The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-09-26


mated by an inherent spirit OF honesty.
and hatred cf dishonesty In public offi-
cials They agree with our candidate for
supreme juSge that graft 10 theft"
They believe that anyone guilty OF taking
money belonging to the people. whether
the people Of a city, county or state. ID
worse than common thief who buzz
giarlses your house or holds you up on
the street.
In our platform the Democratic party
makes these pledges "ro use it's utmost
endeavors to eliminate graft and polt-
ical corruption. and to prevent the per-
manent lodgment OF boss rule in the
state"
This promise v,c c.,' ], shall carry
out If elected We r. l.2. that to do this
we must have TIE help OF all good citi-
zens. irrespective of party, who are op-
posed to bossism graft and corruption.
I'VE favor the raising Of all revenue
necessary for state expenses, without
calling upon the counties also that each
county shall have home rule to raise only
what 1t needs for its own affairs and
what its own citizens may authorize"
This certainly Is in harmony with the
wishes Of the masses of the people.
I'VE favor the assessment OF steam
railroads and all other public service cor
porations at their sllable value.
1--WE also favor the enactment OF laws
shall be taxed as other property"
This law or a similar one has been de-
clared constitutional in New York. We
believe 1t is right and just that all prop
critics whose value lies in their fran
chises should pay their share of the pub
lie burden.
We favor giving to each and every
citizen equal rights and protection. and
TO each individual the greatest liberty
possible consistent with the general good
and the proper consideration of the
rights OF others"
This does not mean license to anyone
to do evil, or to violate the law. The
great Democratic party has always been
In favor Of law and obedience to law: II
believes in the greatest possible liberty
for the individual consistent with the
general good and the proper considera-
tion of the rights OF others. Every good
citizen believes In this. and he shows his
good faith member OF the commu-
nifty and his patriotism as a good citizen
OF the state, by standing by the laws
which, so long as they are on the statute
books. are supposed and must be pre-
sumed to represent the voice of the
people
Home Rule.
1--WE believe in home rule for village
and city, particularly as to all public
utilities, including the ownership Of
street railways as well as waterworlys
and lighting plants; that any such own
ership shall be made by vote OF the
people and be safeguarded by the merit
system"
The ownership by cities Of lighting and
water plants has become common
throughout the state and in most cases
has proven satisfactory to the people:
there seems to be no reason why n street
railway can not be owned by any city
whether 10 wi fnr
city to do is a matter that should be left
entirely to the people OF such city, to be
decided by them by a majority vote of
their citizens. 1t is true that there Is at
this time an honest difference of opinion
as to city ownership of street railroads,
but there is no difference OF opinion as
to the rights Of the people as against the
dishonest practices Of corporations in
giving. and OF members OF council in re-
ceiving, bribes by which the rights OF the
people In contracts and franchises are
given away or sold-at q price far less
than their value. There certainly is a
general belief that II the people of cities
towns and villages can not have their
rights under the present system, they
will demand that some other plan slsall
be adopted, and as a Anal resort all win |
vote 20 try the experiment OF ownership |
by the cities themselves, even of street |
railroads, rather than continue to be |
robbed by corporations and corrupt |
officials.
I'VE conde.nn the recently enacted
school code, and especially do we protest |
against the unnecessary loss of nearly |
100000 annually OF the school funds
given to county officers already sum-
GENTLY paid"
Save the Canals.
I'VE are in favor of the maintenance
Of the canal system"
Every voter In Ohio knows that for |
many years past there has been a sys- |
tematic attempt to virtually steal the |
canal beds; that these attempts have |
been growing stronger and more open |
year by year. and every friend Of the |
canal knows, too, how near the robbery |
came being made complete in the last |
session OF the legislature, and that since |
their failure, some of these state plum |
derers are assuming virtue they do not |
possess. Should the Organization" OBJ |
tain strong enough hold Of the legisa- |
ture, does any one doubt that this rob- |
berry and outrage will be contaminated? |
We are proud to state that the Demo- |
cratic members of both houses Of the |
Legislature always have been faithful to |
tho } e. rvation of the canals, and we
pledge our party and all its members of
the coming legislature. that we will pro-
tect these great and vital interests OF
the state. 20
The waterways were worth many mill
lions In the early development of the
state. In the great future they will be
worth hundreds Of millions, which cer-
tainly will be realized by the next gem
GRAFTON, If not by this. Our forefathers
were wise In their building. Let US not
be accused by our children or by our
grandchildren Of being either unwise or
kna yes.
1--WE condemn the unfair treatment Of
the agricultural interests Of the state at
the hands OF the Republican party"
1t was not the Republican party, as
such, that was responsible for this treat
ment, but the boss-ridden members of
the Legislature. who had appropriated
more mccey than the state had income,
so the governor was obliged to out down.
While under no circumstances would
accuse him Of Intentionally doing a gross
injustice to the farming class. I think he
was influenced by the pressing demands
Of some OF these bosses. and possibly
failed to exercise his better Judgment.