The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-09-10

| act. OF IlllS treicneTy 10 III parry
and violation of their pledges TO ile peo'
pie, every one of them has been rele-
gated to private life by the Democratic
party. While conceding that some Ohio
Democrats are corruptly allied with the
| privileged corporations, we ask the peo-
pie Of the State to observe an important
! fact in that connection. In the Demo
cratic party. as now organized, Demo-
Gratis who serve such alliances are pun
isked, whereas, in the Republican party.
as now controlled, Republicans who made
such alliances are rewarded.
We believe that the awakened voters
of the Republican party in Ohio will no
longer tolerate the betrayal of the public
interests and their own confidence by
their party managers. Republicans by
thousands have refused TO do so
| in the city of Cleveland. where the
Democratic party is now success
| fully leadinfi the fight of the people
against the privileged corporations and
their confederates in both parties. But
this is State fight and must be wased
in every part of the State. The Legisla-
ture must be recovered from the corpora
tions and restored to its proper place as
| an agent of popular government.
The fight for that object must be un-
| faltering and unremitting. 1t must be
| not for one campaign only. but for all
campaigns until the corporations are
driven out of politics. The present cam
paign is especially opportune fQS this
purpose. The absence from it of every
reasonable ground for solicitnde respect
ing national issues. enables the people
to express themselves without hesitation
or reservation in favor of home rule and
Just taxation and against the continued
reign of privileged corporations in the
State of Ohio.
As more specific statement of the
principles and purposes of the Democrat
ic party of Ohio on these and other Ques-
| tions, we declare:
]. All taxable property should be ap-
praised by assisting boards, which should
be in session for at least part of each
year. Their proceedings and delibera-
tons should be open to the public; and
power should be given for the employ
ment of representative of the public
interests at hearings before them. In
making assessments all property should
be appraised at its salable value.
2. The present laws for assessing the
property of all public service corporations
should be so changed as to compel the
assessment of those properties at their
salable value as going concerns and to
prevent their evasion of just taxation.
3. To prevent evasion of State taxes
by discriminating valuations, separa-
ton of the sources of State and local
revenues should be made. We, there
fore, heartily indorse the constitutional
amendment now pending before the peo-
pie and to be voted on at the coming
election, which permits classification of
property for taxation.
4. We favor the constitutional amend
ment for single liability of stockholders
and oppose those for the veto power and
representation of all counties and classi-
fication of cities.
5. All public service corporations
should be required by law to make sworn
public reports. and the power of vista
ton and examination over such corpora
tions should be given to the proper audit
ing officers to the end that the true value
of the privileges held by such corpora
tions may be made plain to the people.
g. DenOuncing the acceptance of free
passes and other favors from railroads
by public officers or employees, and declar-
ing that this should be adequate ground
for their removal, we pledge the Demo-
cratic party of Ohio to the enactment
of laws giving the people of the State
the benefit of a uniform rate of railroad
fare at &c per mile.
T. The denial of the right of peace
able persuasion in times of labor dis
turbances is a denial of the right of free
speech. Government by injunction, if
persisted in, will wreck the liberties of
the people.
6. We favor absolute home rule for
counties, cities aud villages, with refer
ence to their local affairs; and demand
that the merit system of civil service in
cities, as now in use in fire and police
departments, be strengthened and per-
fected, and be extended to other NUM-
cipal departments, particularly to NUM-
cipal water and lighting plants already
authorized by law, and to street car and
other public service plants as they may
hereafter be established under munich
pal ownership and operation.
8. The municipal code should lie
ohiShuSo oS ~ ACHuhC Shot an
granting, renewing, extending or modi-
flying franchises shall be imperative un-
til confirmed by a majority vote of the
People of the municipality, and to pro
hibit perpetual franchises altogether. We
pledge ourselves also to the principle of
the initiative and referendum in all other
matters of legislation. In doing this we
emphasize our faith in the integrity of
the people and our belief that they
should be permitted to retain in their
own hands IS much of their sovereign
power as is compatible with the conven-
lent transaction of public business.
10. Whereas, railroad and mining cor
pOrations have gone into the business of
insuring against accidents and death
among their employees, fixing the rates of
insurance arbitrarily apd compelling EN-
ployes, as a condition of employment. not
only to invest in such insurance but also
to waive all claims for injury sustained
in the course of their employment. both
in their own behalf and in that of their
and whereas such contract;
of waiver are opposed TO public
policy; therefore, we favor the en-
actment of laws making null and void all
contracts by employees of railroads and
mining corporations and of other en-
ployes, for the waiver and forfeiture of
claims for injuries sustained in such en-
ployment.
II. Among the most prominent sub
jects to come before the Legislature at its
next session is a proposal to enact gen
eral law for the regulation of the public
school system of the State. We hereby
pledge every Democrat who may be elect
ed to the Legislature to work for the en-
actmefit of a school law that shall pre-
serve the principles of home rule in
school matters and safeguard the chill
dren of the State and their parents from
the frauds and extortions of book trusts.
In this we invite the cooperation of ev-
cry citizen who believes in the purity of
that great American institution-the
public school
Il. Under the lOng-continued rule of
the Republican organization in the State
corruption has grown up in
the administration of county affairs by
reason of the so-called fee system. We
nj laIu hn Of hn