The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-22
DEMOCRATIC STATE PLATFORM.

we congratulate the people OF
North Carolina upon the adoption OF
the suffrage amendment to our state
constitution and upon the benefits h a
AVE resulted therefrom and we pledge
the democratic party to faithfully
maintain il by every legitimate means
and We demand that the republican
party shall declare its purpose either
10 accept or reject ii, and until IL is &C
cepted as a finality by all parties We
declare it the duty Of the white people
to stand together for its protection
The democratic party, representing
the intelligence, h virtue n the
manhood OF the people OF the state, re-
calls with pleasure the entire absence
or scandals during its administration
of public affairs n the gratifying ad-
yancement that has been made
amongst us in all industrial lines. We
have fostered agriculture and promot-
ed manufacturing and have given to
capital full security and a protected
the rights of labor. We pledge the
party to a fair N just system of tax
alton and we demand that all subjects
of taxation shall bea the just and
equal proportion of the burdens of gov
eminent.
I'VE renew our pledges for the extern
sion n improvement OF the public
school system of the state, so that il
may keep pace with the needs and con-
ditions of our people, and point with
pride to the great impetus and progress
in this great work during the last two
years and call attention to the fact that
this year, for the first time in the his
tory of the state, every school district
has been able to maintain a public free
ooho - forr~ -.
the constitution. We believe that the
permanent prosperity of the people of
this state depends largely upon the
construction and maintenance of good
roads n we pledge the party to the
hearty support of all wise measures to
that end. We heartily commend and
endorse the administration of Governor
Charles B. Aycock and other state of
ficials for their faithful execution OF
the party's promises insofar as the
same has been possible thus early in
their terms of office.
we likewise extend our appreciation
and endorsement to United States Sen
ator F. NJ. Simmons and to our demo-
cratic representatives in congress and
congratulate them and the people of
the state for their faithful and official
services to the state in councils of the
nation.
1--WE affirm our %allegiane to the demo- |
cratic party and it's principles as
enunciated in its national platform.
We denounce the policy of imperialism
as inaugurated by the republican ma |
tional administration and declare it to
be obnoxious to our form of govern
ment and fraught with danger to the
very existence of the republic. We de-
nOunce as oppressive and illegal those
combinations Of capita, known as
trusts n monopolies that stifle COM
petition, throttle individual effor and
destroy the generous spirit of rivalry
that should exist in the commercial
world.
w the deceptive and
sofdid course of the republican party in
congress in furthering the e~xistences
of the trusts by its refusal to enact |
legislation restraining them and to en- |
force in good faith the existing laws
against them, that party being in the
full control of all branches of the gov
eminent.
w denounce the present Ubiquitous, |
unjust and trust creating protective
tariff, imposed upon the people by the
republican party, and demand it's i'm
mediate revision, to the end that all
unjust burdens shall be removed and
especially Upon the necessities Of life. |
It's provisions enable the trusts to ex- |
tort from the people unreasonable |
profits and to sell their products to con- |
sumers at home at greater prices than |
are charged for the same goods to the |
foreign We demand, there |
fore, that all such trust made goods be |
placed on the free list. We favor the
establishment of the Appalachian
Park and urge that our senator's and
representatives in congress use heir
best efforts to secure it's establish |
ment.
I'VE again appeal to the people with
~
democratic party that there can be ex-
pected an honest, capable and efficient
administration of the government of
the state, n point with pride to its
past history in the administration of
the affairs Of state. and challenge a
comparison with the iniquities Of fus-
ion and republican rule. We promise
the people Of the state a continuance
of that honest, safe, conservative and
economical government which has al
ways characterized democratic rule
and pledge our best efforts for the ad-
vancement of the material prosperity
and happiness of the Whole people.
THAT we favor making all nominal
tons by our party for state and district
officers by primaries and the state exc
cutive committee is hereby instructed
to formulate a system to regulate pri-
mary nomination for the United States
senate and all state and district nomi-
nations and we demand the enactment
by the general assembly of appropriate
legislation for the regulation Of such
primaries: hat an oath shall not be
required of any voter in such pri-
maries; that the state executive com-
mittee is instructed to call at such time
AS they hin wise a primary to nomi-
nate a United States senator 10 sue
ceed Senator P~ritchard, but such pri-
mary shall not be held on the day of
the general election"
A minority report was made as to the
clause in reference to the national
platform which provided:
substitute for the words: We re-
affirm our allegiance to the democratic
party and the principles as ~enunciated
in its national PLATFORM the words,
we reaffirm our allegiance to the fun
damental principles of the democratic
party"
This was voted down and the original
clause was adopted.
There was also a minority report on
the paragraph as to the selection of