Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1904-09-22
Platform Of the Montana
Democrats.

the following declaration of principles
and pledge the nominees of this con-
vention to be governed thereby:
Believing in the principles of demo-
cracy as taught by Thomas jefferson,
we endorse the platform of the national
democratic party as adopted by the st.
Louis convention and declare our al
legiance to the nominations of Alton
B. Parker for president and Henry G.
Davis for vice president of the United
States.
"We acknowledge with gratitude
the public services rendered by our
two United States senator's, especially
in securing the passage of bills open
ing to settlement the Crow and Flat
head Indian reservations.
'We indorse the system of national
irrigation provided by the Newlands
act. We believe that it should be car
ried out by competent engineers in a
nonpartisan manner and without favor
to special localities. We are glad to
learn from the Congressional Records
that among the earnest advocates of
this system were Governor Toole and
other democratic representatives from
the territory of Montana.
''We indorse the wise, conservative
and judicious administr alton of Cover
nor Joseph X. Toole. We especially
commend the action of the state board
of equalization, under his chairman
ship, in increasing substantially the
assessments of railroads in this state.
''We favor reducing the state and
county officers and boards to- the
smallest possible number consistent
with the proper transaction of public
business, and to this end pledge our
Legislative candidates to careful in
vestigation and revision of existing
laws.
1--WE denounce the action of the re-
publican governor IF Colorado in at
tempting to 1egallze the crimes of law
less mobs under the pretext of military
necessity.
'We denounce the unlawful deporta-
ton of citizens and the destruction of
private property as the greatest crime
ever perpetrated against our American
form of government. We pledge all
officers elected upon the democratic
ticket to forever refrain from so turning
the machinery of government into an
instrument of oppression, but instead
thereof we pledge them to administer
the law SO as to secure as nearly as
possible equal and exact justice to the
weak and powerful alike.
Endorsing Governor Toole's recon-
mendations to the Eighth Legislative
assembly, we demand
''First-An initiative and referen-
dunn amendment, identical in all ma
tcrial provisions with the amendment
adopted by the voters of Oregon and
sustained by the supreme court of that
state. and we pledge all members of
the Legislative assembly, elected upon
the democratic ticket, to vote and work
therefor.
''Second-A state railroad commits
sion, to be elected by popular vote,
"Third--A direct primary nomina-
ton law, conducted under the Austria
liam ballot system, covering all state,
county and municipal elective officers,
and providing for the printing of
names of all candidates upon one bal
lot, under proper party titles.
"Fourth-An efficient fellow-servant
law, guaranteeing adequate protection
to all classes of workmen engaged in
hazardous occupations, and especially
to all railroad, mining and smelter
employees.
Fifth Election of all important
state officers by popular vote.
"Sixth-A constitutional amendment
empowering the state board of equali-
cation to equalize property assessments
in the state.
''The period of employment of work
ingmen in all underground mines and
mills and smelters for the treatment of
ores is now fixed by law at eight
hours per day. 1t is proposed to en-
body this principle into a constitu-
tional amendment, extending it's scope
so as to cover the works or undertake
ings carried on or aided by municipal.
county or state government, and on all
contracts let by them; and to prevent
the employment of children under six