The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1908-07-10
LABORAND RAILROADS
Text Of Important Planks Of the
Democratic Platform.
WOULD MODIFY INJUNCTI0Ns
Recommends Physical Valuation OF
Railroads as a Basis for Efficient
Regulation Of Rates by Commerce
Commission,


Regulation Of Rates by Commerce
Commission.
Denver, July 10.-FolIowing is the
full and correct text of the injunction
plank as adopted by the sub-com-
mittes of the committee on resolu-
tions:
The courts of justice are the bull
wark of our liberties and We yield to
none In our purpose to maintain their
dignity. Our party has given to the
bench a long line of distinguished
judges, who have added to the respect
and confidence In which this depart
ment must be jealously maintained.
We resent the attempt of the Repub-
lican party to raise a false issue re-
specting the Judiciary. 1t is an un-
just reflection upon a great body of
our citizens to assume that they lack
respect for the courts.
'It is the function of the courts to
interpret the laws which the people
create and il the laws appear to work
economic, social or political injustice
1t is our duty to change them.
The only basis upon which the In
tegrity of our courts can stand is that
of answering justice and protection
of life, personal liberty and property.
II judicial processes may be abused
We should guard them against abuse.
Experience has proven the neces-
sity of a modification OF the present
law relating to injunctions and we
reiterate the pledge OF our national
platforms of 1896 and 1904 in favor of
the measure which passed the United
States senate In 1898. but which a
Republican congress has ever since
refused to enact; relating to con-
tempts In federal courts and providing
for trial by Jury In cases OF indirect
contempt.
Rigid ImpsrtIsIity Demanded.
Questions of judicial practice have
arisen, especially in connection with
Industrial disputes. We demand that
the parties to all judicial proceedings
should be treated with rigid impartial
ity and that injunctions should not be
issued In any cases in which injunc-
tions would not issue II NO industrial
dispute were involved.
The expanding organization OF In
dustry makes 1t essential that there
should be no abridgment of the right
of wage earners and producers to or
sanizs for the protection of wages and
the improvement of labor conditions
to the end that such labor orsaniza-
tions and their members should not
be regarded as illegal combinations In
restraint OF trade.
I'VE favor the eight-hour day on all
government work.
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment OF law by congress,
as far as the federal jurisdiction ex-
tends, for a general employers liabil-
ity act covering injury TO body or loss
OF life OF employees.
"Wa pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law creating de-
partment of labor, represented sep
arately In the presidents cabinet,
which department shall include the
subject Of mines and miring."
The railroad plank. as adopted by
the full committee, is as follows:
Plank Relating TO Railroads.
"We assert the right of congress to
exercise complete control over inter.
state commerce and the right Of each
state to exercise Just as complete con-
troll over commerce within its borders.
1--WE demand such enlargement OF
the powers of the Interstate commerce
commission as may be necessary to
enable 1t to protect persons and places
from discrimination and extortion and
to compel the railroads to perform
their duties as common carriers.
1--WE favor the eficient supervision
and rate regulation of railroads en-
aagsd In interstate commerce. To this
end we recommend the physical val
uation of the railroads by the inter
state commerce commission, such val
uation to take into consideration the
original cost of construction and all
elements of value that will render the
valuation made fair and just We ia
vor such legislation as will prohibit
the railroads from engaging In busi
ness which brings them into compsti
ton with their shippers. also legisla
tion which will assure such reduction
in transportation rates as conditions
will permit, care being taken to avoid
reduction that would compel a reduc
tion of wages, prevent adequate serv
ice or do injustice to legitimate invest
menta.
1--WE heartily approve the laws pro
hibiting the pass and the rebate and
ws iAyor any t9rthsr HaQ1asAEY lAgis