The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-07-14
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the National Convention
in Saint Louis.
in Saint Louis.


manent business prosperity.
private monopoly Is indefensible ana
intolerable Individual equality OF oppor,
tunity and free competition are essential
to a healthy and permanent commerciaI
prosperity, and any trust, combination OF
monopoly tending to destroy these by con-
trolling production, restricting competition
or fixing prices should be prohibited and
punished by law. We especially denounce
rebates and discrimination by transporta-
tion companies as the most potent agency
In promoting and strengthening these un-
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 have
prompt and adequate relief for the abuses
10 which they are subjected in the matter
enforcement of existing civil and crimlna.
statutes against all such trusts, combina-
tions and monopolies, and We demand the
enactment Of such further legislation as
may be necessary to ehectually suppress
them.
Any trust or unlawful combination en-
gagged In Interstate commerce which Is mo-
nopolizing any branch of business or pro-
set Su.lness outside as of the State II its
origin. Whenever 1t shall be established
In any court Of competent Jurisdiction
that such mopopolfzation exists such pro-
hibition should be enforced through COM
prehensive laws to be enacted on the sub
Domestic Development.
We congratulate our Western citizens
upon the passing Of the law known as
the Newlands irrigation act for the irriga.
tton and reclamation of the arid lands Of
the West; q measure framed by a Demo-
crat, passed in the Senate by a 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
cratic measure broad and comprehensive
as 1t Is, working automatically throughout
oil time without further action Of Con-
gress, until the reclamation Of all the
nation Is accomplished. reserving the
lands reclaimed for homeseekers In small
tracts and rigidly guarding against land
'ronopoly as an evidence OF the policy Of
Democratic party should 1t be placed In
power.
Isthmian 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.
cheaper line 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 Ea-
tinction Of race or creed, the equal protec-
tion Of laws and the enjoyment Of all
rights and privileges open to them under
the covenants Of our treaties Of friendship
and commerce; and II unde- existing treat
les the right of travel and s0journ 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 un-
Just determinations.
We demand that all over the world a
duly authenticated passport issued by the
government of the United Etates to an
American citizen shall be proof Of the fact
that he Is an American citizen and shall
entitle him to the treatment due him as
such.
Election Of Senator's.
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 Indian Territory.
We also favor the admission of Arizona
end New Mexico as separate States and a
territorial government for Alaska and Por-
to Rico
We hold that the officials appointed to
administer the government Of any terri
tory, as well as with the district OF Alas
time Of their appointment OF the territory
or district in which their duties are to be
performed.
Condemnation of Po1y&amy.
We demand the determination of polyg-
amy within the Jurisdiction Of the United
States and the complete separation Of
shrcch and state in political affairs.
Merchant Marine.
We denounce the ship subsidy bill re-
Gently passed by the United States Senate
as an Ubiquitous appropriation Of public
funds for private purposes and waste
full, Illogical and useless attempt to over
come by subsidy the obstruct! ms 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 sufa-
cient-
Pensions.
The Democracy would secure to the sur
viving soldiers and sailors and their de-
al hv -
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 nd
ministration. They must therefore share
with us the humiliation with which we
have witnessed the exaltation Of court ia
the Scared heroes Of many Sattles or ag-
grandized by executive appropriations olt
violation of the act of congrass which nx-
ed the compensation and allowances OF
the military officers.
Civil Service.
The Democratic party stands committed
to the principles Of civil service reform,
and we demand their honest. lust and Inn
partial enforcement.
We denounce the Republican party for
its continuous and sinister encroachments
upon the spirit and operation Of civil ser
vice rules whereby 1t has arbitrarily dis
pensed with examinations for office In the
Interest Of favorites and employed all man
ner Of devices to overreach and 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 to 1t that
1t brings no more
To revive the dead and hateful race and
sectional animosities In any part Of our
common country means confusion, distrac-
ton Of business and the reopening 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
Pekin to the hills of Sa 1tiago, end as
sharers Of a common glory and q common
destiny we should share fri ternally the
common burdens.
We therefore deprecate and condemn the
',ourbonlike selfish and narrow spirit of the
ent Republican convention ut Chicago,
ich sought to kIndle anew the embers
4 racial and sectional strife, and we ap-
peal from 1t to the sober common sense
and patriotic spirit Of the American peo-
pie.
Republican Administration.
The existing Republican administration
has been spasmodic. erratic, sensational.
spectacular and arbitrary. 1t has made 1T
self satire upon Congress, the courts and