The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-10
HERE THEY STAND
Platform Adopted by Democrats
in National Convention
Covers Almost Every Important
Public Question.
SHALL PEOPLE RULE?
Is Declared to Be the Para
mount Campaign Issue.
Favors Guarantee Banking Law
or Postal Savings Banks.
SHALL PEOPLE RULE?

Denver. July 1o-After more than
twenty-four hours of almost contin-
uous service, the committee on resolu-
lions of the Democratic national con-
vention last night at 1920 o'clock
concluded its work on the platform
and after a period of revision and re-
arrangement of sections, the members
OF the committee, headed by the chair
man. Governor Haskell of Oklahoma,
with the document under his arm,
started for the convention hall. Afto
the last plank had been agreed upon
Senator Daniel of Virginia and ex-
Senator Smith of New Jersey, an
nounced their intention to support the
nominee of the convention on the
platform agreed upon.
The committee adopted for pre-
sentation to the convention the follow
ing resolution regarding Abraham
Lincoln's birthday celebration:
Whereas. The Tooth anniversary of
the birth of Abraham Lincoln occurs
on February IL. 1909, therefore. be 1t
Resolved by the Democratic ma
tional convention, That we recommend
its appropriate celebration throughout
our land"
The committee voted down a reso-
luton providing that hereafter a ma
jority vote shall be sufficient to effect
the nomination of any candidate for
president or vice president in national
Democratic convention.
The platform is as follows:
The Preamble.
We, the representatives of the De-
mocracy of the United States in ma
tional convention assembled reaffirm
our belief in, and pledge our loyalty
to. the principles of the party.
We rejoice at the increasing signs
of an awakening throughout the coun-
try. The various Investigations have
traced graft and political corruption to
the representatives of predatory
wealth and laid bare the INSCRIPTIONS
methods by which they have debauch-
fenseless public through the subserv-
lent officials whom they have raised to
place and power.
The conscience of the nation is now
aroused to free the government from
the grip of those who have made it a
business asset of the favor-seeking
corporations; it must become again
peoples government and be admins
tered in all its departments according
to the Jeffersonian maxim of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none"
Shall the people ruler" is the over
shadowing issue which manifested
itself in all the questions now under
discussion.
Oficeholders.
Coincident with the enormous in
crease in expenditures is a like condi-
ton to the number of officeholders
During the past year 23.7S4 were add
ed, costing $16,156,000 and in the past
six years of the Republican admins
tration the total number of new offices
created aside from many commissions
has been 99,319. entailing an addition
al expenditure of nearly seventy mil
lion dollars as against only 1929 new
Offices created under the Cleveland and
Mckinley administrations, which in
volved an expenditure of only $1,000
900. We denounce this great and
growing increase in the number of
officeholders as not only unconstitll-
tional and wasteful but also as clearly
indicating a deliberative purpose on
the part of the administration to keep
the Republican party in powre at
public expense by thus increasing the
number OF Its retainers and depend
ents.
Such procedure we declare to be no
less dangerous and corrupt than the
open purchase of votes at the polls
Economy in Administration.
The Republican congress in the ses-
sion just ended has made appropria-
tons amounting to .00S,000,OOO ex-
ceeding the total expenditures of the
past fiscal year by $90,00O,OOO and
leaving a deficit of more than 100000
OOO Tor the nScal year. We denounce
the needless waste of the people's
money which has resulted in this ap-
palling increase as a shameful viola
ton of all prudent conditions of gov
eminent as no less than a crime
against the millions of WORKING men
and women from whose earnings the
great proportion of these colossal
sums must be extorted through excess
sive tariff eXactions and other indirect
methods. 1t is not surprising that in
the face of this shocking record. the
Republican platform contains no ref
erence to economical administration
or promise thereof in the future We
demand that a stop be put to this
frightful extravaganza and insist upon
the strictest economy in every depart-
ment compatible with frugal and eff
cient administration
Arbitrary Power of Speaker.
The House of Representatives was
designed by the fathers of the constf-
tuition to be the popular branch of our
government responsive to the public
will.
The house of representatives as con-
trolled in recent years by the Republi-
can party has ceased to be a delibera-
tive and executive body, responsive TO