The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1908-07-17
PREAMBLE TO PLATFORM

1--WE, the representatives of the
Democracy of the United States, in
National Convention assembled, reaf-
firm our belief in and pledge our 10y
allty to the principles of the party:
tive rejoice at the Increasing signs
OF an awakening throughout the coun-
try The various Investigations have
traced graft and political corruption
to the representatives Of predatory
wealth and laid bare the uncscrupu-
lous methods by which they have de-
bauched elections and preyed upon a
defenseless public through the subser-
Went officials whom they have raised
to place and power.
u sThe conscience of the nation is
now aroused to free the government
from the grip Of those who have made
it business asset OF the favor seek
corporations. 1t must become again a
peoples government and be a6minis-
tered in all its departments according
to the Jsfersonian maxim, Equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none "
s tsSiiatilll SsSiStll the people rule?' is the over
-shadowing issue which manifests it,
self in all the questions now under
discussion
OFFICEHOLDERs.
"Coincident with the enormous in
crease in expenditures has come like
addition to the number of officehold-
ers. During the past year ,7S4 were
added, costing $16, 156, 900, and in the
past years Of, the Republican admins
tration the total number of new offices
created, aside from any commissions,
has been 9S,319, entailing an addition.
al expenditure of nearly seventy mill
lion dollars, as against only l0,279 new
offices created under the Cleveland and |
Mckinley administrations, which in
Volyed an expenditure of only S6,000,-
600.
"We denounce this great and grow
ing increase in the number of office
holders as not only unnecessary and
wasteful, but also as clearly indicat-
ing a deliberate purpose on the part
Of the administration to keep the Re-
publican party in power at public eX-
pense by thus increasing the number
If it's retainers and dependents. Such :
procedure we declare to be no less dam. {
serous and corrupt than the open pur- I
chase of votes at the polls. {
ECONOMY IN ADMINISTRATION.
The Republican Congress in the ,
ession just ended has made appropra- :
ions amounting to Sl,0OS, ,0O0, 900, ex- :
leeding the total expenditures of the !;
'ast fiscal year by 800, 1000, 900 and leav =
ng deficit of more than $50 ,O00, 900 :
or the fiscal year. We denounce the :.
eedless waste of the peoples money :
'hich has resulted in this appalling =.
lcrease as a shameful violation Of all -
rudent conditions of government as =,
o less than crime against the mil -
ons of w0rkingmen and women from :,
hose earnings the great proportion o.
these callossal sums must be extQrt- -
through excessive tariff exactions :,
nd other indirect methods. 1t is not -
that, in the face of this of
rocking record, the Republican plat =
rm contains no reference to econom- 20
al administration or promise thereof Il
the future. We demand that a ~
op be put to this frightful extrava- -,
lnce and insist upon the strictest
onomy in every department compat- -,
lie with frugal and efficient admins ~
alton. -.
ARBITRARY POWER OF SPEAKER. in
The House of Representative was pu
signed by the RS of the Consti- tol
tion to be tlaS popular branch of our wa