Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-21
sTATEsMEN's PLATFORM


plicit and unequivocal in its declara-
tons, and ringing with liberty-bell
Americanism. It recognizes existing
conditions which initiate against good
government. and demands a thorough
reform.
With pressing public questions it
deals in direct, straight-from-the-
shoulder style.
''The greatest enemy of California
fruit growers" it says, sis not SO much
lack of tariff regulation as of railroad
legislation which will compel an ade-
quate supply of cars, and reduce freight
rates. which now equal the import duty
placed on fruit from foreign coun-
tries" 1t points out that the present.
duty OF $40 per ton on citrus fruits is
wholly absorbed by the railroad COM
bine. and THE PRETENDED PRO-
lection OF CITRUS FRUIT
GROWERS, IN FACT, PROTECTS
ONLY THE RAILROADS.
The platform demands the enactment
by the legislature of the state of law
enforcing the constitutional provisions
forbidding rebates and determinations,
and providing legal machinery ade-
quate for the imposition and collection
of the penalties prescribed in section
% of article IL. The shortcomings of
negligent, incompetent or unwilling Of
flcials, to whom was intrusted the duty
of compelling obedience to the law,
are made the basis for a demand that
candidates for the legislature be pledged
to inaugurate impeachment proceedings
against the present state board of rail-
road commissioners for their notorious
failure and refusal to enforce the law
against granting rebates and discrim-
nations. and to punish state railroads
for their violations of that law.
In behalf Of public decency and
morality, the platform "arraAgns the
Republican party Of this state before
the bar Of public opinion" for its re-
fusal to pass the Eshelman bill against
race track gambling, and pledges DEM
ocratic candidates for the legislature to
vote for that or any similar bill seek
ing to END this evil.
Approving consolidation plans, the
platform advocates the construction
and maintenance of free public docks
at San Pedro harbor, of adequate ca
pacity for deep-water vessels, to be
connected with the macadamized or
paved traffic highways Of the county.
Strong, virile and statesmanliko in
every respect, the platform deals in a
straightforward, Democratic way with
the question of organized labor, reaf-
firming the planks of the national DEM
ocratic convention regarding injunc-
lions, and stating .emphatically that
while 1.-THE courts of justice are the bull
wark of our liberties and we yield to
none in our purpose to maintain their
dignity" at the same time "injunc-
lions should not be issued in any case
in which injunctions would not issue If
no industrial disputes were involved"
This is another way Of saying Fair
plays a Jewell" which is one of the
fundamental principles OF Democracy.
The platform reafirms the attitude of
the national convention in its determine
alton to maintain the standing of
American labor. establish the eight
hour work day and put the arbitration
principle into practice in a court of
arbitration for employers and employees
In It's demands that the county gov
eminent be taken from corporation
bosses and restored to the people, that
law be enacted giving to every citizen
the right to prosecute any public Off
cial who is willfully. corruptly or weak
ly derelict in his duty, as we'll as In Its
demands for absolute purity Of cleo
lions, for direct primaries and re-
mission of the poll tax to every voter
who votes at the primary elections,
the platform will appeal to every
good citizen who intends to make his
vote count for progress and for achieve
1nents which will signalize the rule of
upright efficiency and not for con-
| tinuation of the reign of corrupt and
rapacious corporation incapacity.
Thus far the work of the convention
| is most excellent. 1t has measured up
to the expectations of the Democracy
in the character of the man whom 1t
has chosen for its chairman; In the
fact that it has purged the party of
those undesirable elements which here
tofore have been detrimental to its
good name and reputation; and that 1t
has adopted a strong, clean, clear plat
form, alive with Democratic principles,
which are the principles of honest pop
ular government the people desire to
see in force. In addition to all that has
been achieved that is comrnendable,
and in addition to the necessity of nom
mating good men for office, something
Of great Importance remains to be at
tended to. The Herald desires to call
attention to the necessity of selecting
high grade men to whose hands the
future of the party can safely be in
| trusted. The utmost care should be
exercised in choosing the chairman of
the county central committee, who
should be a citizen of the highest type
and of irreproachable life and charac-
ter; and not less scrupulous care should
be bestowed upon the selection of the
members OF the county central COM
mittee.