Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-09-02
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The state platform of the Dem.
ocratic party of Kansas, adopted
by the party council at Topeka
last week, is a particularly strong
document. Unlike the republican
platform, it is consistent with the
Party's record, and has the un-
qualified endorsement of the party
candidates. 1t IS as follows.
We, the democrats of Kansas assembled in
party council, do hereby renew our faith in
and pledge our support to the principles of
the Democratic party as enunciated In our
platform adopted at Denver in July, 1908.
We recognize in W. J. Bryan and John ".
Kern able and earnest opponents of the doc
trine enunciated In that platform and we
pledge 10 them the electoral vote Of Kansas
We reafnrln our position taken in 1905 for
the enforcement OF law and pledge the people
of Kansas that no backward steps shall be
taken by the democratic party.
We pledge the people of Kansas that we
will enact a bank guaranty law that will
make absolutely safe every dollar of money
deposited in q state bank. Such guaranty to
be under the control and supervision of the
state.
We favor the nomination Of candidates for
ONCE by the direct primary system, but would
simplify and cheaper the present system and
amend it so as to preserve the secrecy of the
ballot.
Rrsilroads should be operated for the bene-
fit OF the patrons. employees and the honest
security holders, and not as line to market
jobbing.
The light should be turned on and the pub
lie fully advised as to their operations. The
railroad commission should be given full pow
er to accomplish this result.
Inc present standard of wages should be
maintained, and as reduction of wages
would drive from the service the most com.
petent men and fill their place with those less
competent. thus endangering life, Gripping
service and damaging the public. no general
reduction should be permitted unless APPROX
ed by the railroad commission.
We call attention to the fact that there is
now upon our statute books law providing
for the physical valuation of railroads, and
we denounce the republican legislature for
refusing to make an appropriation for
carrying into effect this law. We believe
that the spirit of this law should be carried
out and pledge the necessary appropriations
for that purpose.
We pledge the people to correct the unjust
provisions of the present tax law through
which the burdens of taxation have been
increased upon real estate and lessened upon
the holdings of big operations; to the end
that all property shall bear an equitable part
of public expenses and that all unnecessary
offices be abolished.
We favor the election of all public officials
OF 70 nd ;,,al Tas%
senators. postmasters, tax commissioners, as
SCISSORS, and federal judges, by direct vote
of the people.
Economy in public expenditure has always
been a cardinal principle with the democratic
party and we pledge ourselves to correct
the abuses of the republican party whereby
useless offices have been created and I'M
necessary burdens placed upon the taxpayers.
The democratic party promises to make 1t
impossible for the school book trust to longer
levy tribute upon the spread of education in
Kansas. This trust is forcing our schools to
use poor books at outrageous prices. Our
school books should be printed by the state
and furnished at cost.
We pledge our party TO the enactment of
laws which will put an end to the vicious
practice resorted to by railroads and other
corporations of maintaining paid lobbyists
and corruptionists to defeat the passage and
enforcement of just laws.
The anti-pass law, the result of the dem
ocratic campaign Of 1906, which has already
eliminated much corruption aud machine
rule in politics, should be enforced.
The temporary 2cent fare now in vogue.
yielded by the railway companies to the de-
mands of the people as a result of the demo-
cratic campaign of 1906, should be required by
g general law. that all the people may continue
to have the benefit thereof.