The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-09-18
DEMOCRATS ADOPT PLATFORM
Leaders of Party Give Careful Consideration to Matters
of Public Policy in Drafting Measure, Which
Passes Without Dissenting Voice.

Jefferson City. - The Democratic
nominees adopted without a dissent
ing vote their state platform last
Wednesday.
With the doors thrown wide open,
and with no fear OF the Republicans
discovering the essentials OF the doc
ument. the Democrats gathered at the
Cole county courthouse shortly after
3 o'clock, when the platform was read
to the convention by Senator F. W.
McAilister. OF Monroe county, chair.
man of the resolutions committee.
Throughout good part Of the night
and Wednesday party leaders and
state candidates, from w. S. Cowherd.
the gubernatorial nominee, down, al.
ternated in advising with the subcom.
mittee to which had been delegated
the drafting Of the platform. Every
suggestion was received and given
consideration, irrespective OF It's
source. A feeling of good fellowship
was noticeable throughout the long
session. No one was sighted and all
united In the single purpose of fran
ins measure that would be credit
TO the party and the state.
Not an issue was lodged. At the
outset II was agreed that every mat.
| ter before the public should be
weighed carefully and the position OF
| the party candidates stated without
fear or equiyocation. There was called
| into the counsels OF the committee
and the candidates leading party mem.
bers whose interest In the Democracy
Of the state is well known, and their
| suggestions were received as were
the proposals OF the leading party
nominees
Senator McAllister, Congressman ].
J. Russell, James T. Lloyd and d. A.
DeArmond, and o. NJ. Barnett and
Judge II W. Johnston composed the
subcommittee. None attempted to
WELD a whip. nor was any effort made
to dictate without discussion the pol
icies that were embodied In the plat.
form.
Not only is the superiority OF tho
Democratic platform over the Repub-
lican measure apparent IN the planks
II contains. but its terseness and clear
phraseoloEy bespeak the ability of the
Democrats. Practically every candi-
date entitled to a seat in the conven.
ton was present when Senator Meal |
lister began reading the platform |
Except for stenographlc errors, no
changes were made in the measure as |
adopted, and none were anticipated, !
so thoroughly had the subjects han |
died been considered before their pro. /
mitigation.
The adoption was the last work OF |
the convention, and the final adjourn. |
ment was taken on motion OF Con.
gresham Champ Clark, after the
thanks OF the convention had been ex-
tended to Temporary Chairman Clark,
Permanent Chairman DeArmond and
scsretary Morton II. Pemberton, on
motion Of Colin NJ selph, OF st. Louis.
The Platform in Full.
The Democracy Of Missouri conscious
of an iuyulucrahle record and confident
OF victory In November heartily en-
dprses, IN every particular the national
platform adopted ut Denver, and pledges
to Bryan ana Kern tho electoral votes OF
this great state
We point to the superb schools I'm the
State OF Missouri as a monument to the /
Intelligent, public spirited and sound bus
mess management Of the Democratic par
~, and We challenge the Republicans To
the issue which their party organs have
raised Of converting the present state,
county, municipal and school district Sc
curitics into low interest bearing govern
ment bonds, which would reduce the in
come OF the common schools from this
source fully twO-thrdR. We favor a con.
tinuanc" OF the liberal policy of the pop
ular education IN Missouri and recognize
In our public school system the bulwark
Of our free institutions. which rest upon
tho virtue and intelligence OF our peo-
Pile.
We challenge the Republican party
and Republican press of the
state, who for years have charged the !
Democratic party with footing the school
fund to p"int to single dollar not !
honestly accounted for In tho more than l
thirty years during which time the exccu- q
live departments OF the state were under
Democratic control. In their many cam I
paigns they clumorcd to see the books" {
For nearly four years they have had con- !
troll OF the books. they have utterly failed I
to make good amy OF these charges and )
should publicly confess them to be false /
and libelous. q
After clamornE for years TO See tho )
books" In the State Capitol and then
hiding them so perfectly kept. every dol j
ar Of public money so completely ac- Il
,ounted for that their slandcrous tongues @
ire forever silcnccd. they are put TO n
ihamc by the disclosure OF shortage OF '
Gi 500 In the suhtrcnsury at st Louis a
while In charge OF the Republican ma I
ional committeeman from Missouri. y
Election Frauds.
The Democratic party fnvorR the fair l
'st and fullest expression OF the voters
L the polls and pledges an earnest and =
inoere purpose to protect the integrity g
u the ballot. In accord with this high o
purpose, the Democratic party has given
he state an absolutely impartial election n
nw. under the provisions Of which the p
republicans have equal representation o
With the Democrats In judges and clerks "
4 each polling place in the state; every n
ossible safeguard Is provided for tho b
reventlon OF fraud and for the secrecy g
4 the ballot OF the honest voter, aud Il
raEtic penalties prescribed for tho pun II
shment OF those who violate tho law. Al
raud can not be perpetratcd without tho ic
onscnt and connivancc OF the Judges @,
nd clerks OF both parties appointed upon N
he recommendation of their respective IL
ommittees. II. In spite OF these snfe- tC
yards. fraud Is perpetrated ut any cleo n