The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-07-23
A GOOD PLATFORM
Adopted in Convention
at Nashville.
LOCAL SELF.GOVERNMENT.
Platform Takes Advanced
Position on Many Que5-
tions Public Policy

tlOnS PuDllC POllCy
The platform of the democracy OF
Tennessee, adopted in state convention
at Nashville, July ID, 1908, is as fol.
lows:
The democracy of Tennessee in con.
vention assembled reaffirms the time
honored principles of the party as
handed down by its founder, Thomas
j Jefferson, and as exemplifed by its
present great leader and exponent,
Hon. W. J. Bryan.
1t endorses the platform of the ma.
tional democratic convention made at
Denver, and pledges it's undivided and
loyal support to the nominees of that
convention.
Being in thorough sympathy and &C.
cord with the efforts of the national
democracy to restore the government
to its ancient moorngs and to re -estab-
lish it on the old foundations of the
rights of the people and the consent Of
the governed, we send our greetings to
the democrats of other states and
pledge the electoral vote of Tennessee
to its nominees for president and vice.
president.
II.
We congratulate the people of the
state upon their prosperity and present
happy condition. We point to the f.
nancial strength and standing of Ten
nessee, to the efficient management Of
our state institutions, to the health and
general prosperity of our people, all of
which has been brought about by wise
democratic policies, as reasons why the
democratic party should continue in
power and control.
Realizing that these conditions can
only remain and be improved by the
enactment of wise and wholesome laws
and by a steadfast determination to
safeguard the interests Of all the peo-
pie, the democratic party, in conven-
tion assembled, declares the following
platform OF principles as most necessa-
ry to continue present satisfactory con.
ditions, and to further increase the
prosperity of the state and the welfare
of its people.
EDUCATION.
Realizing that the best asset of any
commonwealth is an educated citizen
ship, we pledge the democratic party tC
foster and encourage public school ed
ucation as the surest m cans of elevat
ing the state, and the strongest safe
guard to the rights and liberties of tn,
people.
We favor liberal appropriations il
the cause of education, and endorse tn
school law enacted by the last genera
assembly, and we further believe tina
this law should be taken advantage 0
by the counties which were excepte,
from it's operation, so as to have a com
plete and uniform system prevailin
throughout the state.
Believing that the children of tn
state can not have the full advantage
which they ought to enjoy in the mai
ter of education without trained an
competent teachers, we favor the ct
tablishment of normal schools in whic
to fit and train teachers for their worf
and we also favor q uniform system {
public school buildings so as to insur
proper ventilation, light and comfol
to the children who attend.
AGRICULTURE.
Believing that agriculture is the CHI
source of the wealth and prosperity I
, cur people, and that upon its advanc,
ment must in large measure depen
D our future growth and development, v
favor legislation that will encourss
!, this industry in all of its forms ar
such appropriations to the agrieultur
l department of the state as may be ne
I essary to continue and expand
= work.
: We further believe that, as 80 p
t cent. of our people depend upon Il
soil as means of livelihood, the el
ments of agriculture should be tang
y in our public schools, so as to give Il
9 sons of farmers better knowledge
their work and acquaiut them with L
= advantages of farm life.
LABoR-FELLow SERVANTS LAW.
The democratic party has ever be
the friend of labor, and we favor t
3. enactment of all wise and necessa
:, laws to advance and protect its intere
II To this end we specifically endor
7 the national democratic platform, lai
|. ly promulgated at Denver, with ref
t; enee to employers liability, which
'r af follows:
a 1--WE pledge the democratic party
]. the enactment of law by congress,
far as federal jurisdiction extends,