The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-10-15
STATE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

We, the chosen representatives of the democrat tic
party in Iowa, in delegate convention assembled
hereby declare faith in the fundamental
principles OF the democratic party and renew our
allegiance thereto.
We find much in the domestic affairs of the mai ion
hatought to be changed. The tariff policy origin
adopted for the avowed purpose Of raising
revenue to meet the enormous burdens of the civil
war; has been turned to use of individual and class
interests until it has become the countless
unearned fortunes and the shelter of huge combira
tions of capital, organized in the form of trusts
which are stranglng competition iii many of our in
dustries destroying individual effort branching am
biton largely III every line of industry and already
requiring power which enables them to dictate to
their OWN interest the prices of labor and raw
ial and the of transportation and of finished
products.
Wedelare our unqualified opposition TO the princi-
pie of government by injunction.
We renew our demand for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the people.
We demand economy in the. administration OF state
affairs. repeal of the nuict law and the enactment of
IL local option law.
We demand the contracting for the state with the
lowest responsible bidders.
In the interest OF the much needed improvement of
public roads we favor state aid-in the building OF
permanent highways
We are unaterablv opposed to the policy of i'm
periasin by this government instituted fosrered
and maintained by the republican party. And we
demand that government shall declare it to be its
purpose, aud without delay adopt such measures rs
shall give to the people OF the Philippine Islands and
Porto Rico their inalienabe right to self government
We condemn the republican party for its financial
policies which would foist upon the country an I'M
stable currency based upon uncertain private securi-
ties.
fWe protest against the plan presented in the AID
rich bill recently before the United States senate by
which the money OF the nation shall be loaned to can
ltaiias uaon the bonds and securities of private cor
poratons, effort 10 give value and stability 10
watered bonds and securities OF corpora lions and
trusts, many OF which are maintaining ncgopoies in
defiance OF law and public sentiment.
We insist thai the integrity OF the money OF the
nations pc guarded with jealous care and demand
Is liz f,n.gf Il,
OF the business Interests Of the country, and that it
shall be safeguarted by careful legislation 20 AS TO
prevent the gamblers from Wall street from corner
ing the money market, thu, inhctimg untold injury
upon the smaller business men, the farmers an, Ia
borers of the land
We point with pride to The lun,lredh anniver-
siry OF the achievements OF that great diplomat and
democr7tc statesman. Thomas Jefferson under whose
administration the Louisiana territory, OF which Iowa
'1Sas a part was secured from foreign power in a
peaceful and civilized way without the loss life
yet with the consent of the governed.
In the grcst exposition to be held in st. Louis in
1904, to properly commemorate this event the people
OF Iowa should take prominent part and make a
creditabe exhibit of the products of the soil and the
work of the crafts.
We deplore the corrupt condition of the government
service in the post Office department and demand II
thorough investigation OF that aud other departments
by a congressional committee, publicity AZ to such
conditions and punishment of all wrong doors.
AS the most alarming features of present
sditions are the evils which from trusts and as
these evils made possible by legislation favoring
1eges, and by monopoly OF original sources Of supply of
natural products, therefore, the end that the evils
be eliminated, call for the removal of the tariff
from all trust made articles, and demand that all
tariff schedules shall be adjusted with view OF tariff
for revenue only.
We ask for such changes in our law, statutory Or
consttu. ional, will limit ME charges by railroads
10 such amount will yield only reasonable
return the capital actually invested and will rem
der it impossible for transportation favois to be
granted to any one, and such will make certain
taat all railway companies will be treated alike,
such statutes to provide penalties that will he eff
5ectua 10 secure compliance with them.