Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-09
STATE PLATFORM
Declaration OfDemOcratiC
Principles Adopted at
State Convention.

The following platform was adopted by
the Democratic State Convention al
Olympia Thursday.
The democratic party OF the state Of
Washington in convention assembled
declares its devotion to the principles Of
free representative government laid
down in the Declaration of independence
and in the other writings and state
papers of Thomas Jeffers On; insists that
those principles be applied in the con-
duct OF the government, both at home
and abroad, wherever the flag Of the
nation floats, and condemns the republi.
can party for its constant disregard Of
those principles.
We believe that those principles were
correctly applied in the platform declare.
tons OF the national democratic party in
1896 and 1900, and so far as those
declarations are applicable to present
problems, we reai1irn them heartily, and
insist on their reaffirmation by the demo
cratic national convention, soon to as
semble in st. Louis. We likewise insist
on the nomination OF candidates in
sympathy with those declarations, and
whose lives and records constitute an
assurance that they loyalty and earnest.
ly give them effective application in the
conduct of the government.
The nation is administered with ex-
travagance and it's departments are
honeycombed with corruption; it is be-
ing embroiled in the contentious and
controversies of the old world it's do
mestic affairs are controlled by the
ollgarchy OF wealth, which insists on
laying contributions on all other classes,
while exempting itself from the just
burdens OF government; and it has been
made to follow in the footsteps OF
the tyrannical governments OF Europe in
the attempt to establish an unrepublican
colonial system abroad.
This condition of affairs calls impera-
lively for return to the traditional
principles of Washington and Jefferson,
and these embrace, as especially APP
plicable to the present situation, simplicity
and economy in government, wise and
and safe conservation of the interests Of
the American people at home, no grants
Of special privilege to any class, and a
rigorous application Of the principles of
freedom as enumerated in the Declaration
OF Independence, in all the dealings Of
the government at home and abroad.
The unnecessary and burdensome
tariff wall erected around the country in
the interests OF manufacturing classes
should be broken down; the trusts,
which have grown up as a result OF the
tariff wall, must be destroyed; the
system of compelling the con-
sumner to bear all the burdens Of
government by the payment OF the tariff
taxes must be departed from, wealth
must be compelled by just laws to con-
tribute to the government in the shape
OF an income tax and an inheritance tax
the just proportions Of burdens OF govern
ment, and finally there must be a
cessation OF militarism, imperialism
and colonialism, as represented by the
Philippine policy OF the republican party.
Upon these principles we appeal with
confidence for the cooperation and
fidelity OF true democracy, manifested by
our standard bearer in the contests Of
1896 and 1900, William J. Bryan.
We, therefore, direct our delegates to
the national convention at St. Louis to
act as unit upon all questions under
the following instructions:
First-To work and vote for only such
national platform declarations as are
consistent with the declaration OF this
state convention in letter and in spirit.
Second-To oppose any policy or
declaration which involves or implies
any surrender or compromise OF the
principles above set forth.
Third-To cast their influence and
vote only for the nomination of such
candidates for president and vice. resi.
dent whose active loyalty to democratic
principles as set forth in the platforms
OF 1896 and 1900, is a safe guarantee Of
their fidelity to those principles applied
to the problems OF 1904.
We heartily indorse as our candidate
for ce.president George Turner. d
jurist OF high rank, peerless citizen in
sympathy with the declarations of this
platform and statesman whose efforts
in behalf OF the people make him en-
titled to be considered as worthy of the
highest honors within the gift of the
party.