Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-09-13

10, anu AoI that purpose 70 examine me
records, books and accounts of any and
ali such corporations aud to compel the
attendance and take or secure the teSti-
mony of any and all witnesses within OF
without the State, as well as document
AIRY evidence necessary or proper for the
purposes of every such investigation. aud
with like power and authority to inves-
tigate all charges of unjust discrimina-
ton, such commission to make report to
the Governor in respect to any. each or
all of such corporations whenever reqpir-
ed. and to the Legislature at each SEES
sion thereof or at such other times as
may be deemed advisable CT all of its
doings with testimony and evidence so
taken and with its recommendations and
suggestions in order that the Governor.
may cause proper actions or proceedings
to be brought in view of the facts re-
ported and that the Legislature. in whom
all power TO make laws resides. may
enact such laws from time to time in re-
spect thereto as shall be just and right.
We favor law compelling the rail
way companies operating railroads in
this State to sell mileage books at a fat
rate of cents per mile.
The betterment of methods Of railroad
taxation. as well as of all public taxa
ton. is subject of first Importance and
Of gres' dificulty. which win be best
effected by the least political interference
and the most honest and profound study
OF conditions and the true principles of
taxation. To that end commission
some years ago was created by law.
! which has hitherto given wise and eff
GENT service 10 the object proposed; and
the Democratic party of Wisconsin
pledges its hearty and continued support
To that commission and particularly to
its efforts now in progress 10 secure JUS
tice 10 the people in the taxation of rail-
road property. and to such further at
tempts or amendments as experience and
study. the only safe guides. shall prove
desirable Primarily. however, the Dem
ocratic party demands. as partial solu-
tion of the question of taxation. that the
| expenses Of government in State not less
than nation be radically diminished by
! restraining it 70 strictly governmental
| functions and by combining expenditures
10 necessary public purposes instead of
extending them, as now. to benefit adj
ministration favorites or to promote the
! political advancement Of party or factor.
Primary Law Election.
| We are opposed TO th&primary election
! law passed by the last Legislature. 1t is
undem0cratic because it destroys the
right Of the people to assemble to con-
slider men as candidates and principles
for platforms. 1t takes from the people
the right to direct the official conduct of
! their public servants by the adoption of
platforms before the nomination of can
/ didates Ii gives to the candidates after
| their nomination the exclusive power to
make their own platforms; it would Gre
ate great and unnecessary expense to be
/ paid from the public treasury; it would
deprive the minority party in every cleo
ton district Of the right to nominate its
own candidates, and would in effect place
IN the hands of the majority party pow
er to nominate not only its own eandi-
dates but to nominate candidates for
/ the minority as Well But should the law
he made operative by vote Of the people,
we pledge the Democratic party to SO
modify and amend the measure as to
eliminate the aforesaid objectionable fea-
lures. Should the people refuse TO APP
prove of the law we promise TO so amend
the existing primary and caucus laws as
to secure to every voter the free and
unrestrained right to express his choice
in the nomination of candidates. to re-
quire the primaries of all parties to be
held on the same day and at the same
time. and to preserve the purity Of Dri-
mary elections.
We are heartily in favor of protecting
the fish and game Of the State, but be-
lieve it can be more effectually and more
/ economically accomplished by employing
the regularly organized police force Of
the State and without the Intervention Of
a great army Of game wardens, who de
vote their time 10 political and partisan
work rather than to the discharge Of
their official duties.
We favor an amendment to section /
Of article of the State constitution re-
lating to taxation, and providing for a
graduated income tax. and we pledge
each and all of the Democrats elected to
the next Legislature to support such
amendment as provided by joint resolu-
ton No. II Of the Legislature of 1903.
We condemn the pernicious activity OF
State and federal officials in party eau
cuses and conventions. We declare that
the said officials have in the past four
years in this State unlawfully devoted
their time paid fos out of the public
treasury. to partisan politics, greatly to
the injury of the public service.
We are opposed to the creation by aa-
pointment OF multiplicity Of boards and
commissions which are too often used for
the purpose of political patronage and
are employed for political lessons. We
believe that when conditions are so inn
portant as to demand the creation OF q
separate board or commission of perma-
nent character, that their Importance de-
mands that the members thereof shoIid
be elected by the people TO the end they
may be held directly responsible to the
people.
We aver the adoption Of laws regulat-
ing the use and speed OF automobiles on
streets and highways 10 the end that ac-
cidents from such cause may be materi-
| ally lessened If not wholly averted.
We hereby pledge the candidates nom
mated by this convention to the support
Of the principles and the fulfillment Of
the promises herein made, and we invite
the electors OF the State. irrespective OF
| party. 10 join with rs in The support Of
snch candidates and OF The principles
herein enumerated
Real Powers.