Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-24

f., Ing to Inlunctlons Declared Neees.
sary-For Economy In Administra.
tlpn-PubIleity Of Campaign Con.
tributIons and the Fopbidding Of
Corporations to Contribute 10 One
Of the PIanks-stringent Laws
. Against Trusts Urged = Railroad
Regulation - Popular Election Of
senators-Against Aslatie Imnlara.
tlon.
Denver, Col.-The platform of the
Democratic party, as adopted BY 4
unanimous vote of the convention, is
as follows:
Preamble.
We, the representatives of the Democ.
racy OF the United States in national CON.
Fention assembled, reaffirm our belief in
eend pledge our loyalty to. the principles
OF the party.
We rejoice at the increasing signs of an
awakening throughout the country. Tho
various investigations have traced graft
and political corruption to the represen.
tatives Of predatory wealth, and laid bare
Ae interruptions methods by which they
nave debauched elections and proved
epon defenseless public through the
subservient officials whom they have
raised to place and power.
The conscience Of the nation Is now
aroused 70 free the government from the
grip OF those who have made Il a bust
ness asset OF the favor-seeking CORPORA
uons; II must become again a peoples
government, and be administered in ali
Ito departments according to the Letter
sonian maxim Of equal rights to all
and special privileges to none"
Ofhceh0lders.
Colncident with the enormous increase
In Expenditures Is like addition TO the
number OF ofdceholders, During the last
year 3.7H were added, costing SIG, $4,000
ana In the last six years Of the Repub-
hcan administration the total number
OF new Offices created aside from many
} commissions has been $3.50, entailing
an additional expenditure Of nearly So.
100000, as against only 1923 new cfices
created under the Cleveland and McKin-
ley administrations, which involved an
expenditure Of only $60O0,000. We de-
nounce this great and growing increase
I'm the number Of officeholders as not only
unnecessary and wasteful, but also as
clearly indicating deliberate purpose on
the part Of the administration to keen
me Republican party In power at public
expense by thus increasing the number
of Its retainsrs and dependents. Such
procedure we declare TO be no less dan
eerous and corrupt than the open pur-'
chase Of votes at the polls =
The Republican congress In the session
just ended has made appropriations
amounting to N.0@, W0oW, exceeding the
total expenditures Of the past fiscal year
By &c., 900, and leaving a defcit of more
than 80, 900 900 for the fiscal year. We
denounce the needless waste OF the peo-
pies money which has resulted In this
appalling increase as shameful VIOLA
ton Of all prudent conditions Of govern
ment as no less than crime against the
millions of workingmen and women from
whose earnings the great proportion Of
these colossal sums must be extorted
through excessive tariff exactions and
other Indirect methods. II Is not surpris-
ing that, In the face of this shocking
record. the Republican platform contains
no reference to economical administra-
don or promise thereof In the future. We
demand that stop be put to this fright
ful extravagsnce and insist upon the
strictest economy In every department
compatible with frugal and efficient ad-
ministration.
Arbitrary Power Of Speaker.
The house Of representatives was de-
signed bys the fathers of the constitution
to be the popular branch Of our govern
msnt, responsive to the public will.
The house of representatives, as con-
trolled In recent years by the Republican
party. has ceased to be q deliberative and
legislative body, responsive to the will
Of q majority Of its members, but has
come under the absolute domination of
the speaker. who has entire control of its
) deliberations and powers OF legislation.
We have observed with amazement the
popular branch Of our federal govern
ment helpless to obtain either the consid-
Grafton or enactment Of measures desired
by majority Of its members.
Legislative government becomes a fall
ure when one member In the person of
the speaker is more powerful than the
entire body.
We demand that the house Of repre-
sentatives shall again become a delib-
erasive body, controlled by a majority Of
the peoples representatives and not by
the speaker. and we pledge ourselves to
adopt such rules and regulations to gov
ern the house OF representatives as will
enable a majority Of its members to d.
rect Its deliberations and control legis-
lation.
q Misuse Of Patronage.
We condemn, as a violation OF the
6piit Of our institutions, the action OF
thu present chief executive In using the
spatr6nage' Of his high Office to secure the
. nomination Of one Of his cabinet officers.
A forced succession in the presidency ID
scarcely less rspugnant to public senti-
ment than Is life tenure In that Office.
ecuttve and no virtue In the one selected
cen justify the establishment Of q
dynasty. The right OF the people % free
" select their ofiicials Is iialienanls and
cannot be delegated.
Publicity a Campaign Centributions
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has
existed between the. corporations Of the
the expressed or implied agreement thai
In return for the contribution Of greai
sums Of money wherewith to purchase
elections they should be allowed to con.
tinue substantially unmolestedin their ef.
forts to encroach upon the rights Of thu
people.
ence of this relation has been forever dis.
PEELED by the sworn testimony Of wit
nesses examined IN the insurance hives
figation In New York. and the open I'D
mission unchallenged BY the Republics
national committee OF single individual
that he himself ct the personal request o
the Republican candidate Tor the pres
Hon dollars to be used In G single stat
during fha cloeing hours az the loE