Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-07-15
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

Formal Declaration of Principles OF
the Democratic Party as Set Forth
By the Denver Convention.
Following is the Democratic nation
al platform:
We, the representatives of the
Democrats of the United States in
national convention assembled, af-
firm our belief in, and pledge our
loyalty t othe principles of the party.
We rejoice at the increasing signs
of an awakening throughout the
country. The various Investigations
have traced graft and political cor
ruption to the representatives of pre-
datory wealth and laid bare the un-
scrupulous methods by which they
have debauchcd elections and preyed
upon defenseless public through
The subservient officials whom through
have raised to place and power. >.
The conscience of the nation is now
aroused 10 free the government from
the grip of those who have made it
a business assat Of the favor seeking
corporations; it must become again
a peoples government, and be admin
:stre;i in all its departments accord
ing to the Jeffersonian maxim of
Equal rights to all and special priv
ileges to none"
"Shall the people rule?' is the
overshadowing issue which manifests
itself in all the questions now under
discussion.
The Injunction Plank.
The courts of, justice are the bull
work 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 distin-
guished judges who have added to the
respect and confidence in which this
department must be jeasously main
tanned. We resent the attempt of the
Republican party to raise a false is
sue respecting the Judiciary. 1t is
an unjust reflection upon great body
of our citizens to assume that they
lack respect for the courts.
1t is the function of the courts to
interpret the laws which the people
create, and if the laws appear to work
economical, social or political injus,
tice, it 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 pro-
lection of life, personal libert. and
property. If Judicial processes may
be abused, we should guard them
against abuse.
Law Should Be Modified.
Experience has proven the neces-
sity of a modification of the present
law relating to iniunctions and we re-
itcrate tie pledge of our national
platforms of 1896 and 1904 in favor
of the measure which passed the
United States Senate in 1896 but
which a Republican Congress has ev-
er since refused to enact, relating to
contempts in Federal courts and pro-
viding for trial by jury in cases of
indirect contempt.
Questions Of judicial practice have
arisen especially in connection with
industrial disputes. We deem that the
parties to all judicial proceedings
shoulh be, treated with rigid imparti-
ality and that injunctions should not
issue in any cases in which iniunc-
tions would not issue if no industrial
dispute were involved.
The expanding organization of in.
dustry makes it essential that there
should be no abridgement Of the right
of wage-earners and producers to or
ganize for the proection Of wages
and the improvement of labor condi.
TOMS to the end that such labor or.
CARNATIONS and their members should
not be regarded as illegal combina.
tions in restraint of trade.
We favor the eight-hour day on all
government work.
) We pledge the Democratic party tc
the enactment of a law by Congress
as far as the Federal jurisdiction ex.
lends, for a general employers liza.
bility act covering injury to body, Of
loss of life of employees.
We pledge the Democratic part,
to the enactment of a law creating
department of labor, represented
separately in the Presidents Cabinet
which department. shall include the
subject of mines and mining.
ghe Railroad Plank.
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
control over commerce within its bor-
ders. y
We demand such enlargement of
the powers Of the Interstate COM
mercc commission as may be neces-
sary to enable it to protect persons
and places from discrimination and
extortion and to compel the railroads
70 perform their duties as common
carriers. We favor the efficient super.
vision and rate regulation of railroads
engaged in Interstate commerce. Tc
this end We recommend the physical
valuation of the railroads by the in.
ter-Statc commerce commission, such
valuation to take into consideration
the original cost Of construction and
all elements Of value that will render
the valuation made fair and Just. We
favor such legislations as will prohi
bit the railroads from engaging IL
business which brings them into com
petitions with their shippers. also leg
fslaton which will assure such reduc
ton in transportation rates as condi
tions will permit, care being taken t.
avoid reduction that would compe
reduction in wages, prevent adequate
service or do injustice to Legitimate
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