Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-09-09
WISCONSIN
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

| I1Ou. henry ". laws Tor Ice 1reSldenI,
and pledge our earnest efforts TO promote
| their choice at the polls.
| We especially commend to the people
| Of this State the overriding Importance
| Of speedy return to the fundamental
principles of the constitution; the preser-
walton of the respective powers of the
different departments of government as
therein Defined reformation of the tar
| 1T so that it shall no longer exact from
| the earnings of consumers to increase the
! riches of favored classes and further con-
| tribute to the building up the trusts and
| combinations which Cypress the public
| and destroy individual enterprise and in
| dependence; the deliverance of our repub-
lie from the unnatural character recently
assumed as the oppressor of people seek
| ing freedom; and the enormous waste of
public moneys in maintenance of fleets
and army to support foreign domination
| besides the extravaganza and corruption
which have prevailed in many depart
| ments of the government in recent years.
Obey the Constitution.
| We deem it fundamental to republi-
| can institutions that the executive, legis-
| latiye and judicial departments of the
! State be maintained in the integrity and
| independence conferred on them by the
| constitution that the one should not en-
| croach upon or coerce the action of the
! other and we deem the coercion of the
! legislative by the executive, and the at
! tempted domination of all the other de-
| partments of the State in furtherance of
| personal political ambitions as destruc-
| tive of the free exercise by the several
| departments of their respective functions.
We submit to the consideration of the
| citizens of this State the utter inability
| of the Republican party to accomplish
| needful reforms that the agents and SER
| wants of the State paid to subserve the
| public interests have abandoned their
| official duties but engage at the expense
| of the State in fractional strife for pollt-
| zeal spoils, engendering personal hatred,
| animosity and division precluding beyond
| all reasonable expectation any needful
| legislation should the said party be con-
| tinued in power. And we submit that
| the remedial legislation urgently needed
| can be accomplished only through the
| agency of the Democratic party.
| The recent scandals and accompany
| ing disclosures in the offices of insurance
| commissioner and Sta,e treasurer justify
| the belief that the affairs, records and
| accounts of those offices, as we'll as of all
| other State offices, should be examined
and investigated in the interest Of the
| public welfare, which can only be accom-
| plished through a change of administra-
! ton
| This convention reminds the people of
| the State that all their relief from rail
road abuses has come from the Demo
| cratic party and the citizens must depend
l. qrH. &l,o AatTo Of
| their rights against unreasonable and ex-
| tortionate demands of common carriers.
| 1t was Democratic Legislature and
| Democratic Governor that increased rail
way taxes from 3 to per ceIt that first
| passed an anti-free pass act; that passed
| the co-employe law; that passed the law
| compelling railroads to fence their tracks;
| that passed the law compelling passen-
| ger coaches to be supplied with tools for
the protection of passengers in cases of
| accidents; that passed the law COMPEL
| ing common carriers to serve all persons
| alike without discrimination in facili-
| ties or charges.
| Tax OH Corporations.
While it must be conceded that public
! service corporations, such as railroads,
| street railways, express, sleeping cars,
| telephone and telegraph companies and
| other quasi-public corporations of like
! character, are essential to the progress
| and the development of the State and to
| the comfort and convenience of the peo-
pie, vet they should all be compelled to
| bear their just and equitable share of
| the tax burden.
| In the interest Of the shipper and the
| traveller freight and passenger rates
| should be made as low as is consistent
with fair and reasonable profits upon in
| yestment Unjust discriminating freight
| rates, however granted, should be abso-
| lutely prohibited and under penalties Sc
| we're enough to insure strict observance
| of the prohibition. Telephone rentals
| and tolls, telegraph rates and charges,
| sleeping car fares, express charges,
| street railway fares, charges for water
| service. gas and electric lighting and the
| charges of all other corporations operat-
| ing franchises granted by State and mu-
| nicipality, or doing business within the
| State. should not be in excess of a com
| pensatory and reasonable rate
! In order that intelligent and unpreju-
| diced action may be had, we favor the
| creation of q commission under a law
| to be enacted at the earliest possible mo-
ment in the next session of the Legisia
/ ture the members to be elected by direct
| vote of the people, the commission to be
| given full power. and TO make it their
| duty to examine, investigate and ascer-
| tain the earnings. expenses. investment,
| depreciation of values. loss by wear and
| tear. profits and losses and everything
| whatsoever necessary to ascertain the
| exact facts and true condition Of
every such corpora ton above referred
| to- and for that purpose to examine the
| records, books and accounts of any and
all such corporations, and to compel the
| attendance and take or secure the testi-
mony of any and all witnesses within or
without the State. as we'll as document
| airy evidence necessary or proper for the
| purposes of every such investigation, and