The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-02
THE FULL PLATFORM
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED AT MINNEAPOLIS
CONVENTION.

The following is the full platform
adopted by the Democratic state con-
vention at its meeting in Minneapolis:
We abide in the spirit of the Con-
stitution and the Declaration of hide
pendence; the great historic principles
of the Democratic party-equal rights
for all and special privileges to none.
We pledge our allegiance to the can
didates and platform adopted by the
Democratic national convention; we
rejoice in the promise therein given to
restore constitutional government and
to return to the ways of peace.
We approve the bold and clear dec
laration in the national platform for
the revision of the tariff; we urge tar
if conventions with Canada, and we
especially demand that the tariff on
coal and lumber be at once abolished
We cordially concur in the motion
to equip with adequate powers the in
terstate commerce commission that it
may establish just and reasonable
rates, both to relieve citizens from ex-
tortion and to protect them from dis
elimination, by which chiefly the
trusts overcome competition and by
favor Of the tariff fatten on the COM
munity.
That justice may be speedy, deci-
sions of this tribunal should have
force Immediately, pending appeal
Private monopoly must be extin-
guished for the independence of the
individual and for the safety of the
republic. Efficient control will either
compass its extinction or prepare the
way for the only remaining alterna-
tive-public ownership.
We demand that the state railroad
commission, which is clothed with am
pie authority to put into effect just
rates, shall exercise in their full vigor
the powers conferred on them by law.
The law forbidding merger of COM
peting lines of railway should be en-
!orced against every offender.
We demand readjustment of distri.
button rates that will do away with
discrimination against Minnesota ship
pers in favor of shippers from outside
states.
Contributions by public service cor
pOrations of money to political cam
paign funds, can only be made for the
purpose of receiving or retaining priv
ileges or immunities detrimental to
the public veal. And such practice,
now scandalously general, is inimfcal
to fair legislation, fair Interpretation
and fair administration of the law.
The Democratic party therefore
pledges itself to the enactment of laws
prohibiting such abuses.
We are in favor of the adoption Of
the constitutional amendment permit
ting the passage OF a law increasing
the gross earnings tax from to 4 per
cent.
We favor the election of United
| States senators by direct vote of the
| people.
We believe in the right of labor to
organize and condemn as un-American
any denial of such rights.
Believing that the judiciary should
be removed from the turmoil and trad
ing of partisan politics we demand of
the legislature the enactment of such
laws as shall insure the selection of
| judges without regard to party.
We demand of our public servants
equal enforcement Of the laws; and
we ho4 the candidates of our oppo-
nents to be Judged on their records, by
which they have been found wanting
| We declare that it is only too plainly
apparent that the railroad and lumber
interests Of Minnesota completely cap
/ tured the late Republican state con.
vention and dictated its nominees.
We fav& the enactment of such
laws as will provide just and equita.
+, BILE system under which the common
roads of the state shall be improved
for the benefit Of all the people of the
state
! we Law upon ourselves the duty OF
high fidelity to the claims of citizen
shin end summon to ioin us in de
fen6trg these PRINCIPLES all men who
love loyalty to the law and to the com
munitY.