The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-07-16
DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

national convention, were adopted last
night
Preambe-We. the representatives of the
Democracy of the United States III nation
al convention assembled reatfirm our be
lief IN, and pledge our loyalty TO, the prin'
clples of the party.
I'VE rejoice at the increasing signs of an
awakening throughout the country. The
various Investigations have traced graft
and political corruption to the representa-
tiyes of predatory wealth, and laid bare
the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which they
have debauched elections and preyed upon
Il defenseless public through the subserv-
lent 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 busl-
ness asset of the favor-seeking corpora
government and be administered In all
It's departments according to the Jeffer,
sonian maxim of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none"
shall the people rueT' is the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself In
all the questions now under discussion
Labor and Injunctions.
The courts of justice are the bulwarks Of
our liberties, and we yield to none In our
purpose to maintain their dignity. Our
party has given to the bench u long line
of distinguished judges, who have added
department must be jealousy maintained.
We resent the attempt of the Republican
party to raise false issues respecting the
judiciary. 1t is an unjust reflection upon
great body of our citizens to assume
that they lack respect for the courts. IL
is the function of the courts to interpret
the laws which the people create, and II
the laws appear to work economic, social
or political injustice it is our duty 20
change them. The only basis upon which
the integrity Of our. courts can stand IS
that of answering justice and protection
of life personal liberty and property. II
Judicial processes may be abused we
should guard against abuse.
Experience has proven the necessity OF
to inJunctions, and we reiterate the pledge
OF our national platforms of 1896 and 1904
IN favor of the measure which passed the
United States Senate In 1896, but which Il
fused to enact relating to contempts In
federal courts and providing for trial by
jury In cases Of indirect contempt: CUES
lions of judicial practice have arisen espe-
cially In connection with industrial dis
putes. We deem that parties to all judicial
proceedings should be treated with rigid
and that injunctions should
not be issued in any case in which inJunc-
lions would not issue II no industrial dis
pute were involved.
The expanding organization of industry
makes it essential that there should be no
abridgement Of the right Of wage-earuers
and producers to organize for the protec-
ton OF wages and the improvement OF
organizations and their members should
not be regarded as Illegal combinations
In restraint Of trade.
We favor the eight-hour day on all gov
I'VE pledge the Democratic party to the
enactment of a law by Congress, as far as
the federal Jurisdiction extends. for a gen
e sral employers Liability act covering in
We pledge the Democratic party to the
enactment Of law creating a department
OF labor, represented separately in the
Presidents cabinet, which department shan
include the subject Of mines and mining
'.asN Tariff. H-~ssxassRE
We welcome the beiated promise OF tar
IN reform now affected by the Republican
party In tardy recognition of the righteous
ness of the Democratic position on this
question:; but these people cannot safely
entrust the execution OF this important
work to a party which Is so deeply obll
gated to the highly protected interests as
to the significant fact that the promised
relief was postponed until after the coming
electlon-an election to succeed In which
the Republican party must have that same
support from the bcnefcarles of the high
protective tariff as 1t has always hereto
fore received from them; and to the fur
Their fact that during years of uninter
taken by the Republican Congress to cor
rect the admittedly existing tariff iniqul
ties.
We favor immediate revision of the tariff
by the reduction of import duties. Articles
into competition with trust-con.
trolled products should be placed upon
the free list, and material reductions
should be made in the tarln upon the nee
essares of life, especially upon articles
with such American manufac-
lures as are sold abroad more cheaply than
at hime; and graduate reductions should
be made In such other schedules as may
be necessary to restore the tariff to a rev.
enue basis. -----~.s.,~s,,
Existing duties have given to the manu-
facturers of paper shelter behind which
they have organized combinations to raise
the price Of pulp and of paper, thus I'M
posing tax upon the spread of knowledge.
We demand the immediate repeal of the
tariff on pulp print paper, lumber. timer
and logs and that these articles be placed
upon the free list.
Arbitrary Power of Speaker.
The House OF Representatives was de-
signed by the fathers of the constitution
o be the popular branch OF our govern
nent, responsive to the public will.
The House of Representatives. as con.
rolled in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be a deliberative and
legislative body, responsive to the will OF
lnder the absolute domination of the
speaker, who has entire control Of its de-
iberations and powers Of legislation
We have observed with amaZement the
popular branch of our federal government
lelplesS to obtain either the consideration
II enactment of measures desired by
majority Of its members.
Legislative government becomes n fail
ire when one member In the person of the
peaker is more powerful than the entire
,ody.
We demand that the House of Represent.
tives shall again become a deliberatiyc
)ody, controlled by a majority of the
peoples representatives. and not by the
peaker, and we pledge ourselves to adopt
uch rules and regulations TO govern the
House of Representatives as well enable
majority of its members to direct It's
and control legislation.
Publicity of Campaign Contributions.
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has ex-
sted between corporations of the country
md the Republican party under the ex.
PRESSED or implied agreement that in re-
urn for the contribution of great sums of
money wherewith to purchase elections
hey should be allowed to continue sub
unmolcsted in their efforts to
ucroach upon the rights of the people.
Any reasonable doubt rs to the existence
# this relation has been forever dispcIlcd
" the sworn testimony of witnesses ex-
lmined in the insurance investigation In
Kew York, and the open admission unchai.
enged by the Republican national commit
ee of a single individual, that he himself
II the personal request of the Republican
candidate for the presidency raised over a
quarter of n million dollars to be used in
single state during the closing hours OF
he last campaign. In order that this prac-
ice shall be stopped for all time, we de-
nand the passage Of statute furnishing
with imprisonment any officer of corpo-
alton who shall either contribute, on he
lalf Of or consent to the contribution by,
corporation of any money or thing Of
Talue to be used in furthcring the election
prn- Iant u of 10
United States or of any member of the
congress thereof.
We denounce the action OF the Repub-
lean party having complete control of the