Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Party Is Sane and Sensible on I'm:
portant Issues.

Here are a few planks from the
Democratic platform adopted at Den
yer yesterday afternoon:
The Tariff.
We welcome the belated promise OF
tariff reform now affected by the Re-
publican party in tardy recognition OF
the Righteousness Of the Democratic
position on this question; but these
people cannot safely entrust the exc
cution Of this important work to
party which is so deeply obligated to
the highly protected interests as Is
the Republican party. We call atten-
ton to the significant fact that the
promised relief was postponed until al
ter 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 it has always here
tofore received from them; and to the
further fact that during years OF un-
interrupted power no action whatever
has been taken by the Republican
congress to correct the admittedly ex-
listing tariff iniquities.
We favor immediate revision Of the
tariff by the reduction Of important du-
ties. Articles entering into compeu-
ton with trust controlled products
should be placed upon the free list;
and material reductions should be
made in the tariff upon the necessa-
ries Of life, especially upon articles
competing with such American man
ufactures as are sold abroad more
cheaply than at home; and gradual
reductions should be made In such
other schedules as may be necessary TO
restore the tariff to revenue basis.
Existing duties have given to the
manufacturers Of paper a shelter be-
hind which they have organized COM
binations to raise the price Of pulp
and Of paper, thus imposing tax up
on the spread Of knowledge. We de:
mand the immediate repeal Of the tar
if on pulp paper, lumber, timber, logs
and that these articles be placed upon
the free list.
Railroads.
We assert the right Of congress to
exercise complete control over inter-
state commerce and the right Of each
state to exercise just as complete con-
troll over commerce within its bor-
ders.
We demand such enlargement OF
the powers of the Interstate COM
merce commission as may be neces-
sary to enable 1t to protect persons
and places from discrimination and
extortion and to compel the railroads
to perform their duties as common
carriers. We favor the efficient su-
pervision and rate regulation Of rail-
roads engaged in interstate COM
merce. To this end we recommend
the physical valuation OF the rail-
roads by the Interstate commerce
commission, such valuation to take
into consideration the original cost OF
construction and all elements OF val
ue that will render the valuation made
fair and just We favor such legisla-
engaging in business which brings
them into competition with their ship
pers, also legislation which will assure
such reduction in transportation rates
as conditions will permit, care being
taken to avoid reduction that would
compel a reduction in wages, prevent
adequate service or do injustice to le-
gitimate investments.
We heartily approve the laws pro-
hibiting the pass and the rebate, and
we favor any further necessary legis-
lation to restrain, correct and prevent
such abuses
Banking.
The panic Of 1907, coming without
any legitimate excuse, when the Re-
publican party had for a decade been
in complete control of the Federal
government, furnishes additional proof
that 1t Is either unwilling or incompe-
tent to protect the interests Of the
general public. 1t has so linked the
country to Wall street that the sins Of
the spectators are visited upon the
whole people. While refusing to res
cue wealth-procedure from spoilation
at the hands Of the stock gamblers
and spectators in farm products, 1t
has deposited treasury funds, without
interest and without competition, in
favorite banks. It has used an emer-
gency for which it is largely RESPONSE
BILE to force through congress a bill
changing the basis of bank currency
and inviting market manipulation,
and has failed to give up to the fifteen
million depOsitors of the country pro-
lection in their savings
We believe that in so far as the
needs Of commerce require an emer-
gency currency, such currency should
be issued, controlled by the Federal
government and loaned on adequate
security to national and state banks.
We pledge ourselves to legislation un-
der which the national banks shall be
to establish a guarantee fund
for the prompt payment of the depos-
itors OF any insolvent national bank
under an equitable system which shall