The Forrest City times., 1908-07-17
Preamble

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. reaffirm our belief in and pledge our loyalty to, the principles of the party.
 We rejoice at the increasing signs of an aWakenlng throughout the country The various investigations have traced graft ana political corruption to the represen- tatlVes of predatory wealth. and laid bare the unserupulous methods by which they nave debauched elections and proved upon defenseless public through the sahserNient officials whom they have raised to place and power.
 ibe conscience of the nation is now aroused 10 Tree the government from the grip Of those who have made il a bus- ness asset of the favor-seeking corpora tons, Il must become again q peoples government. and be administered in all it's departments according to the Jeffer- and special privileges to none"
 Omcehoiders.
 Coincident with the enormous increase in eXpeditures is like addition to the number of ottiCeholders. During the last year 23, 1sl were added costing s16 l56 oo0 and in the last six years of the Repub- lican administration the total number or new offices created, aside from many commissions has been 99,3l9. entailing an additional expenditure Of nearly S70- eoooOo. as against only l0,279 new offices
  ley admln!strations, which involved an expenditure of only ss0O0,0oo We de- nounce this great and growing increase in the number of otfieeholders as not only unnecessary and wasteful. but also as clearly indicating d 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 10 be no less dan chase of votes at the polls
 Economy in Administration. The Repubuean congress in the session just ended has made appropriations amounting to S1 cos e10 0G0 cXcecding inc by sPo,000 coo. and leaving deficit of more than S60, 000 eco for the fiscal year We denounee the needless waste of the peo- ple's money which has resulted in this appalling increase as a shameful viola tion of all prudent conditions of govern ment IS no less than a crime against the millions of workingmen and women from whose earnings the great proportion of | these colossal sums must be eXtorted l through excessive tariff eXactions and other Indirect methods. It is not surpris- | ing that, in the face of this shocking record. the Republican platform contains no reference to economical administra- ton or promise thereof in the future. We demand that q stop be put to this fright | fui eNtravagancc and insist upon the strlctest economy in every department compatible with frugal and efficient ad minstration.
 Arbitrary Power of Speaker. Tho house of representatives was de signed 5y the fathers of the constitution 10 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 deljberative and legislative body, responsive to the will of majority of its members. but has | come under the absolute domination of i the speaker, who has entire control of is | deliberations and nDWgrS of leulsiHfl0n We have observed with amusement the popular branch of our federal govern ment helpless to obtain either the consid- | eratiou or enactment of measures desired | by majority of it's members Legislative government becomes a fail ure when one member in tine person of the speaker is more powerful than the
 We demand that the house of repre- sentatiyes shall again become q deHb- eratiVe body. controlled by d majority of the peoples representatives and not by th" speaker. and We pledge ourselves to adopt such rules and regulations 10 gov crn the house of repre esentatiVes as will enable majority of it's members to di- rect It's deliberations and control legts- 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 10 secure the nomination of one of his cabinet officers A forced succession in the presidency is scarcely less 5. r;s,ppaFrant ;,p to p,,blie senti- No good intention on the part of the ex- ecutive and no virtue in the one selected can justify the establishment Of a dynasty. The right of the people to free cannot be delegated
 Publicity of Campaign Contributicns. We demand federal legislation forever | terminating the partnership which has