Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-07-19
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the National Convention
in Saint Louis.
in Saint Louis.


tunity and free competition are essential
TO healthy and permanent commercial
prosperity, and any trust. comOlnatleh ot
monopoly tending 10 destroy these oy con
trolling production. restricting competition
or fixing prices should be prohibited ana
punished By law We especially denounce
rebates aud discrimination by transPorta-
tion companies as the most potent agency
in promoting and strengthening these an
lawful conspiracies against trade.
Interstate Commerce.
We demand an enlargement OF the pow
ers OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to the end that the travelling public
and shippers of this country may nave
prompt and adequate relief for the abuses
TO which they are subjected in the. matter
OF transportation We demand a strict
enforcement OF existing civil and criminal
statutes against all such trusts. combine
lions and monopolies. and we demand the
enactment Of such further legislation as
may be necessary TO effectually suppress
them
Any trust or unlawful combination en-
gagged in Interstate commerce which Is mo-
nopolizing any branch Of business or pro-
duction should not be permitted to trans
act business outside of the State OF Its
origin, Whenever Il shall be established
In any court of competent jurisdiction
that such monopolization exists such pro-
hibition should be enforced through com
prehensive laws TO be enacted on the sub
ject.
Domestic Development.
We congratulate our Western citizens
upon the passing Of the law known as
the Newiands irrigation act for the irriga-
ton and reclamation of the arid lands OF
the West; measure framed by Demo-
crat, passed IL the Senate by nonparti-
san vote and passed In the House against
the opposition of almost all the Republican
leaders by vote, the majority OF which
was Democratic.
We call attention TO this great Demo
ofx
as It Is. working automatically throughout
all time without further action of Con-
gress, until the reclamation OF all the
lands in the arid West capable of recla-l
nation Is accomplished, reserving the
lands reclaimed for homeseekers II small
tracts and rtgldly guarding against land
monopoly as IN evidence of the policy OF
domestic development contemplated by the
Democratic party should 1t be placed In
power.
Iathmian Canal.
The Democracy when intrusted with
power will construct the Panama Canal
speedily. honestly and economically, there
by giving to our people what Democrats
have always contended fora great Inter
oceanic canal, furnishing shorter and
cheaper Lille OF transportation and broader
and less trammeled trade relations with
the other peoples Of the world.
American Citizenship.
We pledge ourselves to insist upon the
just and lawful protection Of our citizens
at home and abroad and to use all proper
measures to secure for them. whether ma
tive born or natcralized and without dis
tinetion of race or creed, the equal protec-
ton of laws and the enjoyment of all
rights and privileges open to them under
the covenants Of our treaties OF friendship
and commerce: and IL undo. existing treat
les the right of travel and sojourn Is de-
MED to American citizens or recognition Is
withheld from American passports by any
countries on the ground of race or creed,
we favor the beginning OF negotiations with
the governments of such countries to Sc
cure by treaties the removal OF these I'M
Just determinations.
We demand that all over the world a
duly authenticated passport issued by the
government of the United States TO an
American citizen shall be proof Of the fact
that he is American citizen and shall
entitle him to the treatment due him as
such
Election of Senators.
We favor the election of United States
Senators by the direct vote OF the people
Statehood for Territories.
We favor the admission OF the terrific
ries of Oklahoma and Inulan Territory.
We also favor the admission OF Arizona
and New Mexico as separate States and
territorial government for Alaska and Por-
TO Rico.
We hold that the officials appointed to
administer the government Of any terri
ka, should be bona fide res dents at the
time Of their appointment OF the territory
or district in which their duties are TO be
performed
Condemnation of Po1ygamy.
We demand the determination Of polyg-
amy within the jurisdiction Of the United
States and the complete separation Of
church and state in political affairs.
Merchant Marine.
We denOunce the ship subsidy bill re-
Gently passed by the United States Senate
as Ubiquitous appropriation Of public
funds for private purposes and a waste
full Illogical and useless attempt to over
come by subsidy the obstruct. us raised by
Republican legislation to the growth and
development Of American commerce on the
sea.
We favor the upbuilding OF merchant
marine without new or additional burdens
upon the people and without bounties from
the public treasury.
Reciprocity.
We favor liberal trade arrangements
with Canada and with peoples Of other
countries where they can be entered into
with benefit TO American agriculture, man
ufactures, mining or commerce.
Monroe Doctrine.
We favor the maintenance Of the Mon
roe doctrine In its full integrity.
We favor the reduction OF the army and
of army expenditure to the point historic
ally demonstrated to be safe and sufd-
Client.
Pensions.
The Democracy would secure to the sur
yiving soldiers and sailors aud their de-
pendents generous pensions, not by an ar
bitrary executive order but by legislation
which a grateful people stands ready to
enact.
Our soldiers and Sailors who defend with
their lives the constitution and the laws
have a sacred interest In their just adj
mlnIstration. They must therefore share
with US the humiliation with which we
have witnessed the exaltation OF court ia
vorites without distinguished service over
the SCARED heroes of many oatties ag-
grandized by executive appropriations o1t
Of the treasures OF a PROSTATE people In
ed the compensation and allowances OF
the military oi1cers.
Civil Service.
The Democratic party stands committed
to the principles OF civil service reform.
and we demand their honest, Just and Inn
partial enforcement.
We denounee the Republican party for
it's continuous and sinister encroachments
upon the spirit and operation OF civil ser
vice rules whereby II has arbitrarily dis
pensed with examinations for Office In the
Interest OF favorites and employed all man
ner Of devices to OYerreach aud set aside
the principles upon which the civil ser
vice was established.
School and Race Questions.
The race question has brought countless
woes to this country. The calm wisdom OF
the American people should see 20 II that
1t brings no more.
To revive the dead ans hateful race and
sectional animosities in any part Of our
common country means confusion, distrRc-
ton Of business and the reOpenng Of
wounds now happily healed. North, South.
East and West have but recently stood to-
gether In line Of battle. fr, m the walls OF
Pekia to the hills OF Santiago, end as
sharers Of a common glory and common
destiny we should share fri ternally the
common burdens.
We therefore deprecate and condemn the
bourbonlike selfish and narrow spirit Of the
recent Republican convention at Chicago
which sought 10 kindle anew the embers
OF racial and sectional strife and we ap-
peal from Ii to the sober common sense
and patriotic spirit Of the American peO-
Pile
Republican Administration.
The existing Republican administration
has been spasmodIc. erfatic, sensational
spectacular and arbitrary IT has made IL.
self satire upon Congress. the courts ana
upon the settled practices and usages OF
national and international law.
II summoned Congress Into hasty and
futile extra session and virtually adjourn
ed e. leaving behind its nlght from wash
ington nncalled calendars and uDaccon-