Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1908-07-11
LADORANDR rail- ROADS,
Text Of Important Planks Of tho
Democratic Platform.
WOULD MODIFY INJUNCTIONs
Recommends Physical Valuation oi
Railroads as a Basis for Efficient
Regulation of Rates by Commerce
Commission.

haiIfoauS as q BASIS TOT SHlCien1
Regulation of Rates by Commerce
Commission.
Denver, July 10.-Following is the
| full and correct text of the Injunction
| plank as adopted by the sub-com
| mittee 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-
1ican 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.
1T is the function of the courts to
, interpret the laws which the people
create and if 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 thai
of answering justice and protection
of life, personal liberty and property.
If 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 1895, 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 impartiaiity Demanded.
.unestions 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 injune-
tions would not issue II no industrial
dispute were involved.
"The expanding organization Of in
dustry makes it essential that there
should be no abridgment of the right
OF wage earners and producers to or
ganize for the protection of wages and
the Improvement of labor conditions
to the end that such labor organiza-
tions and their members should not
be regarded as illegal combinations in
restraint of trade.
I'VE favor the sight-hour day ON all
government work.
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law by congress,
MS far as the federal jurisdiction ex-
tends, for a general employers liabil-
fly act covering injury to body or loss
of life of employees. ..-
Eve pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of a law creating de-
partlnentq Of labor, represented sep
aratsly in the presidents cabinet,
which department shall include the
subject of mines and miring."
The railroad plank, So adopted by
the full committee, is as follows:
Plank Relating to Railroads.
1--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.
"We demand such enlargement of
the powers of the interstate commerce
commission as may be necessary to
enable it 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 efficient supervision
and rate regulation of railroads en-
gagged in inSerst tate commerce. To this !
end We recommend the physical val |
lation of the railroads by the inter
state commerce commission, such val
lation to take into consideration the
original cost of construction and all /
elements OF value lIdl Will IcHuSI lAc
7aluation made fair and just. We fa-
for such legislation as will prohibit
he railroads from engaging in bHsi-
less which brings them into competi-
ion with their shippers, also legisla-
ion which will assure such reduction
n transportation rates as conditions
Will permit, care being taken to avoid
eduction that would compel reduc-
ion of wages, prevent adequate serv-
GO tor.do, injustice to legitimate invest
1ents.
I'VE heartily approve the laws pro
ibiting the pass and the rebate and /,
fe favor any further necessary legis-
alton to restrain, correct and prevent I
uch abuses. La
The last plank to be acted upoa by II
ne committee was the demanding Of
system for the guarantee of depos Fl
S in national banks; an alternative {
revision was inserted recommending
le establishment Of postal sasin-s 4