Fergus County Democrat., 1904-10-25
Democratic State Platform.

the following uecldrdulOil Ol pTlIlclpleo
and pledge the nominees OF this CON
vention to be governed thereby:
believing in the principles OF dem
ocracy as taught by Thomas Jefferson,
we indorse the platform Of the ma
tional democratic party as adopted by
the st. Louis convention and declare
our allegiance to the nominations OF
Alton b. Parker for president ana
Henry G. Davis for vice president OF
the United States
"We acknowledge with gratitude
the public services rendered by our
two United States senators, especially
in securing the passage of bills open
ing to settlement the Crow and Fiat
head Indian reservations.
"We indorse the system of national
irrigation provided by the NeWlands
act. We believe that it should be
carried out by competent engineers III
a nonpartisan manner and without fa-
vor to special localities. We are glad
to learn from the congressional records
that among the earnest advocates OF
this system were Governor Toole ana
other democratic representatives from
the territory of Montana.
''We indorse the wise, conservative
and judicious administration OF Gov
ernor Joseph X. Toole. We especially
commend the action of the state
board of equalization, under his chair
manship. in increasing substantially
the assessments of railroads in this
state.
"We favor reducing the state and
county officers and boards to the
smallest possible number consistent
with the proper transaction of public
business, and to this end pledge our
legislative candidates to a careful in
yestigation and revision of existing
laws.
1--WE denounce the action of the re
publican governor OF Colorado in at
tempting to legaliZe the crimes OF
lawless mob under the preteXt OF mil
itary necessity.
I'VE denounce the unlawful depor-
tation of citizens and the destruction
of private property as the greatest
crime ever perpetrated against our
American form of government. We
pledge all officers elected upon the
democratic ticket to forever refrain
from SO turning the machinery of gov
ernment into an instrument OF op-
preston. but instead thereof we pledge
| them to so administer the law as to
secure as nearly as possible equal and
exact justice to the weak and power
full alike.
endorsing Governor Toole's recon-
mendatiOns to the Eighth Legislative
assembly. we demand:
"First-An initiative and referen-
dunn amendment, Identical in all ma
terial provisions with the amendment
adopted by the voters of Oregon and
sustained by the supreme court OF
: that state, and we pledge all members
of the legislative assembly elected
! upon the democratic ticket to vote
5 and work therefor.
: Second A state railroad commits
t sion, to be elected by popular vote.
: Third \ direct primary nomina
| tion law, conducted under the Aus
tralian ballot system, covering al
state, county and municipal electiv,
officers, and providing for the printing
of the names Of all candidates upol
e one ballot, under proper party titles
Fourth An efficient fellOw-servan
law, guaranteeing adequate protection
= to all classes of WOrkmen engaged il
: hazardous occupations, and eXpeciall
: to all railroad, mining and smelte
> employees.
Election of all importan
= state officers by popular vote.
''SiXth-A constitutional amend
ment empowering the state board @
. equalization to equalize property as
sessments in the state.
THE period of employment of work
ingmen in all underground mines an
{ in mills and smelters for the treat
: ment of ores is now fixed by law a
; eight hours per day. 1t is propose
" to embody this principle III a const
io tutional amendment, extending il
y scope SO as to cover the works or III
~ dertakings carried on or aided by al
municipal, county or state govern
y ment, and on all contracts let |
- them: and to prevent the employir
ie of children under l6 years of age
H. underground mines. We favor IL
~ adoption of this amendment at Il
ensuing election.
l' I'VE favor the election Of Unit,
az States senators by direct vote of Il
III people.
VI I'VE instruct our candidates f
1 ao congress. if elected. and our Unit,