Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-09-17
DEMOCRATS ADOPT PLATFORM
Leaders Of Party Give Careful Consideration Matters
of Public Policy in Drafting Measure, Which
Passes Without a Dissenting Voice.


ton Of those who violate it's provisions.
and We demand the vigorous prosecution
Of ali violalOrs Of the law without fear
or favor or hope Of mere partisan advan-
tage.
In striking contrast with this fair and
Impartial Democratic law Is the brutal
record Of the Republican party leaders
when Ia power IN this state, when they
not only refused Democrats ruprcRenta-
ton In judges and clerks, but for purely
partisan advantage deprived Gen. Frank
Il. Blair and thousands Uf other honest
law-abiding and loyal citiHcns OF the state
OF the right to vote. and In order to de-
feat the honestly expressed will OF the
people burned the ballots which their own
Judges and clerks had accepted rs legal
FOR the purpose Of giving To Republicans
the offices to which Democrats were fair
- elected.
We denounce the lnsinccre prctense OF
the Republican press and Republican par
~ leaders In their loud and false claims
for fair elections. We gladly challenge
"A comparison OF tho records OF the two
leading parties In Missouri on this impor-
tant Issue.
We condemn the action OF tho Rcpub-
lican party bosses In their effort TO nulllfy
the primary law In this state by liking the
state ticket In secret caucus In advance
OF the primary election.
We favor an amendment TO the primary
law prohibiting the m smbcrs Of one party
from participating In the nomination of
the candidates OF another.
The defiant violation OF the law In 81
Louis county has been an insult to the
citizenship OF the state aud TeprOaCh TO
our form Of government In this county.
Overwhelmingly Republican. where the
enforcement OF the law has been cntrust-
ed by the people to u Republican prose-
cutting attorney and Republican sher-
~, responsibility can not be evadcd.
We pledge the Democratic party tn the
enactment OF such legislation az may be
necessary to insure the enforcement OF
the law In ST. Louis county. and the
prosecution conviction aud punishment
1 OF those who violate IL.
We favor the Inauguration OF such a
policy with respect To- the management OF
the penitentiary as will ultimately with
draw convict labor from competition with
free labor, pledging the Democratic party
to the enactment OF such laws as will ac-
cOmplish that result IA speedily as pos
sible. having due regard to existing con-
tracts. the necessary employment OF the
Convlcts In useful work and the econom-
lcal management OF the penitentinry. that
the same may not become q burden upon
the taxpayers.
The Democratic party. both in theory
and In practice. ever has been and now
| II opposed to monopoly and unlawful COM
binations and We pledge the party to con-
tinue It's efforts to protect the people
against trust aEtortion and oppression.
We are not hostile TO corporations or to
wealth as such, but we Insist that cor
porations as well as individuals. the rich
U
and We are determined that the viOlator
, Of law In the interests Of trusts or cor
| porations shall be punished by imprison-
ment well as fine.
We favor a state well as national
| guarantee law for bank deposits under
| such regulations and restrictions as will
insure n sound and conservative bank
policy with absolute safety and security
/ 10 the depositorS.
We favor the election Of United States
senators by direct vote Of the people. and
| until the federal constitution can be so
| amended we favor the retention Of the
| present system OF each party declaring its
! choice for senator by primary vote. aud
| we pledge 20 the person who receives tho
| largest number OF Democratic votes In the
state at the coming election for United
| States senator the hearty support OF cv-
cry member Of the Democratic party In
! the legislature.
! We favor the impartial enforcement OF
| the law and the maintenance and prescr
walton Of order In every county and city
OF the state.
! In harmony wuh the fundamental prin-
ciplos Of the Democratic party. that the
people shall rule. we favor the regulation
! OF the liquor traffic by them under tho
! existing local option law, which was en-
acted by a Democratic Legislature. under
the provisions OF which each community
| may determine for itself the question Of
/ license or no license to engage In such
business. and We pledge the Democratic
party 10 continue n strict enforcement OF
| the laws regulating such traffic and re-
| qulrtnE the closing OF such places Of bus
mess on Sunday. and We also favor such
other legislation a. may be necessary To
secure obedience to the law throughout
the state.
We favor the adoption Of the proposed
constitutional amendment providing for
the Initiative and referendum.
We recognize tipc need Of improved pub
lie highways in Missouri for the develop
ment and upbulldinE Of the state and we
| favor state aid for this important work.
eduitably distributed TO all parts Of the
commonwealth.
The Democratic party II In fun sym
phthy with the attempt 90 secure deep
| water for the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers. and their tributaries. and pledges
the party TO the support of every reason
able measure looking 20 that END
We point with pride TO the fact that.
under the Democratic administration Of
this state, its present high financial credit
has been established and maintained. and
that the tax rate IN Missouri II. and for
years mas been. tho lowest Of any state
In the Union. and much lower than any
one Of the three adjoining Republican
states.
We endorse the administration OF Gov.
Joseph w Folk. together with the long
and honorable record OF Democratic gov
ernors from Gov. woodson TO the present:
and we endorse the record Of Senator
William J. Stone. together with the lRud-
able record OF Democratic senators from
Thomas II. Benton 90 the present: and
We endorse the records made by the Dem
ocratic representatives from Missouri In
the present congress.
We heartily endorse tho Democratic
state ticket recently nominated at the
state primary election and pledge TO each
Of them unqualified support.
We invite the corporation and assist
ance OF not only the citiBenship OF our
party. but We appeal 20 all those voters
OF the state who recognise, as We do. that
with Bryan as president we would have
az our chief executive a man whose heart
beats for humanity, whose hand would
guide the ship OF state for the welfare OF
the masses and not the classes. His pure
life. patriotic devotion and superior
statcamanship commend him 60 all Amer
leans. regardless OF party. ana assure I'm
early realizati that the nation will com
mission the worlds greatest private cft
iEen and most distinguished commnneT
20 tho highest office within the Rlft Of the
mlghtlest people OF all the earth.