San
| husky:
In State convention assembled we. the
Democrats OF Ohio. hereby acknowledge and
declare our continued allegiance to the Dem.
,cratic party "f the nation and on national
issues rPa firm and indorse the principles
aid down in It's last national platform
adopted at Kansas CiIy and fully and amy
represented iii the presidential campaign OF
1900 by William Jennings Bryan. Regarding
hose principles opposed TO Imperialism
and colonialism. rs opposed to government
~ injunc tion. as opposed 10 trusts and trust
fostering tariffs. as opposed TO nnanclal mo,
uopOly and as opposed 10 all other iegalizsh
mOnopOlieS and privileges we rcnuehia
every effort to reprdlate or ignore them.
In State and municipal affairs we pledge
our party To faithful application OF thoSe
democratic principles. 10 the END that tne
burdens of taxation piar he equallzed anu
home rule and local self government be es-
tablshed and preserved.
Under the lons-continued control of the
Republican party in this State monopoit
has been f0stered and protected: the farmer
and the small home owner have been bur
iened with excessive taxes that the bene-
iciaries and favOrites Of that party might
be permitted to escape their just snare OF
the public burdens; our public institutions
have been wastefully and inefiiciently man
aged and in them sclndIlouS and cruel
wrongs have been practiced upon tine de
and small shippers continue TO sufer from
unjust discrimination at the hands OF mn
| regulated monopoly: the tine system OF mu.
1icipal government has been wrecked anu
the credit Of cities destroyed. thereby pro
1ucing spirit Of insecurity and unrest IN
all public affairs The people can no longer
trust the administration of their anairs 20
j party thus recklessly devoted TO inter
ests adverse to the public welfare As
more specific statement of our princip.es
upon these and other public questions We
declare:
That all taxable property should be ap
praised by assessing boards. which should pe
in session for at least part OF each year
md whose proceedings and deliberations
should be open to the public: that power
be given to employ representative 70 pre-
sent the interests OF the public in hearings
before these boards and that in making as
sessments all property should lie appraised
at not less than its salahle value
That the present laws for assessing the
property OF steam railroads and other pub
lie service corporations should be so changed
as to compel the assessment or tnnse proper
ties at not less t1an their >aiable value as
going concerns and to prevent their evasion
of just taxation.
That to prevent evasion of State taxes by
discriminating valuations 4 separation OF tne
sources Of STATE and local revenues Shouid
he made. Ard to that end we neartiiS IN
dorse the constitutional amendment now
pending before the PEOPLE and to be voted OF
next year which will permit classification OF
taxable property.
That all public service corporations should
lie required 10y law to make sworn publit
reports and that the power of visitation and
examination over such corporations should
the end that the true value Of the privileges
had by such corporations may be made
plain to the people.
That the acceptance OF free PASSES OF
other favors from railroads by public OF
fcers or employees should be adequate ground
for their removal from Office.
That the denial Of the right of peacatla
persuasion in times Of labor disturbance is a
denial of th,. right of free speech AMI that
government by Injunction. IL persisted in
Will wreck the liberties Of the people
That demand the enactment of code
which provides absolute home rule Tor mu
nicipalifies which shall include the right
to establish the merit system with civil
service. under which that system. as now
In use in fire and police departments. may
he strengthened and perfected and be ex
tended to other municipal departments. par
ticularly TO water and lighting plants now
operated by municipalities. and to street car
and all public service plants as they may
hereafter be established under municipal
ownership and operation
That we condemn the vicious and corrupt
bargain between the boss of Cincinnati and
Ohio's United States Senators TO force
through the legislature 4 code that viii fosf
upon the municipalities Of Ohio Cincinnatis
form of government in order that the power
of its boss may lie preserved On the one
hand anu on the Otntr nIilu WILL ptrpttulte
existing street railway franchises which
Ohio'S United States Senators represent
That the municipal code should protect the
public against all clauses which may be
clandestinely placed therein in the special
Interest Of public service monopoiles by re
1uiring that all ordinances granting. renew
! ing extending modifying franchises shall
| be imperative until confirmed by majority
vote OF tie people OF the municipality; and
| we are uualterably opposed TO the granting
4 of any perpetual franchise.
That until United Stiles Senators are re
| lUired by amendment To the federal cInsti
| tuition to be elcted by popular vote nomina
I tions of candidates for United States Senl
tor should be made by State conventions
! And we hereby direct that in the official cat
for the next Democratic State convention OF
Ohio there be embodied a clause PROVIDING
! Tor the nomination Mt that convention OF the
Democratic candidate for United States Sen
ator and clause providing for action by
said convention upon all the amendments &c
/ the State constitution then pending before
| the people.
Upon these principles Of home rule ans
| Just taxation ard TO the accomplishment OF
these purposes in municipal and State af
fairs invite the cooperation of all citi
lens of Ohio. regardless of their party afhl
ations national questions. hereby sol
.mnly pledsins our candidates TO the faith
tul observance of this declaration both ir
letter and spirit.