The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1908-08-19
Declaration OF Principles Adopted by
National Democratic Convention.


The national Democratic convention
adopted the following declaration of
principles
we, the representatives of the Democ-
racy of the United States. in national
convention assembled, reaffrm our belief
in and pledge our loyalty to the princi-
pies 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 rep
reSentatives of predatory wealth and laid
bare the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which
they have dehauched elections and proved
upon defenseless public through the
subservient officials whom they have
raised TO place and power.
The conscience Of the nation Ia now
aroused TO free the government from the
grip OF those who have made II a bust
ness asset of the favor seeking corpora
lions; it must become again peoples
government, and be administered in all
ats departments according to the Jeffer-
sonian maxim, Equal rights to all spe-
cial privileges TO none"
shall the people ruler" is the over
shadowing Issue which manfests itself In
all the questions now under discussion.
OfficehoIders.
Coincident with the enormous increase
in expenditures is a like addition to the
number of officeholders. During Ihe past
year 23,7S4 were added, costing SIC. 1856
600. and in the past six years of the Re-
publican admins ration the total number
of new offices created, aside from many
commissions, has been 99,319, entailirg
an additional expenditure of nearly $50
100000, as against only 1929 new offices
created under the Cleveland and Mcl<il-
ley administrations. which involved an
expenditure of only S6,000000. We de-
nounce this great and growing increase
in the number of officehoders as not
only unnecessary and wasteful but also
as clearly indicating 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 Administration.
The Republican congress in the session
just ended has made appropriations
amounting to $10oS. 900, 900, exceeding
the total expenditures of the past fiscal
year by $4,000 900, and leaving a deficit
of more than $50, 900 900 for the fiscal
yearr~We denounce the needless waste Of
the peoples money which has resulted in
this appalling increase as a shameful
ernment. 1t is not surprising that. In
the face of this shocking record. the Re-
publican platform contains no reference
TO economical administration or promise
thereof in the future. We demand that
a stop be put to this frightful eXtrava-
gance and insist upon the strctest econ
omy in every department compatible
with frugal and. efficient administration.
.ut -: Misuse Of Patronage.
x~f11n %
spirit Of our Institutions. the action of
the present chief executive i'm using the
patronage OF his high Office to secure the
non}iQatipn Of. one of his cabinet officers
A forced succession in the presidency il
scarcely less repugnant to public senti-
ment than is life tenure In that. office
The right OF the people 20 freely select
their officials is inalienable and can not
be delegated
w. Home Rule.
We assert our confidence in and ad-
miration for the wisdom of the fathers
In so organizing the federal government
as to secure home rule to the people of
each state; and we pledge ourselves to
combat with unceasng vigilance the eff
forts of those who are striving by usur-
patton TO seize the powers of the people
of the states for exploitation 10y the fed
eral government.
We welcome the belated promise OF
tariff reform now affected by the Repub.
lican party In tardy recognition of the
righteousness of the Democratic position
on this question:. but the people can
not safely entrust the execution of this
important work to a party which is 80
deeply obligated to the highly protected
interests as is the Republican party We
call attention. to the significant fact that
the promised relief was postponed until
after the coming election-an election to
succeed in which the Republican party
must have that same support from the
beneficiaries of the high protective tariff
as 1t has always heretofore received from
them; and to the further fact that during
the years of uninterrupted power, no
action whatever has been taken by the
Republican congress to correct the ad-
mittedly existing tariff iniquities.
We favor immediate revision of the
tariff by the reduction of import duties.
Articles entering into competition with
trust controlled products should be placed
upon the frse list; and material reduc-
lions should be made In the tariff upon
the nscessaitss Of life, especially upon
articles computing with such American
manufactures as are sold abroad more
cheaply than at home, and graduate re-
auctions should be made In such other
schedules as may be ssary to restore
the tariff to a revenue basis.
Trusts.
A private monopoly is indefensible and
intolerable. We therefore favor the Wig
orous enforcement of the criminal law
against trust magnates and officials, and
demand the enactment Of such additional
legislation az may be necessary to make
II impossible for private monopoly 10
exist in the United States Among the
additional remedies, we specify three.
First, a law preventing duplication Of
among competing corporations;
second. a license system which will,
without abridging the right Of each state
to create corporations or its right to reg
saIate az II will foreign corporations doing
6usiness within Its limits. make II neces-
sary for q manufacturing or trading cor
poration engaged In interstate cemmerc,
60 take out Z federal license before II
shall be perIaitted to control a. much a.
. per cent Of the product n which u