The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-09-11
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM
Re-affirmS Fundamental Prin-
CipIes of the Old Party.
CONDEMN SCHOOL BOOK SCANDAL
Say Republican Party Keeps Hangers.On
in Office.
WHO PERSONALLY SERVE THE GOVERNOR
A Plank Which DenOunceS the Dingley
Tariff-Support Constitutional
Amendment.

The platform of the Democratic party
as adopted by the state convention last
week is as follows:
1--WE, the duly accredited representa-
tives OF the Democratic party of Wis
consin in convention assembled to nom
mate candidates for state offices, do
hereby declare;
81. We realize that the Republican
party of history has been, temporarily
at least, driven from the political field
in this state, and that in this campaign,
we are confronted by an organization
intrenched in political power, which has
debauched and will continue to debauch
the public service for the accomplish
ment of political and personal ends.
20 1t is q matter of history that the
nominee of the Madison convention Sc
cured his nomination through the active
efforts of employees of the state, who, at
his bidding organized and controlled
caucnses and conventions in his person
al interest, drawing compensation for
the time they were employed from the
treasury of the state.
so. We charge that the candidate
of the Madison convention has demon
strated his ability to mislead the people
in pretending hostility to the leaders of
his party in high places while covertly
seeking their friendly assistance in
furthering his personal ends and in at
tempting to return the favoIs received
from corporations by advising the legis-
lature in his annual message with ref
erence to the willingness Of property
owners within the state to pay taxes,
that 1.-The railway companies have been
fairer than the average individuals. !"
Senate Journal p. 25)
Condemns School Book Scandal.
"a We condemn the shameful traffic in
the nomination of state superintendent
of public instruction entered into by the
Madison convention, tolerated by the
chief executive of the state and shielded
by his organization. The conceded
barter and sale of the school interests
of the state to rapacious book agents is
ali objectionable crime against educa-
tion and should meet with prompt re-
buke from all progressive and high
minded citizens, The educational in
terests of the state should be kept out
of political strife and free from COM
mercial influences, and we appeal to the
women of Wisconsin, who have vote
on all school questions, to join us and
rally for the support of the principle
of keeping school matters out
of politics. We favor the election of
state superintendent of public instruc-
tion at the same time and in the same
manner as the judges of the supreme
court
20. The Republican party has de-
bauched our state government by Great
ing a multitude of useless offices and
filling them with political favorites
whose sole duty is to promote the polit-
ical interests of those who appointed
them, the army of game wardens, oil
Inspectors, factory inspectors, foisted
upon the people of Wisconsin by the
Republican extravaganza and misrule.
We demand the prompt and uncondi-
tional repeal of every law which provides
for useless office and adds unnecessary
burdens upon the tax payers.
Denounces Primary Election Law
"6 We are opposed to any and all
measures the tendency of which is to
deprive the people of their constitution
al right to assemble together, either in
their own proper persons, or by repre-
sentatives chosen by themselves, for the
nomination of all candidates for office
and we denouncs the Stevens primary
election bill as un nAmercan in principle
and dangerously and viciously paternal-
istic If enacted into law il would de-
stroy the elementary principles of Re
publican institutions, by subordinating
the will of the majority to that of the
plurality and which would disfranchise
the minority in large number of the
counties in the state and give cities and
municipalities great power in the selec-
ton of candidates for Office.
~. We favor the repeal of all laws
now in force, which provide for double
taxation While opposing double taxa
ton, we are in favor of uniformity in
the taxation of all property, not by law
exempt from taxation, whether owned