Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-09-07

governor may cause proper actions pro-
ceedfngS to be brought in view of the facts
reported and that the Legislature, in whom
all power to make laws resides, may enact
such laws from time to time in respect
thereto as shall be just and right.
Favor 2-Cent Fare.
We favor a law compelling the railway
| companies operating railroads in this state
TO sell mileage books at a fiat rate Of 2
| cents per mile.
Be Careful with Funds.
The betterment of methods of railroad
| taxation, as well as of all public taxation
| is subject of first Importance and of
| great difficulty, which will be best effected
| by the least political interference and the
| most honest and profound study Of con-
| dit1ons and the true principles of taxa
ton. To that end a commission some
years ago. was created by law, which has
| nltnertO given wise and efficient service to
the object proposed; and the Democratic
party of Wisconsin pledges It's hearty and
| continued support to that commission and
particularly to it's efforts now in progress
| to secure justice to the people in the taxa
| ton of railroad property, and to such fur
tner attempts or amendments as experience
| and study, the only safe guides, shall prove.
desirable. Primarily, however, the Demo
cratic party demands, as partial solution Of
the question of taxation, that the expenses
| of government in state not less than ma
! ton, be radically diminished by restrain
| Ing 1t to strictly governmental functions
and by combining expenditures to necessary
public purposes instead Of extending them
as now, to benefit administration favorites
or to promote the political advancement of
| party or faction.
Primary Election Law.
| We are opposed to the primary election
law passed by the last Legislature 1t is
undemocratc because it destroys the right
of the people to assemble to consider men
| as candidates and principles for platforms
It takes from the people the right to direct
the Official iii conduct of their public serv-
the nomination of candidates. 1t gives to
the candidates after their nomination the
exclusive power to make their own plat
forms; it would create great and unneces-
sary expense to be paid from the public
treasury; it would deprive the minority
party in every election district Of the right
| to nominate It's own candidates, and would
IN effect place in the hands of the ma
| jority party power to nominate not only it's
own candidates, but to nominate cand-
/ dates for the minority as well. But should
the law be made operative by vote of the
! people, we pledge the Democratic party to
SO modify and amend the measure as to
| eliminate the aforesaid Objectionable fea-
lures. Should the people refuse to ap-
prove of the law we promise to so amend
the existing primary and caucus laws as to
secure to every voter the free and unre-
| strained right to express his choice In the
| nomination of candidates, to require the
I primaries of all parties to be held on the
same day and at the same time, and to
preserve the purity of primary elections.
Protect Fish and Game.
We are heartily in favor of projecting
| the fish and game of the state, but believe
it can be more effectually and more eco
! nomlcally accomplished by employing the
regularly organized police force Of the
4 state and without the Intervention Of a
great army of game wardens who devote
| their time to political and partisan work
rather than to the discharge of their Of
fetal duties.
Want Income Tax.
| We favor an amendment to section 1 of
| article Of the state constitution relating
| to taxation and providing for a graduated
income tax, and We pledge each and all OF
the Democrats elected to the next Legisla-
| ture to support such amendment as pro-
| vided by joint resolution No. IL Of the
Legislature Of 1903.
Purify Caucuses.
We condemn the pernicious activity OF
state and federal officials in party eau.
the said officials have in the past four
years in this state unlawfully devoted their
time, and paid for out of the public treas
Try, to partisan politics, greatly to the
injury Of the public service.
Elect Members of Boards.
We are opposed to the creation by ap-
pontment of multiplicity of boards and
commissions which are too often used for
the purpose of political patronage and are
/ Tor pOlllcll reasons. we DelleFe
that when conditions are so important as
to demand the creation of q separate board
or commission of permanent character, that
their Importance demands that the members
thereof should be elected by the people to
the end they may be held directly reSpon-
sible to the people.
Automobile Plank.
We aver the adoption of laws regulating
the use and speed of automobiles on streets
and highways to the end that accidents
from such cause may be materially lessened
If not wholly averted.
We hereby pledge the candidates nomi-
mated by this convention to the support of
the principles and the fulflment OF the
promises herein made, and we invite the
electors of the state, irrespective Of party,
to join with us in the support of such can
didates and Of the principles herein enun-