Bisbee daily review., 1908-08-07
TIE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

The meeting Of the demoeraac con- xentlon at Prescott tomorrow will have somehing more to do than the nomination of the congressional can didate. So far as that act is concern ed it will be the mere ratificatoin of what has alfeady been done by the democrats of the several counties. Mark Smith will be the nominee by more than three-fourths of the con vention. The candidacy of Hon. Eugene Brady o'Nein has brought to his support only two of the thirteen counties of the territory. Nr. o,Nein in a speech before the democratic county convection in Maricopa county on Tuesday acknowledged his defeat at Prescott and pledged his hearty support of the candidate to be named at Prescott.
 The question of a platform wilf-b a matter for careful consideration at
 Phoenix. It goes without suggestion that the Arizona democracy will adopt the platform of the national democrat ic convention at Denver and endorse Bryan and Kern. the national eandi- dates, but there are local matters which deserve the attention of the convention when the time comes for platform building.
 Two years ago there was a bill be fore the legislature in Phoenix which provided for railroad passenger fare bill placing the maximum charge at cents per mile instead of cents per mile as now provided. It was con tended then that the territorial legisla- ture could not pass any law regulat. ing railroads or freight or passenger charges which could not be abrogatedI by the interstate commerce commis.I sion. This is. perhaps, true, but ney- ertheless 1t is highly probable that any reasonable railroad bill passed by the legislature would be taken for guide by the commission in fixing rates in the territory until such time as we will become a state. The de. mocracy at Prescott should demand a cent passenger fare and declare for legislation which will relieve the peo-I pie of the territory from the discrimi- nations practiced by the railroads in favor of other localities on either side of the territory. If these declarations are made now it will be notice of what will be contended for by the demo cratic party in the new state of Ari- zona. We are not in favor of radical expression which might be construed into hostility to those men who have brought money to the territory at al time when we were begging for rail roads to come and help in the devel- opment of our marvellous mineral re sources, but we want it plainly stated that the democrats will stand for jus tice to our people in the matter of rates both for passengers and freight.
 Another important matter which should receive attention in the demo cratic platform is legislation which will reform the justice precincts in the territory which, in some counties, have become a heavy burden of ex- pense. In Cochise county according to official reports. the cost of maintain ing our precinct governments for 1907 was the enormous sum of $56,00O This included all the fees of justices Of the peace, constabIes, deputy sher- ins, interpreters and transportation Of prisoners to the jaii at the county seat. This sum is staggering to con template. We would favor law plac- ing all precinct officers on a salary;
 if not then let us have new fee bill.
 The primary election law in this territory is a farce and has no equal
 as such in any state of the union. We
 hope to see the democratic platform