The Robesonian., 1908-07-30
THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY

If1E NDEFENDEINNE AM 1
49,. ~, AT it's fdt national convention
held in Chicago Tuesday the In
dependence party put ticket IN
the field and adopted platform
of principles. Thomas Hisgen,
of Massachusetts, was nominat-
ed for President on the third bal
lot, and John Temple Graves, OF
Georgia, was nominated for Vice
President on the first ballot.
Hisgen's opponents were M. W.
Howard, of Alabama, and John
Temple Graves. Although not a
candidate, William R. Hearst re-
ceived a complimentary vote OF
half a hundred. The platform
declares that it is the purpose of
the Independence party to wrest
the conduct of public affairs
from the hands of the selfish in
terests, political tricksters and
corrupt bosses and make the
government, as it's founders in
tended, an agency for the COM
mon good; that the control of
the government is drifting fur
ther away from the people and
more firmly into the grip of the
machine politicians and party
bosses. It charges that the
Republican and Democratic par
ties are not only responsible for
these conditions, but are COM
mitted to their indefinite contin-
uance; that they are prOdigal of
promises, but so barren of per-
formance that to a new party of
Independent voters the country
must look for the establishment
of a new policy and a return
to genuine popular government.
The platform further dclares:
"Our object is not to introduce
violent innovations or startingly
new features. We of the Inde-
pendence party look back as
Lincoln did to the declaration of
independence as the fountain
head of all political inspiration.
1t is not our purpose to attempt
to revolutionize the American
system of Government but to re-
store the action of the govern
ment to the principles of Wash
ington and Jefferson and Lin.
coin. 1t is not our purpose eth.
.er to conserve for the citizens Of
the American system of Govern.
ment but to conserve for the citi
zensofthe United Statestheirpriv.
ileges and liberties won for them
by the founders of this govern
ment and to perpetuate the prin
ciples and policies upon which
the nations greatness has beer
built.
'As of frstimportance in order
to restore the power of govern
ment to the people, to make theil
will supreme in the primaries
in the elections and in the con
troll of public officials after they
have been elected, we declare fo
direct nominations, the initiativ,
and referendum and the right O.
recall.
"Of next Importance in de
stroying the power of selfisl
special interests and the corrup
political bosses whom they con
troll is to wrest from their hand
their main weapon, the corrup
ton fund. We demand sever
and effective legislation agains
all forms of corrupt practices a
elections and advocate prohibit
ing the use of any money at elec
tiOns except for meetings, litera
ture and the necessary travelin
expenses of the candidates. Pub
licity of contributions is desira
BILE and should be required, bu
the main matter of importanc
is the use to which contribution
are put. We believe that tn
: dishonest use of money in tn
... past, whether contributed by ir
dividuals or by corporations, hs
been chiefly responsible for til
- corruption which has undermir
ed our system of popular govern
'Tfffent:. J.
q hi In cases of infractions of tt
antitrust law or of the Inte
State Commerce Act we beliey
: in the enforcement of a prise
penalty against the guilty ar
responsible individuals control
ing the management of the O
Tending corporations, rathI
than a fine imposed upon stoc.
~ holders.
= s.-ltL.fWeAadVneate ;tkefextesfon
the principle of public ow
ership of public utilitie
including railroads, as rapidly
municipal, State or national go
ernment shall demonstrate abb
ty to conduct public utilities f
the public benefit"
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