Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-10-10
THURSTON COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
&c PLATFORM.

The Democratic party now as ever
champions the cause Of the useful portion
Of the people: That is: the laborer, the
farmer, the legitimate business man and
the producers of wealth in all the walks
Of life. We still believe "thst govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent Of the governed"
We oppose the imperalistic policies OF
the Republican party.
We are not In favor Of wars for conquest
or ior the purpose Of depressing. or de.
spelling helpless people.
A true republic rests on true liberty,
The masses Of the people should be the
soyereiRns. and not the mere agents or
servants Of gigantic trusts and corpora
tons.
In accordance with these principles we
adopt the following rs our platform:
we demand the enactment Of such laws
by the Legislature a. will control and
regulate railroad tariffs within this State
until such time as the railroads shall have
become the property Of the government,
Of which public ownership, we believe to
be the only true solution OF the railroad
question.
Wecontend foEequitable taxation of cor
porations. and that large individual prop
erty owners should be compelled TO nay
or business man or farmer.
We favor efficient laws to compel a.
prompt payment Of taxes by the large
taxpayer ~ the smaller one and we
would discourage the practice of resort
ing 70 our courts to evade or postpone the
We commend the work done by our 10
cal Taxpayers League in its efforts to
eliminate extravaganza in the public SER
vice ana We urge all citizens to take an
tnteres IN the work Of reform In taxation.
The future welfare Of our nation de.
pends on tne training given our children
We are therefore in favor of making
our schools the best possible aud to that
end favor the payment of good salaries to
efficient teachers. and we deprecate all
attempts to mako q partisan political ma
chine out Of our school system.
We deem it advisable to provide for the
election Of our county Superintendent at
the annual school elections when district
directors are elected, thus giving our
wives and mothers an opportunity to ex.
presssa choice for this important Office.
We cordially endorse the efforts of or
ganized labor to ameliorate the conditions
Of the wage-w0rkor and approve the laws
recommended by the State Federation OF
Labor, Is follows:
First-A bill for the safeguarding OF
dangerous machinery;
Socono-A Dill providing that cOntribu
tory negligence on the part of the plain
tif. in Q suit to recover damages for per.
sOnal injuries, shall not In itself be 8
sufficient defense, when it is shown thai
the defendant has been q violator Of the
law requiring the safeguarding OF ma
chinery;
Third-A bill defining who NAV b.
fellow servants; and
Fcurth-A bill establishing eight hour,
as days work for mechanics and labor.
ers employed by, or for, the State O
WHEREAS, This convention consider,
such legislation just and right. therefor,
be it
Resolved. That the legislative nominee,
Of this convention be Instructed, in cas-,
OF their election, to assist by their yot,
and influence in securing the passage O
efficient laws Of the character described
and 1t it recommended to them that they
endeavor to unite with the State Fedora
ton of Labor ON an early agreement q.
to the form OF this Legislation and tina
the delegates Of this convention be in
structed to endeavOr to secure from thu
State Convention Q resolution declaring
the passage Of such laws to be Q Vart O
the policy of the Democratic party in tn,
State of Washington.
| We favor Q system Of direct legislation
as the best means OF abolishing the lobb,
and protecting the people against til,
abuses of legislative power.
We pledge our candidates to the Legis
! lature, il elected, to refuse to accept fire.,
passes from the railroad comranies anC
TO support an anti-paSS law In conform