Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-07-24
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
PLATFORM FOR THE
CAMPAIGN OF 1908


Denver, July 13.-Following is the plat
form adopted by the democratic nationa
convention early this morning at the con.
-clusion of its reading by Governor Has
KEEL, Of Oklahoma, chairman of the com
nnittee on resolutions.
We, the representatives of the demo
,cracy of the United States, in nationa
convention assembled, reoffirm our belief
in, and pledge our loyalty to, the prin-
~clples of the party.
I'VE rejoice at the increasing signs OF ar
awakening throughout the country. The
various Investigations have traced graft
aand political corruption TO the representa-
tives Of predatory wealth and laid bare
the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which they
have debauched elections and preyed upon
"a defenseless public through the subserv-
sent officials whom they have raised to
places and power.
The conscience of the nation is now
aroused to free the government from the
grip of those who have made 1t a busir. oss
asset of the favor-seeking corporations; 1t
zand be administered in all it's departments
according TO the Jeffersonian maxim of
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none
shall the people rule?' is the over
Swallowing issue which manifests itself
an all the questions now under Discus
sion.
To Many OfficehoIders,
Coincident with the enormous Increase
IN expenditures is the addition of the num-
Der Of lew ofsiceholders. During the past
year %, 7S4 were added, costing SIC, 156. 0o0,
=and in the past six years of republican adj
ADMINISTRATION the total number of new Of
fices created, aside from many commits
-slons, has been 1918. entailing an addi-
tional expenditure of nearly $40, 000, 900, as
against only 1928 new offices created un-
der tbs Cleveland and Mckinley adminls-
trations, which involved an expenditure OF
only $4,000 coo. We denounce this great
n NJ 0FnNT ~ no fnnrnn so In thA ,~aI - -
ticehclders as not only Unnecessary and
wasteful, but also as clearly indicating a
deliberate purpose on the part of the adj
ADMINISTRATION to keep the republican party
in power at public expense by thus in
screassng the number OF it's retainers and
dependents. Such procedure We declare
TO be no less dangerous and corrupt than
the open purchase of votes at the polls.
Waste Peoples Money.
The republican congress In tia session
Just ended has made appropriations
amounting to 81, COS, 900, 900, exceeding the
total expenditures of the past fiscal year
by 800 OO,O coo and leaving a deficit of more
than $50, coo, 600 for the fiscal ~ear. We
sdenounce the needless waste of the peo-
pies money which has resulted In this APP
palling increase and shameful viola ion of
'all prudent conditions of government as
no less than a crime against the millions
OF working men and women from whose
earnings the great proportion OF these
colossal sums must be extorted through
NSACSSSINt tdIIl GAdCllOIlS lDu OInGT ln0l-
rect methods. 1t is not surprising that in
the face of this shocking record the re-
publican platform contains no reference
TO economical administration nor promise
thereof in the future. We demand that
"a stop be put to this frightful extrava-
and insist upon the s~trictest eco
nomy In every department compatible
with frugal and efficient administration.
Cut Cars Power.
The House of Representatives was de-
nv tho flThnrl ~ tha oAn~t;,,+,o
to be the popular branch Of our govern
ment, responsive to the public viii. The
House of Representatives, as controlled
recent years by the republican rarity.
has ceased to be a deliberatiye and legisla-
tive body, responsive II the will OF a ma
1ority of its members. but has come un-
DER the absolute domination of the speal.-
ser, who has entire control af It's delibera-
tons and powers of legislation. We have
with amaZement the popular
branch of our federal government hep
less % obtain either the consideration or
enactment Of measures desired by a ma
-JorltY or Its member. Legislative govern
ment becomes a failure when one man in
the person of the speaker IS more power
rul than the entire body. We demand that
the House OF representatives shall again
become a deliberative body, controlled by
a majority of the peoples representatives
and not by the speaker. and we pledge
ourselves to adopt such rules anu regula-
uons TO govern the House OF Representa-
tiYc3 as will enable a majority of its
members to direct it's deliberations and
control legislation.
Misuse of Patronage.
we condemn, as a violation of the spirit
OF our Institutions, the action Of the pres
'ent chief executive In using the patronage
OF his high office 70 secure the nomina-
ton of one of his cabinet officers. A
Lorced succession in the presidency is
less repuSCant to public sentiment
than is life tenure in that office. No GOOD
on the part Of the executive and
no virtue In the one selected can Justify
the establishment of q dynasty. The right
OF the people to freely select their Of
ficials is inslienable and cannot be dele
gated. 49,
Campaign Contributions Publicity.
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has ex-
ssted between corporations of the country
and the republican party under the ey-
pressed or implied agreement that i'm re-
turn Tor the contribution of great sums Of
money, WIereWlth to purchase elections
they should be allowed to continue sub
stantially unmolested in their efforts 20
encroach upon the rights of the people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the existence
this relation has been forever dispelIed
the sworn testimony OF Witnesses ex-
amined in the insurance Investigation in
rev YORK, and the open admission-un-
challenged by the republican national
committee-of n single Individual that he
tlrnself, at the personal request OF the
republican candidate for the presidency.
NA'Nu VNSi Il quar- OI Il million or dol |
lars 10 be used IN q sing state during
the closing hours of the last campaign. IN
that this practice shall be STONED
Hor an time we demand the passage Of a
statute Furnishing with Imprisonment anv
officer or a corporation who shall either
on behalf of, or consent ia the
contribution by. a corporation of any
money or anything of value to be used IN
furthering the election of a president or
vice president of the United States or any
member of the congress thereof.
we denounce the action of the rep,h-
party, having complete control OF
the federal government, for its failure To
pass the bill introduced in the Last CON
gress TO compel the publication of the
names of contributors and the amounts
toward campaign funds. and
point to the evidence of their insincaritv
they sought by an absolutely irrele-
want and impossible amendmen. to defeat
the passage of the bill As a further evil
dence OF their intention TO conduct their
campaign In the coming contest with vast
sums OF money wrested from favor seek
ing corporations we call attention to the
ract that the recent republican M tional
convention at Chicago refused, when the
was presented 10 ii, to declare
against such practices.
We pledge the democratic party 10 the
of a law prohibiting any cor
poration from contributing TO a campaign
and any individual from contributing
an amount above a reasonable amount
OF all contributions above a rea-
sonable minimum.
States Rights.