The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-04
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Senator Long Invited to Join Crusade
Against Senatorial Boodling.


in last nights session. Barney Sheri-
dan, the veteran editor of the Paola
| Spirit, was chairman of the committee
and read the platform. He was fire.
quently interrupted by applause. The
applause was prolonged when the plank
was read setting forth that an insult
had been offered to the only United
States senator Kansas has, which re-
ferred to Senator Long, in that the
Republican state committee had re-
fused to invite him to the recent Re-
publican feed for fear of hurting Bur-
toms feelings, and inviting Senator
Long to join in a crusade against SEN
atorial boodling.
At the close of the reading of the
platform delegate from Douglas coun-
ty got up and asked where the resub-
listened for it, but didn't hear it and
the pla torn didn't sound natural He
was ignored. The platform follows:
The Platform.
1--WE, the Democrats of Kansas in
state convention assembled, hereby re-
new our allegiance to the ancient and
time-honored principles of Democracy
as announced by Thomas Jefferson, and
ratify and affirm the Democratic ma
tional platform adopted in st. Louis
July 8, 1904, and pledge our hearty and
unanimous support to the nominees of
that convention, Alton B. Parker and
Henry G. Davis.
As to the Boss Busters.
Relating to state issues, we call at
tention of the people to the fact that
the Republican press of this state
charges that the last two legislatures,
almost solidly Republican, were guilty
of criminally wasting the peoples
money and legislating only in the in
terest of the corporations; that the Re
publican state convention held at Wich-
ita, on March 9, 1904, was organized and
manipulated wholly by the railroad
companies; that wholesale frauds were
T1oT nfr-of ad IN he fir,or Of dnln
gates inimical to the interest of the
boss buster crowd; that the railroad
interest nominated every candidate
placed upon the state ticket; that the
federationists. was wholly disregarded;
that some of the men nominated for
state office, acting as members of the
board of railroad assessors, with hav-
ing wrongfully raised the taxes of the
Individual and other tax payers and
lowered those of the railroads. and has
also charged some of these men with
having used their official position to re-
ward their friends with certificates of
nomination, without regard to the facts
or law governing the case, and has also
charged some of these nominees with
grave criminal offenses and has also
charged the boss buster animation
with having invaded the judiciary and
turned down one of the judges of the
supreme court as further humiliation
to the chief executive who appointed
81
and, added to all this misconduct, is the
fact that a United States
senator has been convicted of crime
committed while holding his office, (the
only United States senator convicted
in the history of the United States gov
ernment), who is the leader of the men
who now control the policies of the Re
publican party of the state and whose
followers are urgently demanding his
retention of the office, thereby depriv-
ing the people of this state of the SER
vices of a United State senator for over
a year, and, in the face of this record,
this party is attempting to ride into
office under the pretense of purity and
I'VE are in favor of an economical
administration of state affairs in all
of its branches, and we demand the re-
duction of taxes to the lowest point
possible to carry out such reform.
I'VE recognize the fact that the rail-
road corporations have done much to
develop the resources of this great state
We believe in the enactment and i'm
partial enforcement of laws to protect
them in all of their rights as great
public agencies but we demand that
such agencies shall be operated in such
a manner as will best subserve the pub
lie interest.
1--WE are in favor of the next legisla-
ture passing a railroad law embodying
the good features of the Texas and
other state railroad laws, in order that
the railroad commissioners be given full
power, after hearing, upon notice, to
make claSSif1catiOnS and fix tariffs, both |
passenger and freight, upon every line
of railroad in the state of Kansas: a |
law containing penalties for any dis |
or extortion upon the part
of the railroad companies, also penal |
ties for failure upon the part of the |
railroad companies to furnish cars upon |
the proper demand of parties desiring |
the same. A law, in fact placed upon
the statute book governing and regulat- |
ing the railroads in the state of Kan |
sas. And we condemn the action of |
the several representatives in congress
from this state, in their neglect and |
refusal to insist in congress upon the |
passage of the amendments asked by |
the interstate commerce commission |
extending the power of that commits |
sion.
I'VE demand a revision of the jury |
law in order that trials may be ex-
pedited and the taxpayers relieved of
unnecessary burdens in the way of
court costs.
I'VE are in favor of the revision of |
the existing tax laws, so that the same
may be uniform, to the end that the
burdens of taxation may be borne equi-
tably by the rich and the poor, and we
1enounce the tax law recommended by
the Republican tax commission, and
attempted to be passed by the Repub-
leans of the last legiSlatu as most |
niquitous in its provisions in favoring
the corporations as against the indi-
vidual, the passage and enforcement of
which would be most disastrous to the
best interests of this state.
The Republican Frauds.
LAS such pa1pable and unblushing
frauds were perpetrated by the Repub
leans in the state convention at Wichi-
"a and in the First and Second congress
;ional districts, whereby the will of the
majority was ignored, and thousands of
citizens DISTINGUISHED by postmasters.
)ffice seekers railroad contractors dis
srunted politicians and political strik-
RS, which has been condoned and ap-