The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-08-03
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM,

assembled announce the following dec
laretion Of principles:
We note with satisfaction the deter
mfnatien OF the national administration
to purchase supplies for the Panama
canal in the markets OF the world, and
not pay tribute to our protected monopo-
lies We truat that the day may soon
come when the common people OF this
country may enjoy the same privilege
and not be compelled to pay the manu-
facturers for the necessaries of life
higher price than these same articles are
sold for by the Same manufacturers to
foreign purhaBers.
We demand Of cur representatives. In
congress to aid in the enactment OF such
laws as will prevent all rebates and Sc
cret contracts by railways and will guar
antee the same service to every citizen
We favor the comforting upon the In
terstate commerce commission the
power when IL fndn rate unreasonable
to fix q reasonable rate.
The Democratic party pledges itself In
this state election, II successful, TO use
its utmost endeavor to eliminate the
graft and political corruption that has
been nourished and fastened upon the
state by the Republican party In the last
few years. We have seen the blightina
effect Of boss rule in one OF our cities,
and we call upon the voters irrespective
Of party, to unite In preventing Its per-
manent lO0Bment III cOntrOi OF our bthte.
We demand that the laws shall be SO
amended that the revenue necessary for
the expenses Of the state shall be raised
without calling upon the counties for
levy and thereby secure for eac county
home rule in taxation; !. e., every county
will raise only wnlt II needs for It's own
expenses and Its citizens authorize.
We declare that the present laws for
assessing the property Of steam railroads
and other public service corporations
! should be SO changed as to compel the
| Assessment Of these properties at not
| less than their salable value going
concerns, and to prevent their evasion Of
| just taxation.
we demand that the legislature shall
| enact such laws as will enable a tax to
| be levied on local franchise privileges as
| on other property which now. although OF
| great value pay nothing toward the bur-
dens Of local governments.
| The Democratic party now, as in the
| past, guarantees to each and every citi-
zen equal rights and protection and TO
each and every individual the greatest
liberty possible consistent with general
| good and the proper consideration Of the
| right OF others.
| We believe in free and unqualified home
rule, free from state interference. Each
city. town and village should be allowed
| to decide for itself all matters Of local
| policy, cSpeCldny db DctWteh publlC Ut
| private ownership OF all public utilities,
including street railways. as well as wa
| ter works and lightning systems and that
| provision should be made for submitting
| such questions to the people upon re-
| quest from reasonable number Of vot-
| ers and at such elections the votes OF q
| majority shall decide. Such public owner
ship should be safeguarded by the merit
system Of appointment and tenure OF
| office, SO as to prevent the building up
of political machines and the perpetua-
tion of boss rule.
We condemn the foisting upon the
state Of discredited and burdesome
school code and demand its immediate
| repeal, and we also protest against that
provision of the school code by which
nearly S206,0 of school funds are an
nually diverted from their proper use and
into the pockets Of county auditors in the
| form OF unearned fees.
| We are in favor OF the retention main
tenance and Improvement of the canal
system Of the state. We condemn the
| action Of the governor in using his offico
and influence to further the passage Of
| what was known as the Electric Mule
| Bill" and his action when the legislature
had defeated this iniquitous measure by
which he forced the state board Of public
works to extend the lease Of the Miami
and Erie Canal Transportation company,
1 IL ildu DeeH ShOWt tIdt IL WHS UOtu
4 corrupt and bankrupt. We further ar
raign his administration because 1t has
not long ago commenced legal proceed
ings to oust this corporation from the
4 property Of the state.
i We condemn tle unfair treatment OF
| the agricultural interests Of the state at
the hands of the Republican party. We
denounce the party for its meager appro.
priation by it's legislature for agricultural
purposes and the Wholesale vetoinR OF
the same by the governor.
We condemn the present fec system
Il and demand the enactment Of q reason q
able salary law.
We favor the rigid inspection and su-
pervision OF state and private banks.
We favor legislation which will make
unlawful the giving to or accepting by
public officials OF railroad passes.
We favor the electionfof United States
senators by the direct vote OF the people
; We favor the initiative and referendum
especially with reference to the issuing
Of municipal ana county bonds and thu
granting Of public franchises. No fran
! chise extension Or renewal thereof should
be granted by any county. city or viIlaex
without first submitting the same to q
vote Of the people.
In order to secure purity in elections
we favor the repeal OF all special limita
tlons as to time within which criminal
| prosecutions may De Dckun IOF DTlDery
| in elections.
Two amendments to the constitution
are proposed for the consideration Of thu
: voters: Ono. exempting city. village
hamlet. county, township and school
bonds from taxation. The other, provid.
ing for biennial elections for state. coun
ty and local officers. We believe that the
former will give = larger opportunity tC
, the home investor. result to the advant.
age Of the local Subdivisions OF the state
!, In the sale OF bonds and provide n wider
market. The latter amendment win di-
! vorce local and municipal questions from
consideration OF state and federal poll.
eies and promote independence In the
electorate. We therefore favor the adop-
tion OF both amendment and direct the
officers OF this convention to certify such
action to the secretary OF state to be
placed upon the ballot.
In conclusion we ask the people of the
] state In this election, which involves nc
national issues to join with us In rellev-
: ing our state Of the triumvirate that has
, II in control. who have grown arrogant
and corrupt who have multiplied offiees
| to make places for their friends; who
! have refused to save the money OF the
. people by substituting salaries for fees IN
county offices; who have swollen the ex-
, penses OF the administration of the gov
, srnment of the state to double what II
/ was under the last Democratic admins
tration. and who, TO meet these expenses.
have devised various new ways TO tar
the living and the dead. and by keeping
. the general levy down deceive the people
M hal ANtr ma Ia