Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-09-19
THURSTON COUNTY DEMOCRAT
&c PLATFORM.

The Democratic party now a. ever
Oh mpions 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
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 conQue
or for the purpose Of Expressing or de-
spelling helpless people.
A true republic rests on true liberty.
The masses OF the people should be the
sOyereigns, and not the mere agents or
servants Of gigantic trusts and corpora
tons.
In accordance with these principles we
adopt the following As our platform:
We deman nd the enactment Of such laws
by the Legislature as 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 publis ownership, we believe to
be the only true solution Of the railroad
We contend foriequitable taxation of cor
pOrations, and that large individual prop
erty owners should be compelled TO pay
taxes In tho same proportion as the small.
er business man or farmer.
We favor efficient laws to compel As
prompt payment Of taxes by the large
taxpayer as the smaller one and we
would discourage the practice Of resort
ing to our courts to evade or postpone the
payment of just taxes.
We commend the work done by our To-
cal Taxpayers League In its efforts to
eliminate extravaganza in the public SER
interes in the work of reform in taxation.
The future welfare Of our nation de-
ponds on the training given our chill dren
in the public schools.
We are therefore in favor of making
our schools the best possible and to that
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
wives and mothers an opportunity to ex.
pressva choice for this important Office.
We cordially endorse the efforts Of or
ganized labor to ameliorate the conditions
of the wage-wOrkor and approve the laws
recommended by the State Federation of
Labor, as follows:
First-A bill for the safeguarding Of
dangerous machinery;
Second-A bill providing that contribu-
tory negligence ON the part of the plain.
till, in suit to recover damages for per.
sonal injuries, shall not in itself be q
sufficient defense, when it Is shown that
the defendant has been q violstor Of the
law requiring the safeguarding of ma
chinery;
Third-A bill defining who NAV be
fellow servants; and
Fourth-A bill establishing eight hours
as days work for mechanics and labor
eIs employed BY, or for. the State Of
WHEREAS, This convention considers
be it
RESOLVED, That the legislative nominees
OF this convention be Instructed, in case
Of their election, to assist by their vote
and influence in securing the passage of
efficient laws of the character described;
and it 1t recommended to them that they
endeavOr to unite with the State Fedora
ton OF Labor on an early agreement as
to the form of this legislati ion; and that
the delegates of this convention he in
structed to endeavOr to secure from the
State Convention q resolution declaring
the passage of such laws to be q rart Of
the policy of the Democratic party in the
State of Washington.
We favor q system Of direct legislation
as the best means OF abolishing tho lobby
abuses of legislative power.
We pledge our candidates to- the Le0is-
lature, If elected, to refuse to accept free
passes from the railroad COMPANIES and
to support an anti-pass law in conform
ance with the plain mandate Of the State
Constitution.
We pledge the nominees of this couven-
ton, II elected, to On economical admins
trAtion OF the county offices.