The Green Forest tribune., 1908-06-12

8. We demand that the General As sembly refrain from passing special laws in any case where a general law is, or can be. made applicable.
 Convict Lease System Is Opposed.
 g. We believe that all competition between convict labor and free labor should as far as possible, be avoided. We believe that the welfare of the con victs can be better maintained when the benefit of the state and to do oIt that we to this end we favor work ing the state convicts on the public roads, keeping only a sufficient number clothe and feed themselves and those engaged on public roads. And we are any further contracts by which any con 1 vict is leased or hired to any person, firm or corporation, and we especially charge and direct the legislature next to convene to pass such laws as will carry out these principles.
 10. Believing that the improvement of the public roads and highways is a matter of vital importance to the prop CT development of our state, we heartily favor all measures to that end. and we especially recommend to the next Gen eral Assembly to consider the feasibi- ity of adopting state aid for public roads and to establish a comprehensive system of highway Improvements.
 New Banking Laws Needed. i H. We believe that the general laws of the state are inadequate for the pro- lection of depositors of money in the banks of the state. and therefore favor the passage of wise and conservative banking laws, such will provide for the proper inspection of banks and the maximum protection of the people who deposit their money therein.
 For Four Agricultural Colleges. | 12 AS agriculture is the fountain of our prosperity and as the great mass of our people are engaged in that pur suit, we favor the establishment and maintenance Of not less than four ag- r Sfh in ont Dt-fc nf the state--one to be located at the Uni versity of Arkansas and another at the l State Normal School.
 13. We favor the passage of such laws as may be necessary to provide for the proper protection of labor. We favor wise and vigorous law for the lcollectfng and dispensing of information regarding the science of agriculture hor- ticulture and animal industry through out this state. We favor safeguarding by appropriate legislation the safety of persons employed in mining, manufac- tturing or other industries.
 II. We pledge the people that the incoming administration of the states government will be devoted to the devel- opment of the states resources and that the business interests of this state shall be fostered and encouraged;
 | 15 Intelligence being the safeguard of liberty, we favor the encouragement of all the states educational interests from the district or public schools to the University of Arkansas free from the baneful influence of political partisan ship We therefore not only renew the party's protection and pledges to this interest, but we pledge ourselves to the development of the entire system of education in the state, and. believing that all legitimate expenditures in this line of work yield the greatest profit to civilization. we recommend liberal appro- priations for the education of the youth of the state and for the maintenance of it's normal institutions.
 Is. We favor the enactment and en- forcement of laws to suppress gambling in agricultural commodities.
 Larger Powers for Railroad oommis- sion.
 r. We recommend that the powers of the Railroad Commission be so in creased as to regulate and control trans portation of freight and passengers 1.-the equipment and roadbeds of railways. and that necessary relief iE such matters may be granted. withou. the necessity fer special legislation.
 The Initiative and Referendum Advo-
 catea.
 1S Believing in the peoples right to rule, we favor the submission of an amendment to the constitution, provid- ing for the initiative and referendum in matters of legislation affecting the general interests of the people.
 amendments to the state constitution, the one providing poll tax qualification for the elective franchise. and the oth- CT permitting the issuance of bonds for
 
 | counties.
 20. We recognize the states obliga- tion to those who so freely offered their lives when called to service by the state. and we pledge the Confederate veteran that his services will never be forgotten and that his declining years shall he made more comfortable. Publicity for Campaign Expenses. 21. We demand the enactment of a law requiring the publication of a sworn itemized statement of all cam of o1 dat party committees in all primary, spe- cial and general elections in this state.
 would Leave Capitol Completion to
 Donaghey.
 question may be taken out of politics and be no longer cause of discord and confusion, we demand that the next General Assembly pass such laws as will remove all persons and officials connected with or engaged in the con struction of the state capitol. so that struction of the building at once and pass such laws upon that subject as may be recommended by the nominee of our party for governor; as we recog. nize his familiarity with this subject and the endorsement of his views by the people. and we condemn all graft or attempted graft in connection with it's construction. As the capitol is in a sense the home of all the people and will be for generations to come, we rec ommend to the General Assembly that
  furnishing and in the grading and adorn- ment of it's grounds. spirit of fair liberalty be exercised.
 Higher Pay for the Judiciary.
 23 We recognize the necessity for increased pay for the services of the judiciary of this state of the trial and | Supreme Courts. and pledge the Demo- cratic party to such action as may be necessary for increasing said salaries. adequate to the responsibility and value of the services of our judges. And as under the present constitution the salary ] of circuit judges and chancellorS can- not exceed three thousand dollars per year. we request the legislature to pass l a law at it's next session for that amount of salary for said circuit judges To Decide Liquor Question at Polls. | 24 Whereas. there are two methods or regulating the sale of liquor-local | option and statewide prohibition, we be- lieve that the will of the people should i govern but the law as it now stands provides no way of ascertaining which l of these remedies the people prefer. We | recommend that the next legislature pass such laws will ascertain, during the year 1909. whether the people favor local | option or statewide prohibition and we pledge the Democratic party to execute the peoples will when it shall have been | ascerta ined.
 25 We favor the passage Of a law forbdding the appointment of any per son engaged in the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liauor as election com l missioner or election judge in any elec- tion when the right to sell intoxicating liquor is an issue. | Section Director Returns.
 H. F. Alciatore, section director of the Little Rock Weather Bureau, re-