Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-07-06
ADOPT A PLATFORM,
Declaration Of Principles by Democrats
OF Wisconsin il State Con-
yaltioa


vened il this city Wednesday and Thurs
day Of this week:
The Democratic party of the state of Wis
conSln III state convention assembled, in
| The enjoyment of the constitutional pro-
vision that The right OF the people peace
ably 10 assemble TO consult for the common
good shall not be abridged" recommends
the adoption Of the following platform OF
principles:
We recognize that the gigantic trusts and
combinations designed to enable capital to
secure more than It's just share of the Joint
products of capital and labor, and which
nave been fostered and promoted under Re
p1DlIc&n rule are menace to beneficial
competition, and are obstacles to perlnd-
heht business prosperity. private lnonop-
ely is indefcnslbie and int0ierable.
" e demand strict enforcement of exist
ing civil and criminal statutes against ali
trusts, combinations and monopoles, and
we commend the Democratic members OF
both houses of Congress for the loyal sup
port they have given to the rate bill, the
pure food bill and other measures now in
process of enactment, and which would
nave wholly failed but for their unswerE-
M ana faithful support
We favor revision of the present tariff,
and hold that the tariff duty should be lev
to he so adjusted as to operate equally
throughout the country, ana not discrim-
mate between classes or sections, and the
taxation should be limited to the needs OF
the government, honestly and economically
administered.
tAmendcd to provide that all trust made
goods be put on the free liSt)
We deem is imperative in order to pro
tect the people from the inordinate exac-
tons of coal and oil combinations and
should reserve from sale all coal and oil
rights in all government lands hereafter
granted.
We believe in the principle of income tax
alton and favor such amendment to the
federal constitution as will permit federal
taxation "a incomes.
We. insist that ought to do for the
r. pInoS what we nave already done for
the CubanS, and it is our duty to make
that promise now. and upon suitable guar
ahtceS of protection to citizens of our own
ard other countries resident there at the
time of our withdrawal, set the Filipino
people upon their feet. free and indcpend-
ent, to work out their own destiny
We favor the election of United States
senator's by direct vote of the people
and we demand that the Constitution of
thC United States be amended accordingly.
We favor governmental control and regu-
!atlon of all public service corporations so
that they shall be operated for the benefit
of the people for whom they We're intend
ed
We favor tho enactment of law Ivy the
next Legislature amending the present
law, to authorize the state railway
commission to correct upon its own initia-
tive any schedule or tariff Of rates which in
its Judgment should be corrected or modi-
fed.
we favor such legislation as will enable
municipalities to own, construct and ac-
qEire by purchase such public service uti-
tiles as they may deem proper; and to en-
able them to do we favor amending
Section of Article IL of the consti-
tuition of state that Indebted
ness incurred in acquiring such public uti-
tiles shall be excluded from the limita-
lions of said section, thus permitting mu-
nicipal corporations to asquire public util-
tiles and to restrict the constitutional limi-
tationS of Indebtedness to debts incurred
for non-productive property.
We favor the passage of law by the
next Legislature comforting upon and dele
eating to municipalities the power to fix
the price at which public service corpora
tions within the municipalities shall fur
users and consumers.
We are in favor of & maximum rate of
charge by all railroads doing business III
mile for passenger traffic within this state.
We favor the enactment of laws proyid-
ing full protection for policy holders in
ALI life insurance companies transactins
business i'll this state.
We favor the enactment and enforce
ment of laws: giving labor and capital i'm,
labor ought not to be enemies Each is
necessary to the other. Each has its rights,
but the rights Of labor are certainly not
less vested nor less sacred and 10 less in
al-rEai ic than the rights of capital.
We favor the enactment of law estab-
fishing the doctrine of comparative neSli-
ScEce in all personal injury cases.
burden is essential to equality of social and
20 itical rights. The recent decision of
our supreme court in the railway cases has
opened the way for a more equitable dis
trbuton of the tax burden ana Il speedy
return to the constitutional rule of uni
formity. We now insist that all laws i'm
posing il license fee on earnings in lieu of
taxes, except as to foreign corporations. be
repealed, and that all property within
the jurisdiction of this commonwealth be
assessed and taxed on an ad valOrem ba-
- n nd 70
method. We incline to the opinion that
a graduated income tax the groundwork
of al! taxation will prove to be Il more
scientific and equitable method than the
Anticipated system now i'll use. We there
fore favor the adoption of the constitu-
tiOnal amendment permissive OF Sradu-
ated income tax.
We are in favor of the highest efficiency
of the public schools and all institutions
of learning, including manual training and
agricultural schools And we demand that
party considerations be wholly eliminated
from the management of these institu-
lions.
titled to the highest consideration of the
state.
We demand that the present state debt
of $2,251. O0o borrowed from the trust funds
of the state for war purposes and bearing
interest at the rate of z per cent. per an
num- for which an annual tax levy of
$157,570 is made. shall be paid in accord
ance with the mandates of the cOnstitu-
ton; and we condemn the action of the Re
publican administrations for diverting the
sum of 81 1S4, 6591S, received during the
years 1908 and 1868. from the United States
government in repayment Of the war
claims of the state, from the trust funds.
from which this fund originally taken.
to the general fund. and its use III the pay
ment of general state expenses
We favor primary elections as being dem
ocratic in principle. but recognize some
defects In the preSenL law and favor such
changes and amendments in it as time and
experience may demonstrate to be neces-
snry after a fair trial
We regard with just pride and adinira-
ton the typical American who has been
journeying in foreign lands the past year.
and. although only private citizen with
none of the allurcmentS of place or power
about him. has been accorded distinguished
consideration and attention wherever he
has gone. solely because his course il pub
lie and private life alike has shown him
seeing statesman. and Il thoroughly hon
est and upright man. i'll whom the people
can safely repOSe their utmost confidence.
We therefore declare that we are heartily
Jennings Bryan. as the Democratic candl-
date for president in 1905 and we pledge
our united efforts to secure his nomination.
The Downward Path.
Its certainly too bad!'' with sighful
soIennity said Miss Henrietta Stang.
over the back fence to Mrs. Judge Tub
man, .'but according to all reports, it's
what he said himself that started the
taIkI-young Lester Pinney is going to
the dogs just as fast as he cant Why.
he owned up to Gilbert Pine, and Gil
told 'I.ias Turner, and 'Lias told AMI
Sussions. and AMI told it to one of the
Bump Twins, and the Bump Twin told it