Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1908-09-09
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Compare It with the One Put Forth by the
Democrats and Then Choose.

llsnes a similar document adopted
by the Republicans at their State
convention in Charlotte.
"We, the Republicans of NORTH
Carolina, in convention assembled
commend the wisdom of this na
tional Republican convention ane
congratulate the people of the
United States on the nomination
of William II. Taft for the presi
dency of this great republic, anc
we endorse the principles and pol
itics of the Republican party a!
enumerated in its platform al
Chicago June 16, 1908; and We
endorse the administration oil
Theodore Roosevelt.
"We appeal to the people Of
North Carolina to set the welfare
of our State above party prejudice
to exercise their freedom to vote
according to the dictates Of con.
science, and to choose those men
for public Office whom they deem
best fitted to serve the public in
terest. We ask the people to con-
slider whether they will best pro-
mote the welfare of the State by
committing it's affairs to the rad
zeal faction now in control of the
Democratic party or by voting for
the candidates and policies we
offer.
"We ask all thoughtful North
Carolinians to consider particular
ly whether the present Democratic
Governor and Legislature have
dealt wisely or justly with all
classes of our citizens in the laws
they have recently passed concern
ing railroads and the violent
measures they have taken to give
these laws effect. We believe in
regulating railroads and other
public carriers strictly and care
fully, and in compelling all cor
polations to obey the laws as
faithfully as the humblest private
citizens. But we do not believe
that Legislatures are competent
to fix absolutely the precise rates
at which passengers and freight
shall be carried. We are sure that
the Legislature which undertook
to fix passenger rates absolutely
and neglected freight rates-much
the more substantial grievance of
our people-had neither the spe.
cial knowledge nor the right spirit
for such an undertaking.
"They disregarded the constitu.
tion of the United States and they
threw thousands of North Carroll
mans out of employment.
1--WE denounce in unmeasured
terms the unWarranted and un.
called for attack of Democrats on
capital, eliminating in the fight
on our railroads involving the
State, as it did, in costly litiga.
ton; paralyzing business; threw
thousands of laborers out of en-.
ployment; drove millions of capi.
tai from the State, and sent rail.
road secur ties down to less than
half their value.
"We pledge ourselves, if the peo.
pie entrust us with power, to sci
ourself against two kinds of injus.
tice. The injustice which permits
wealthy corporations and individ
uals to prey upon the poor, and the
injustice which sacrifices property
and deranges business in order thai
cheap demagogues may get or keeT
office.
'We favor the policy of th'
State furnishing free of charge
and under proper regulations, tt
every child in the public schools
all necessary textbooks; the fur
ther improvement and extension
at whatever cost, of the public
school system, embodied in th'
constitution of North Carolina by
the Republican party. We favo
the education of our children u,
to the very limit of our available
means.
"We favor also a liberal polio,
with our higher institutions O
learning. The South needs high
ly trained men, and we would hav
the necessary training provided
here, go far as we have the means
and put within the reach of ou
young men of talent and indus
try, to the end that North Caro-
linans may guide our people in tn
ll4 &c a -a.