The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-07-16


Regulation - Popular Election of
Senators-Acainst Asiatic lmmiera-
ton.
Denver, Col.-The platform of the
Democratic party, as adopted by a
unanimous vote of the convention, is
as follows:
Preamble.
We, the representatives of the Democ-
racy of the United States in national CON
vention assembled reatiirn our belief in,
and pledge our loyalty to, the principles
of the party
We rejoice at the increasing signs of an
awakening throughout the country The
various Investigations have traced graft
and political corruption to the represen-
fatiyes of predatory wealth, and laid bare
the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which they
have debauched elections and preyed
upon defenseless public through the
subservicnt 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 it a bust
ness asset of the favor-seeking corpora
tions; it must become again peoples
government, and be administered in all
its departments according to the Jeffer-
sonian maxim of equal rights to all
and special privileges to none"
OHicehoIders.
Coincident with the enormous increase
in eXpeditures is a like addition to the
number of officeholders. During the last
year 70. IM were added costing SIG. 10000
and in the last six years of the Repub
Ican administration the total number
of new offices created, aside from many
commissions, has been 99.319, entailng
an additional expenditure of nearly $50
00O 600, against only 1929 new offices
created under the Cleveland and Mckin-
ley administrations, which involved an
expenditure of only Sc, coo, 600 We de
nounce this great and growing increase
in the number of officeholders not only
unnecessary and wasteful. but also as
clearly indicating a deliberate purpose on
the part of the administration to keep
the Republican party in power at public
expense by thus increasing the number
OF its retainers and dependents Such
procedure we declare to be no less dan
gerous and corrupt than the open pur-
chase of votes at the polls.
Economy In Administrations.
The Republican congress in the session
amounting to s1.00S 0O0.0C0 exceeding the
total expenditures of the past fiscal year
by 500 COO. 600 and leaving a deficit of more
than sec, coo. coo for the fiscal year We
denounce the needless waste Of the peo-
pies money which has resulted in this
appalling increase as shameful viola
ton of all prudent conditions of govern
ment as no less than a crime against the
millions of workinSmen and women from
whose earnings the great proportion of
these colossal sums must be extorted
through excessive tariff eNactions and
other indirect methods. 1t is not surpris
ing that, in the face of this shocking
record. the Republican platform contains
no reference to economical administra-
tion or promise thereof in the future We
demand that a stop be put to this fright
ful extravaganza and insist upon the
strictest economy in every department
compatible with frugal and efficient ad-
miniStration.
Arbitrary Power of Speaker.
The house of representatives was de-
signed by the fathers of the constitution
to be the popular branch of our govern
ment, responsive to the public will.
The house of representatives,; as con
trolled in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be a delberative and
legislative body, responsive to the will
of a majority of its members. but has
come under the absolute domination of
the speaker, who has entire control of its
deliberations and powers of legislation;
We have observed with amazement the
popular branch of our federal govern
ment helpless to obtain either the consid-
Grafton or enactment of measures desired
by majority of its members.
Legislative government becomes Il fail
ure when one member in the person of
the. speaker is more powerful than the
entire body.
sentatives shall again become delib-
erative body, controlled by majority of
the peoples representatives. and not by
the speaker. and we pledge ourselves to
adopt such rules and regulations to gov
ern the house of representatives as will
enable a majority of its members to di-
rect its deliberations and control legis-
lation.
Misuse of Patronage.
We condemn, as violation of the
spirit of our institutions. the action OF
The present chief executive in using the
patronage of his high office to secure the
nomination of one of his cabinet officers
a forced succession in the presidency is
scarcely less repugnant to public sent1-
ment than is life tenure in that oftlce.
No good intention on the part of the eN-
ecutiVc and no virtue in the one selected
can Justify the establishment OF
dynasty. The right OF the people to free
~ select their officials is inalienabe and
cannot be delegated.
Publicity of Campaign Contributions.
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has
existed between the corporations of the
country and the Republican party under
the expressed or implied agreement that
sums of money whereWith TO purchase
elections they should be allowed to con-
tjnue substantially unmolcsted in their eff
forts 10 encroach upon the rights OF the
people.
ANY reasonable doubt as to the exist
eDce Of this relation has been forever dis
PEELED by tie sworn testimony of wit
tigation in New York, and the open ad-
mission unchallenged by the Republican
national cOmmittee of d single individual.
that he himself at the personal request or
the Republican candidate for the pres
idency raised over quarter OF a mil
hon dollars to be used in single state
during the closing hours OF the last