The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-08-23
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

We demand that the laws shall be
80 amended that the revenue Reces-
sary for the expenses OF the state
shall be raised without calling upon
the counties for levy, and thereby
secure for each county home rule in
taxation T. e., each county raise only
what 1t needs for its own expenses
and its citizens authorize.
We declare that the present laws
for assessing the property OF railroads
and other public service corporations
should he so changed as to compel the
assessment OF these properties at not
less than their salable value as going
concerns. and to prevent their evasion
of just taxation.
We demand that the Legislature
shall enact such laws as will enable
tax to be levied on all franchise privi-
leges as on otl or property which now,
although OF great value, pay nothing
towards the burdens OF government.
We believe in free and unqualified
home rule, free from Aate intcrfer.
ence Each city. town and village
should be allowed to decide for Itself
as between public or private owner
ship of all public utilities, including
street railways, as well as water
works and lighting systems, and that
provision should be made for submit
ting such questions to the people
upon request from a reasonable num-
Der OF voters and at such elections the
vote of a majority shall decide. Such
public ownership should be safeguard.
ed by the merit system of appoint.
ment and tenure of Office, so as to pre-.
vent the building up of political ma.
chimes and the perpetuation of boss
rule.
We are in favor Of the retention,
maintenance and improvement Of the
canal system of the state.
We favor the rigid inspection and
supervision of state and private banks
and we advocate such amendment Of
the constitution and enactment CT
statutes as will safeguard depositors.
We favor legislation which will
make unlawful the giving to or &C.
cepting by public officials of steam or
street railroad passes
We favor he initiativ, and referen-
dun and such legislation and constitu-
tional amendments as will make it eff
fective as to state and local affairs, no
franchise or renewal thereof should
be granted by any county, city or vii
lage without first submitting the same
TO vote of the people.
In order to secure purity in elec-
tions, we favor the repeal OF all special
laitations as to time within which
criminal prosecutions may be begun
for bribery In elections.
The incoming state central commit
tee is directed to require that eele-
gates to the state convention be se-
lected by primaries or delegate con-
yentions TO be selected by primaries,
such selection to be made by precinct
primaries. In the event that any
county committee shall violate this
party law, the state central committee
shall issue a call in accordance with
the above regulations, and delegations
elected pursuant to the action of the
state central committee shall be
deemed the regular delegation.
We call to the attention of the peo.
pie OF Ohio the fact that the Demo.
cratic victory Of last fall resulted in
the enactment of number of laws in
the interests of the people chief
among which are the following.
The enactment of the two cent rail.
road fare law, so often vainly demand.
ed OF Republican legislatures; the en-
actment of a state and county salary
law replacing the vicious fee system;
the creation of state railroad COM
mission for the protection of shippers
the repeal of the Dana law and of the
inheritance tax law the creation OF
the Drake investigation committee for
Hamilton county.
This conniittee forced the return OF
quarter OF million dollars, stolen
from the taxpayers by corrupt Of
ilcials, before it was stopped by court
injunction. We deprecate the delay
of the supreme court in Withholding
its decision upon the legality of this
important commission.
This convention adds it's testimony
Of appreciation OF the life and char.
acter OF the late Governor John M.
Pattison to that already offered by
grief-stricken state. We would urge
that the simplest yet sincerest tribute
to be paid his memory Is the an.
nouncement OF our steadfast adher.
ence to-tire- pUficies he advocated. The
Democratic party cannot recede one
step from the advanced moral ground
upon which Governor Pattison placed
1t, Until that era OF respect for law,
its observance by our citizens and its
enforcement by our public servants
comes, the spirit of John NJ. Pattison
must dominate the Democracy of
Ohio, We pledge ourselves to continue
the battle he began until a lasting
victory be won. The chief tenet Of the
late Governor Pattison's political creed
was opposition to bosses and grafters.
His election was accepted as notice
that these exploiters should be per-
retired,
1t is viii feelings OF pride that
the half million Democrats OF Ohio
note the preparations making TO re-
ceiye the most distinguished prl-
yate citizen OF America upon his re-