The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-07-18

Denver, Col.-The platform OF the
Democratic party, as adopted by a
unanimous vote OF the convention, is
as follows:
Preamble.
We, the representatives Of the Democ-
racy of the United States in national con-
Vention assembled, reaftirn our belief in,
and pledge OR loyalty TO, the principles
of the party.
We rejoice at the increasing signs of an
awakening throughout the country. The
various Investigations lave traced graft
and political corruption to the represent
tativeS of predatory wealth, and laid bare
the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which they
upon n defenseless public through the
subserviCnt 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 1T a bust
ness asset of the favor-seeking corpora-
government. and be administered in all
its departments according to the Jeffer-
sonian maxim of equal rights to all
ana special privileges to none.'
OficehoIders.
Coincident with the enormous increase
I'm Expenditures is a like addition to the
number of oficeholders. During the last
Secr -. 7&4 were added, costing SIG. 156, 900
"NN "a - 80
lican administration the total number
of new Offices created, aside from many
fommissions, has been $3.50, entailing
an additional expenditure of nearly So
000.O 00, as against only 1929 new offices
created undey the Cleveland and Mckin-
ley administrations, which involved an
expenditure of only Sc, 900, 900. We de-
nounce this great and growing increase
in the number of oficehOlders as not only
unnecessary and wasteful. but also as
clearly indicating a deliberate purpose on
the part Of the administration to keep
the Republican party in power at public
expense by thus increasing the number
OF its retainers and dependents. Such
procedure we declare to be no less dan
gerous and corrupt than the open pur-
chase of votes at the polls.
Economy In Administration.
The Republican congress in the session
just ended has made appropriations
amounting to 81 .008, COG. 0Gs, exceeding the
total expenditures of the past fiscal year
by S90.000.0 600, and leaving a deficit of more
than $50, 600, coo for the fiscal year. We
denounce the needless waste of the peo-
pies money which has resulted in this
appalling increase as a shameful viola
Aion of all prudent conditions of govern
ment as no less than a crime against the
millions of workingmen and women from
whose earnings the great proportion of
through excessive tariff eXaCtions and
other indirect methods. 1t is not surpris-
ing that. in the face of this shocking
Iecord. the Republican platform contains
no reference to economical adlninistra-
ton or promise thereof in the future. We
demand that a stop be put to this fright
full extravaganza and insist upon the
strictest economy in every department
compatible with frugal and efficient ad-
ministratiOn.
Arbitrary Power of Speaker.
The house of representatives was de-
signed by the fathers of the constitution
to be the popular branch of our govern
ment, responsive to the public will.
The house of representatives, as con-
trolled in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be a deliberative and
legislative body, responsive to the will
of Il majority of its members. but has
come under the absolute domination of
the speaker. who has entire control of its
deliberations and powers of legislation:
We nave observed with amazement the
popular branch of our federal govern
ment helpless to obtain either the consid-
Grafton or enactment of measures desired
by n majority OF it's members.
Legislative government becomes a fail
ure when one member in the person OF
the speaker is more powerful than the
entire body.
We demand that the house of repre-
sentatives shall again become a delib-
erative body, controlled by a majority OF
the peoples representatives and not by
the speaker, and we pledge ourselves to
adopt such rules and regulations to gov
ern the house Of representatives as will
enable a majority Of its members to di-
lation.
Misuse Of Patronage.
We condemn. as a violation of the
spirit of our institutions. the action OF
the present chief executive in using the
patronage of his high office to secure the
nomination of one of his cabinet officers
A forced succession in the presidency is
scarcely less repuSnant to public Senti-
ment than is life tenure in that office.
No good intention on the part of the ex-
ecutive and no virtue in the one selected
can justify the establishment of a
dynasty. The right of the people to free
ly select their officials is inalienable ano
cannot be delegated.
Publicity of Campaign Contributions
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has
existed between the corporations of the
country and the Republican party under
the expressed or implied agreement tina
in return for the contribution of great
sums of money wherewith to purchase
elections they should be allowed to con
tinue substantially unmoleSted in their eff
forts to ercToach upon the rights of the
ANY reasonable doubt as to the exist
ence of this ~relJtion has been forever dis
peIIoc by the sworn testimony of wit
rosses xamine in the insurance inVest
stcation in New York, and the open ad.
nission unchallengsd by the Republican
rational committee of a single individual
that he himself at the PERSONAL request Of
the Republican candidate for the pres,
idency raised over a quarter of a mil
lion dcu.rs TO be used in a single stats
at1y;p~ hours nf the las