The Detroit times., 1908-07-09
EM0CRATIC
CONVENTION
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free competition. the equality OF OPP.
portunity and the spirit OF individual
ism. which have SO largely built up
the country. should at once again
throw open the door Of hope TO the
ordinary citizen OF our country. This
transcends In importance all other IS
sues in this campaign.
We believe. 10 the end that export
trade should be increased and that
closer and more cordial relations
should be established with other ma
tons, that the policy OF reciprocity
should be extended as far as is con
sistent with preserving here the stan
dard OF living and the present scale
of wages at which men are employed
In the industries OF this country.
We believe in the civil service and
demand that the laws pertaining
thereto shall be honestly and rigidly
enforced. 10 the end that merit and
ability shall be the standard OF pro.
motion rather than political services
rendered To the Republican party.
We hold that the constitutional pro
and maintained means al adequata
navy, and we believe that the inter
ests OF this country would be best
served by having a navy able TO pro-
tect and TO defend at once the two
great coasts OF this country. We be-
lieve that neither coast IN future
should be left without adequate pro-
lection I'm the form OF fleet, and
that American citizens should be pro.
tected in their rights wherever they
may be in jeopardy.
As to the Tariff.
We welcome the belated promise OF
tariff reform, now offered by the Re-
publican party as a tardy recognition
of the righteousness Of the Demo
cratic position on this question, but
the people cannot safely intrust the
execution OF this important work to a
party which Is so obligated TO the
highly protective interests that Il
postpones relief until after the cleo
ton And we call attention to the
significant fact that the promise now
made is wholly vitiated by the use OF
the qualifying words under which the
present tariff iniquities have been
fostered and developed.
We favor an immediate revision
OF the tariff by the reduction OF i'm
port duties. Articles entering into
competition with articles controlled
by trusts should be placed upon tho
free list; material reductions should
be made In the tariff upon the neces-
stiles of life. especially on articles
competing with such American manu-
Pa nj, n N A
than at home, and graduated reduc-
lions should be made In such other
schedules as may be necessary to re-
store tho tariff to revenue basis.
Every consideration OF public policy
suggests the conservation OF our
woodlands and the removal of those
import duties which put premium
upon the destruction of our forests.
Existing duties have given to paper
manufacturers shelter behind which
they have organized combinations to
raise the price Of pulp and OF paper
and to Impose a tax upon knowledge
The revenues derived from import
duties on pulp and printing paper are
so small and the benefits to be OBJ
tanned from the abolition OF these
duties are SO considerable that we in
dorse the attitude OF the Democratic
representatives in congress who un
animously favored the placing OF pulp
and printing paper. lumber, logs
wood, and timbers on the free list.
House Of Representatives,.
The house OF representatives was
| designed by the fathers of the consti
tuition 10 be the popular branch ol
our government, and, as such. intend
ed to be responsive to the public will
| In order that for our scheme OF fed
eral government TO become success
H. Is necessary that this part shoulC
| be jealousy guarded and protected.
The house OF representatives., n!
controlled in recent years by the Re
publican party, has ceased to be de
| Lucrative and legislative body, respon
sive TO the will OF a majority OF IL,
members, but was become an assem-
! bly, under the absolute domination O
the speaker, who has entire contro
of It's deliberations and powers o
legislation.
We have witnessed the amazing
spectacle OF this popular branch OF oul
federal government being unable L
obtain either the consideration or en-
actment OF measures desired by a ma
L
jority OF its members.
Legislative government becomes {
failure when one member In the per
son OF the speaker Is more powerful
than the entire body.
We demand that the house of repre-
sentatives shall again become legiD
lative and deliberative body controlled
by a majority OF the Representatives
elected by the people. and not by Tho
speaker and we pledge ourselves Il
adopt such rules and regulations Il
govern the house OF representatives
as Will enable a majority OF It's mem
bers TO direct its deliberations ant
control the legislation.
Misuse OF Patronage.
We condemn, as violation OF thu
spirit OF our institutions, the action o
the present chief executive In usinl
the patronage OF his high office to SC
cure the nomination of one OF his cab
met officers. A forced succession II
the presidency is scarcely less repug
nant 10 public sentiment than is III
tenure I'm that In that Office No goo,
intent on the part OF the executive
and no virtue In the one selected cal
Justify the establishment OF a dynasty
The right OF the people 10 freely selec