Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-09-06
DEMOCRATS IN
STATE CONVENTION.
A Winning Ticket Placed in Nomination With
the Hon. Gee. w. Peck at the Head.


profit upon Investment Unjust discriminating
freight rates, however granted. should be abso-
lutely prohibited and under penalties severe
enough to insure a strict ObSer vance OF the
prohibition. Telephone rentals and tolls, tele-
graph rates and charges, sleeping car fares. ex-
press charges. street railway fares charges for
water service, gas and electric lighting and the
charges of all other corporations operating
franchises granted by state and municipality,
or doing business within the state, should not
be in excess OF compensatory and reasonable
rate.
ain order that intelligent and unprejudicei
action may be had we favor the creation q g
commission under law to be enacted a. the
earliest possible moment in the next session of
the legislature. the members to be elected Dy
direct vote of the people the commission to be
given full power, and to make it their duty to
examine, investigate and ascertain the earn
ings. expenses, investment, depreciation of
values, loss by wear and tear, profits and losses,
and everything whatsoever necessary and desir-
able to ascertain the exact facts and true condi-
ton of every such corporation above referred
TO, and for that purpose to examine the records,
books and accounts of any and all such corpor-
ations. and to compel the attendance and tale
or secure the testimony of any and all witnesses
within OF without the state, as well as documen-
tary evidence necessary or proper for the pur-
poses of every such investigation and with like
power and authority to investigate all charges
of unjust discrimination; such commission to
make report to the governor in respect TO any.
each or all of such corporations whenever re-
quired. and to the Legislature at each session
thereof. or at such other times as may be deemed
advisable of all of its doings with testimony
and evidence so taken and with its recOmmen-
dations and suggestions, in order that the gov
ernor may cause proper actions or proceedings
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.
'.We favor law compelling the railway com
panies operating railroads in this state to sell
mileage books at a fiat rate of two cents per
mile.
.The betterment of methods of railroad taxa
ton. as well as of all public taxation. is a sub
ject 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 conditions and the true principles of
taxation. To that end commission some years
ago was created by law, which has hitherto
given wise and efficient service to the object
proposed; and the Democratic party of Wiscon-
sin pledges its hearty and continued support to
that commission, and particularly to its efforts
now in progress to secure justice to the people
in the taxation OF rair0 I'd property. and to such
further attempts or amendments as experience
and study. the only safe guides, shall prove
desirable. Primarily, however the Democratic
party demands. as partial solution of the ques
ton of taxation, that the expenses of govern.
ment in state not less than nation be radically
diminished by restraining it to strictly govern
mental functions and by confning expendi-
lures TO necessary public purposes instead of
extending them, as now, TO berefit administra
ton favorites or to promote the political ad-
vaneement of party or faction.
we dIt OppUStu W tue pfluluTy tieCtlOtl INV
passed by the last Legislature 1t is un-Demo-
cratic because it destroys the right of the peo
pie to assemble to consider men as candidates
and principles for platforms 1t takes from the
people the right to direct the official conduct of
their public servants by the adoption of plat
forms before the nomination of cand dates. 1t
gives to the candidates after their nomination
the exclusive power to make their own plat
forms. 1t would create great and unnecessary
expense to be paid from the public treasury. 1t
would deprive the minority party in every cleo
CfriO nf fIn rio
candidates. and would in effect place in the
hands of the majority party power TO nominate
not only its own candidates, but to nominate
candidates 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 feat
ures.
"Should the people refuse to approve of the
law, We promise to SO amend the existing pri-
mary and caucus laws as to secure to every
voter the free and unTestrained right to express
his choice in the nomination of candidates; to
require the primaries of all parties to be held
on the same day and at the same time, and to /,
preserve the purity of primary elections.
We are heartily in favor of protecting the iish |
and game of the state, bat believe it can be more
aid more economically accomplished |
by employing the res llarly organized police |
force of the 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 official duties
"We favor an amendment to section of article |
8 of the state constitution relating to taxa |
ton, and providing for graduated income tax, |
and we pledge each and all of the Democrats |
elected to the next Legislature to support such |
amendment provided by joint resolution No |
IL of the legislature of 1903.
I'VE condemn the pernicious activity of state |
and federal officials IN party caucuses and con- |
ventions. We declare that the said officials have
IN the past four years IN this state unIawfully |
devoted their time paid for out of the public |
to partisan politics greatly to the in |
Jury of the public service.
I'VE are opposed to the creation by appoint |
ment OF a multiplicity of boards and commissions
which are too often used for the purposes of po-
litical patronage and are employed for political |
purposes. We believe that when conditions are
SO important as to demand the creation of sep
arate board or conlmis sion of permanent charac-
ter that their importance demands that the men,
bers thereof should be elected by the people to /
the end they may be held directly responsible to
the people.
I'VE favor the sdoption of laws regulating the |
use and speed of automobiles on streets and
highways to the end that accidents from sHch |
cause may be materially lessened if not wholly |
aver ted
I'VE hereby pledge the candidates nominated
by this convention to the support of the prinoi-
pies and the fp hllment of the promises herein
made, and we invite the electors of the state ir-
respective of party, to join with us in the
support of such candidates and Of the PRINCIPLES
herein enunciated. Respectfully subnnttel,
W, f. Villas, Neal Brown, T. NJ. Kearney, r. Il.
Kirkland, Patrick Martin, Stephen Richmond,
D. S. Rose, Byron Parke.
Hon A f. Warden was again chosen
rs chairman of the state central COM
nittee
The following named delegates from
his county were present at the conven
ion Neal Brown, John Ringle, r. f.
Powers, w j. Butler, w. w. Albers, j
+. Lamont, o. + Wells and f. b. Thay /
er, of Wansau; Robert Freeman, CT En-
met; A. j Plowman, of Eldron; DIR. +.
V koutsky, of Colby, and Gust Bertsch,
of Edgar.