The San Francisco call., 1908-03-06
SOUND SLOGAN
FOR DEMOCRATS


Continued From Page 1, Column i.
paign funds and providing for punish
ment, before the election, of all indf-
vidual contributions above reason
able minimum.
AGAINST GENERALIZATION
Believing, with Jefferson, in the
support of the state governments in
all their rights as the most competent
administrations for our democratic
concerns and the surest bulwark
against antirepublican tendencies and
in the preservation of the general gov
ernment in its whole constitutional
vigor as the sheet anchor of our peace
at home and safety abroad, we are
opposed to the Capitalization implied
in the suggestions now frequently
made that the powers of the general
government should be extended by ju-
dicial construction. While we favor the
exercise by the general government of
all its constitutional authority for the
prevention of monopoly and for the
regulation OF interstate commerce. we
insist that federal remedies shall be
added TO. and not substituted for state
remedies"
Continuing, the PLATFORM says;
We insist unon the recognition OF the dis
tinction between the natural man and the arti-
acisl person called corporation. and we favor
tae enactment Of such law As may be necessary
70 compel foreign corporations 70 submit thelr
legal disputes to the courts OF the states IN
which they do business. and thus place them
selves upon the same footing AS domestic cor
porstoas
We favor She election Of United States sen:
aters ey direct vote of the people, and regard
this reform as the gateway TO all other national
reforms
REvEnrES SurCCESTEn
A private monopoly is indefensible and intol-
eraele. We therefore favor the vigorous indorse-
ment of the criminal law against trusts and
trust msgpates aud demand the enactment Of
70 make IL impossible for q privateh monopoly
20 exist in the United States Among the ad-
ditiouSl remedies we specify three:
First-A law preventing the duplication OF d.
rectors among competing corporations,
seeond-A license system which VIII. without sol
abrdging the right of each state TO create cor
Perations or its right 70 regulate as Il VIII
foreign corporations doing business within Its
limits make II necessary for manufacturing or
trading corporations engaged in interstate com
merce to take out r federal license before IL
shall he permitted 10 control as much as 2o per
cent of the product in which II deals. the license
10 protect the public from wstered stock and to
prohibit the control by such corporations of more
than 80 per cent of the total amount OF any
produce consumed In the United States.
Third---A law compelling such licensed cor
porations TO sell TO all purchasers in all parts
Of the country on the same, terms after max
ing due allowance for cost of transportation.
WELCOME TARIFF REFORM
We welcome the belated promise of tariff re-
form now offered by part of the republican
party as fardy recognition Of the Righteousness
the people cannot safely intrust the execution
Of this important work to party which is so
it postpoues relief until after the election. And
we call attention to the significant fact that the
promise now made by those republicans who IA
tariff revision is wholly yitiated by the use
Of the very qualifying words under which the
present tariff iniquities have grown up.
We favor an immediate revision of the tariff
by the reduction of import duties. Articles en-
tering into competition with articles controlled
by trusts should be placed upon the free list:
material reduction should be made in the tariff
upon the neeessaries of life; and reductions
should be made in such other schedules may
be necessary to restore the tariff TO revenue
basis.
We favor an income tax as part Of revenue
system. and we urge the submission OF CON
stitutional amendment specifically authorizing
congress To levy and collect n tax upon indiyId,
Gal and corporate incomes. to the end that
wealth may bear its proportionate share of the
burdens Of the federal government
We favor a national Inheritance tax to reach
the swollen fortunes already in existence,
but we believe that it is better 10 permanently
prevent swollen fortunes by abolishing the
privileges and favoritism upon which they are
based.
We sympathize with the efforts put forth for
reclamation of the arid lands of the west, and
urge the largest possible nse of irrigation 10 the
principle.
We favor the preservation of the forests still
remaining and the replanting of the denuded dis
tricts in all our mountain ranges, as well as the
forestation Of the western pld1us.
PANAMA CANAL APPROVED
We believe that the Panama canal will prove
of great value TO our country and favor its
speedy completion. We urge Liberal appropria-
the interior waterways, believing that such ex-
penditures will return large dividend in les
sened cost of transportation.
We favor liberal pension policy, both a
matter of justice TO the surviving veterans and
their dependents. and because Ii relieves the
country of the necessity of maintaining large
standing army.
We condemn the experiments in Imperialism
an inexcushble hunder which has involved us
In enormous expense, brought weakness
instead of strength and laid our nation open to
the charge of abandoning the fundamental doc
We favor an Immediate declaration of the na-
tions purpose 10 recognize the Independence of
The Philippine Islands as soon as stable gov
eminent can be established. such independence
TO be guaranteed by us as we guarantee the In
dependence OF Cuba, until the naturalization of
the islands can be secured by treaty with other
powers. In recognizing the independence of the
Philippine islands our government should retain
such land as may be necessary for coaling sta
tons and naval bases.
Desiring 10 prevent war wherever possible we
believe that our nation should announce it's de-
termination not to use our navy for the collection
of private debts, and its willingness to enter
into agreements with other nations providing for
the investigation by an impartial international
tribunal, before any declaration of or COM
mencement of hostilities, Of every dispute which
dehes diplomatic settlement.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
We assert the right of congress to exercise
| complete control over interstate commerce, and
we asert the right of each state 20 exercise
| just complete control over commerce within
| its borders. We demand such enlargement OF
powers of national and state railway commits
sions may be necessary to give full protection
TO persons and places from discrimination and
extortfon. We believe that both the nation and
the various states should: First ascertain the
present value of the railroads, measured by the
cost of reproduction; second, prohibit the issue
of any more watered stock fictitious capital.
ization; third prevent the railroads from engag-
| ing in any business which brings them into com