The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-22
The DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
1T MAKES ODELLISM THE MAIN
ISSUE or THE CAMPAIGN.
Charges Gross Extra>agance and Waste
AMI Says the Annual Appropriations
OF S28.O4l. 200 Are the Largest In
the states Hlstory-Excise Reform

was as follows
The Democrats Of the Empire State pro-
claim anew their devotion to the principles
OF government which were enunciated by
Thomas jefferson, the founder OF the Demo
cratic party, and make these declarations
upon State ISSUES:
The paramount and overshadowing issue
in State affairs is between official honesty
and official corruption. We see again be-
fore the bal, of public Judgment the one
man power that to-day dominates the Re-
publican organization OF New York State.
The people elected Ben amin B. Odell
Jr.: to be Governor. In papable violation
of his sworn obligation to be the impartia
to act az State chairman OF political ma
chine. His present dual relation consti-
tutes public scandal and amounts to the
grossest contempt OF official duty in the
history OF the State.
oDELLIsM MEANS ExTRAvAGANcE AND COR
RuPTIoN
For the first time in it's history the En-
| pire State has Governor whose personal
integrity rests under widespread suspicion.
He has surrounded himself by high offiCia IL
and advisers under whose malign influence
the public revenues Of the State are largely
diverted to private profit. Instead OF being
opposed to extravaganza and waste. the ad-
ministration has become the actual promoter
| Of adrot schemes to loot the public treasury
under the guise Of law. The example set in
State affairs extends to counties, cities.
towns and villages under Republican
party too long continued in power threatens
10 lower the Empire State to the level Of
Republican Pennsylvania - where the
moneys of the taxpayers, eracted from
ferred by political ohicanery 20 the pock-
| cts Of a ring of plunderers, who in
turn yield portion Of their gains to per-
petuate the political machine that supports
them.
Prodigal and corrupt expenditures, de-
vised to consume instead Of to conserve
public funds, have so swollen the cost OF
government that the Earty in power dare
not levy direct State tax to meet it, hence
they resort to indirect ia xation, in the hope
of deceiving the people
Taxation, whether direct or indirect. ia
always a public burden. and however or
wherever collected, its proceeds should be
strictly devoted to public purposes instead
of private enrichment.
ENORMOUS APPROPRIATIONS
The appropriations of the recent Legis-
lature were the largest known in the history
of the State. reaching the enormous total
of s2e,o4l, 200. These appalling. and un-
precedented figures are the high water
during the four years Of Gov. Odell's adj
mnistration
During the la st year of Democratic ad-
ministration the otal appropriations Of the
State government amounted to S15 1853
The taxpayers Of the State and they com
prise every working man and woman within
Its limits, are invited to consider these
figures and then discover II they can any
improvement in administration which would
justify or explain the enormous increase
In it's cost All legitimate and reasonable
public improvements can be conducted
within greatly reduced appropriations by
applying to them the same care which
able and enterprising business men apply
to the conduct of private affairs
CHARITIES UNDER oDFLI.
BY legislation passed at his instance
for corrupt personal profit and party pur-
poses n political machine has seized con-
troll of the State charitable institutions
and hospitals for the insane. in disregard
Of the State and against the united protests
of organized philanthropy, We demand
the repeal Of all such legislation
REcREANcY TO PUBLIC TRUST,
Under the Odell administration neither
the Governor nor the Legislature which
Of grave charges publicly made against
a Supreme Court Justice of this State in
connection with the postal frauds and
other scandals.
This recreancy to public duty is in keep
ing with the whole policy of the present
State administration, which has subord-
mated the true welfare of the judiciary to
political consideration.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
We denounce the system, put to practical
upon the;salaries Of State employees, which
are being collected by State officers, at the
head OF whom is The Chairman Governor.
by express or implied threats Of dismissal
This is fragrant violation OF both the
civil and criminal law OF the State, made
doubly demoralizing by the fact that it is
perpetrated by the Chief Executive, who is
sworn to enforce the law and defend it.
We pledge the Democratic party toundertake
the prosecution of all such offences
CANAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Tho interest OF all the people demands
that the proposed cana expenditure of
SOL 900 600 shall not be intrusted to that
political party which through its machine
organization and complainant State officials
wasted. squandered and Incorporated
the former appropriation of $sooocoo for
canal Improvement.
EXCISE REFORM DEMANDED.
We denounce the legislation known as
the Raines liquor law, which has fostered
immortality as no previous liquor law ever
of localities, concentrates the entire control
OF the whole liquor traffic in State officials
at Albany, all Of ono party, with horde OF
partisan deputies attorneys. spies and spe-
f f Sppes% at Pa sas spsn to
political machine which is relentlessly used
FOR purposes Of favoritism, intimidation
and political advantage.
Excise reform is demanded for the best
interests Of this great State and it's numer.
Gus cosmopolitan cities,
PURITY OF THE BALLOT.
We call attention to the failure Of the
Republican party to take steps to stop
corrupt practices at elections. We favor
the passage Of law providing that where
candidate shall have been elected by |,
corrupt practices Of himself, his agents
OF committees, his election shall be an
nulled and he shall be debarred therea fter
from holding Office in this State for a
period of years, and prov iding a short ,
form OF procedure for enecting such an
nulment through tie courts OF this State. /
SAVINGS BANK TAX.
We reiterate our opposition to the Odell |
tax upon the surplus of savings banks, /
which ia an unnecessary and oppressive 1
tax, as well as a crude and unscientifc /
imposition upon those least able 10 bear
The burden. This unjust law was advocated
BY the present Republican candidate for
Governor, who supported and voted for
il when n member Of the Senate. The
plank in the Republican State platform
recently adopted, IL sincere, IL n confession
Of Republican wrong and bluudet: 10
insir cere and disingenuous il warrants
regular suspicion as 10 the good faith Of
TIE entire Republican policy Of special