The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-07-03

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all these evils we hereby pledge
our party and its nominees.
We promise an administration
absolutely clean, incorruptible and
pledged to a dedication of the
powers of public position to the
public veal.
We aim at the Punishment from
the precincts of the Legislature of
the lobbyist, the vote broker, the
bribe giver and taker, the franchise
robber and the hordes of party de-
pendents looking to the public treas
ury for pay for corrupt party SER
vice.
We assure the business interests
of the state absolute exemption
from pinch" legislation; from
threatened enactment of oppressive
laws designed only to invite bribery
as the condition Of peace and pro-
lection from annoyance.
Corruption lobbyists, no longer
needed for protection against the
schemes of plunderers, will cease
to exist, and thus will disappear
the temptation $50 often yielded toy
to use their power Improperly to
influence legislation affecting pub
lie interests. An honest admins
tration will assure the business in
terests of the state absolute exemp-
ton from the forced levies ofpoliti-
cal parties and leaders.
BALLOT REFORM PLEDGED.
To the people of the state we
promise equal and just laws, pure
and economical administration and
an invitation to public positions of
pure, honorable, upright and able
men. to take the places of the
scurvy politicians who now disgrace
them.
We denounce those who control
the Republican organization for
their refusal to fulfill their party
pledge to give ballot reform to our
people. In its formal platform Of
1900 it solemly promised this re-
form. SO clear was the pledge that
the senior Senator from Pennsyl-
vania himself declared in writing
that if the Republican organization
failed to discharge this obligation
it would sink finally into merited
infamy.
Yet at the dictation of those who,
through ballot frauds, control one
Of the great cities of The state, all
ballot reform legislation was throt-
tied and the merited infamy fully
earned.
Corruption and frauds, either at
primaries, conventions or general
elections, are absolutely destructive
of the spirit of republican institu-
tions and incompatible with good
government. In order to secure to
the people the power to govern
themselves and secure the perpet-
uation of republican government,
the Democratic party is hereby
pledged to the adoption Of uni
form primary election law, a person
al registration in all the cities of
the Commonwealth and a free,
equal and secret ballot; assuring to
all citizens equal rights and afford
ing the greatest facilities tor indie
pendent voting, and to make the
appointment of overseers and the
opening of the ballot boxes obliga-
tory when demanded by citizens.
LABOR UNIONS COMMENDED.
We recommend that all Demo-
cratic candidates for the Legislature
pledge themselves in case of election
to use all honorable means to secure
the adoption of these measures.
We deplore the existence of the
labor trouble now affecting import
ant industries and large portion
of the people of our state, and ex-
press the earnest hope that through
concession, moderation and fair
dealing an early adjustment may
be reached. While we concede to
capital its right to the utmost pro-
lection guaranteed it by the Consti-
tuition and the laws, we declare it
as the conviction of this convention
that labor also has the right to that
protection which comes through
organization and union. We be-
lieve that labor unions organized
tor the betterment of the condition
OF wage earners, acting within the
limits of the law, and not subver-
slve OF public order, are not only