The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1908-06-20
State Democratic Platform.

The platform finally agreed upon is
as follows
|. The Democratic party in Arkan-
sas in convention assembled, reaf
firms its devotion to the time hon
ored principles of the party. We de-
| clare our unalterable opposition to
criminal trusts and monopolies, fav
ored by Republican protective tariff,
which brushes out independent enter
prises, destroy ing competition, re-
stricts the opportunities of labor, bur
dens our farmers and arbitrarily
fixes prices.
,. We invite all of those who favor
the principles of Democracy, regard
less of their former political convic-
tons, to support the candidates of our
party.
). Believing that W. J. Bryan is
the greatest living representative of
our party, we pledge our support and
instruct our delegates to Denver, to
vote for him as the choice of the DEM
oeratic party of Arkansas, for Presi-
dent.
4. We demand that our next Gen
eral Assembly pass a law making it
unlawful to grant free transportation
to anyone except bona fide employees
of the railroads or their families. and
ministers of the gospel.
S. We recommend to the General
Assembly the passage of laws that
will encourage the development and
conservation of the States resources
of timber, coal and mineral wealth.
g. We favor the enactment of laws
that will provide equitable and just
means of retaining our overlooked
lands and developing the leyee inter
ests of our State.
Z. Believing that the best interests
of our people will be greatly promot-
! ed by the development of our inland
waterways, we hereby instruct and
| request our Senators and representa-
tives IN Congress to do al, i'll their
power to advance our interests in
| these matters,
8. We demand the General Assem-
bly, to refrain from passing special
| laws in any case, when a general law
is, or can be made, applicable.
9. We believe that all competition
between convict labor and free labor
should, as far as possible, be avoided.
we DCllCNC ludN ll0 VI AhS
convicts can be better maintained
when they are employed in work di-
| rectly for the benefit of the State, and
do all we can to this end, we favor
| working the State convicts on the
public roads, keeping only sufficient
number on the States farm to raise
supplies to clothe and feed themselves
and those engaged on the public
roads. And we are unalterably OPP
posed to the making of any further
contracts in which any convict is
leased or hired to any person or 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 improve
ment of the public roads and high
ways is a matter of vital Importance
to the proper development of our
State, we heartily favor all measures
to that end, and we especially recon-
mend to the next General Assembly
| to consider the feasibility of adopting
State aid for public roads and to es-
tablish a comprehensive system of
highway improvements.
IL. As agriculture is the founda
ton of our prosperity and as the
great mass of our people are engaged
in that pursuit, we favor the estab-
lishnent aud maintenance of not less
than four agricultural schools in diff
ferent parts of the State-one to be
located at the University of Arkansas
and another at the State Normal
School.
ID. 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 collecting and dispensing of in
formation regarding the science of
agriculture, horticulture and animal
industry throughout this State. We
favor safeguarding, by appropriate
| legislation, the safety OF persons en-
ployed in mining, manufacturing or
other industries.
IA. We pledge the people the in
coming administration of the States
government will be devoted to the de
voted to the development of the
states resources and that the BUSH
ness interests of this State shall be
fostered and encouraged. Guard of
| liberty. we favor the encouragement
of all the States educational inter
ests from the district school to the
University of Arkansas free from the
balcful influence of political partisan
ship. We, therefore, not only renew
the party's protection aud pledges to
this interest, but we pledge ourselves
to the development Of the entire sys-
TEN of education in the State, and be
iieving that all legitimate eXpendi-
lures in this line of work yield the
greatest profit to civilization, we rec
ommeud liberal appropriations for the
education of the youth of the State.
10. We favor the enactment and
enforcement of laws to suppress gam
bling In agricultural commodities.
II. We recommend that the pow
ers Of the Railroad Commission be 81