Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-10
THE PLATFORM
The Declaration of Principles
Adopted by Contention
Rejoice ut Awakening. .

/ national convention assembled, af-
/ firm our belief in. and pledge our
| loyalty TO the principles of the party.
We rejoice at the increasing
/ signs of an awakening throughout
the country. The various investi-
cations have traced graft and polit-
| ical corruption to the representa-
| tives OF predatory wealth, and laid
! bare the INSCRIPTIONS methods by
which they have debauched elections
and preyed upon a defenseless pub
/ lie through the subservient officials
whom they have raised TO place and
| power.
! The conscience OF the nation is
now aroused TO free the government
| from the grip OF those who have
made IL n business asset OF the ia
vor-seeking corporations; Il must
| become again peoples govern
ment, and be administered in all its
| departments according to the JEFF
fersonian maxim OF equal rights
to all and special privileges to
none
shall the people rule?" is the
overshadowing issue which mani
tests itself In all questions now un-
| der discussion.
NoutIS IuJuncttOn.
The courts OF justice are the bull
wark OF our liberties. and we yield
! 10 none in our purpose to maintain
their dignity. Our party has given
TO the bench n long line OF disting-
uished judges who have added To
the respect and confidence in which
this department must be jealously
! maintained. We resent the attemp'
n n..s, a.
false issue, respecting the judiciary
II is an unjust reflection upon a
great body OF our citizens to assume
that they lack respect for the courts
II Is the function OF the courts to
interpret the laws which the people
create, and II the laws appear to
work economic. social or political
injustice. IL is our duty to change
them. The only basis upon which
the integrity OF our court can stand
is that OF answering justice and
protection to life, personal liberty
and property. If judicial processes
may be abused, we should guard
against abuse.
Experience has proven the neces-
sity OF a modification OF the pres
ent law relating to injunctions, and
we rejterate the. pledge of our ma
tionaf platforms OF 1896 and 1904
In favor OF the measures which pass
ed the United States senate in 1896.
but which Republican, congress
has ever since refused TO enact; re
lating to contempts In federal courts
and providing for trial by jury In
cases of indirect contempt
Questions OF judicial practice have
arisen, especially In connection with
industrial disputes. We deem that
the parties to all judicial proceed
ings should be treated with rigid i'm
partiality. and that injunctions
should not issue in any cases in
which injunctions would not issue II
no industrial dispute were involved.
The expanding organization Of in
dustry makes IL essential that there
should be no abridgment Of the
right OF wage-earners and producers
to organize for the protection OF
wages and the improvement OF labor
conditions TO the end that such la
Dor organizations and their mem
bers should not be regarded as IL
legal combinations in restraint OF
trade.
We favor the eight-hour day on
all government work.
We demand such enlargement OF
TO the enactment OF law by con
gress. as far as the federal jurisdic-
tion extends, for a general employ
ers' liability act covering injury TO
body. or loss OF life OF employees
We pledge the Democratic party
to the enactment Of a law creating
p department Of labor. represented
separately in the presidents cabinet.
which department shall include the
subject OF mines and mining.
Railroads and Interstate Commerce.
We assert the right Of congress TO
exercise complete control over in
terstate commerce and the right OF
each state to exercise just as com
plete control over commerce within
its borders.
common carriers We favor the ef-
the powers OF the interstate COM
mcrce commission as may be neces-
sary 10 enable IL 10 protect persons
and places from discrimination and
extortion and TO compel the rail-
roads to perform their duties as
common carries We favor the ef-
flcient supervision and rate regula-
tion OF railroads engaged In inter
state commerce. To this end. we
recommend the physical valuation OF
the railroads by the interstate com
mcrce commission. such valuation 20
take into consideration the original
cost OF construction and all elements
OF value that will render the valua-
tion made fair and just We favor
such legislation as will prohibit the
railroads from engaging in business
which brings them into competition
with their shippers also legislation
which will assure such reduction in
transportation rates as conditions
will permit care being taken TO
avoid reduction that would compel
n reduction in wages prevent ade-
uuate service or do injustice % le-
gitimatc investments
We heartily approve the laws
prohibiting the pass and the rebate
and We favor any further necessary
legislation 90 restrain. correct and
prevent such abuses.
The Rights Of the States.
Believing with Jefferson in "the
support Of the state governments In
all their rights as the most cOmpc-
tent administration for our domestic
concerns and the surast bulwark
against anti-Republic tendenies."
and I'm "the preservation Of the gen-
oral government I'm It's whole con-
sttutional vigor. as the shect-an-
chOr OF our peace at home and the