Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-07-17
De MOCRATIC
PLATFORM

DENVER, Colo, July 10.-The follow
ing resolutions, constituting substantial
ly the entire platform of the Democratic
national convention, were adopted last
night:
Preamble-We the representatives Of the
Democracy of the United States in nation
al convention assembled. reafirm our be-
lief in, and pledge our loyalty to, the prin'
ctples 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 representa-
the INSCRIPTIONS methods by which they
have debauched elections and preyed upon
defenseless public through the subserv-
lent officials whom they have raised TO
The conscience of the nation Is now
aroused to free the government from the
grip of those who have made 1t Dusi-
ness asset Of the fayor-seeking corpora
lions; 1t must become again a peoples
government, and be administered In all
its departments according to the Jefer,
sonian maxim of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none"
'Shall the people ruler is the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself In
all the questions now under discussion.
Labor and Injunctions.
The courts of justice are the bulwarks OF
our liberties, and we yield to none in our
purpose to maintain their dignity. Our
party has given to the bench a long line
of distinguished judges, who have added
to the respect and confidence in which TINS
department must be jealousy maintained.
We resent the attempt of the republican,
party to raise false issues respecting the
judiciary. 1t is an unjust reflection upon
a great body of our citizens to assume
that they lack respect for the courts. 1t
is the function of the courts to interpret
the laws which the people create, and II
the laws appear to work economic, soclal
or political injustice it is our duty to
change them The only basis upon which
the Integrity of our courts can stand Is
that of answering justice and protection
of life, personal liberty and property. II
judicial processes may be abused we
should guard against abuse.
Experience has proven the necessity OF
to injunctions, and we reiterate the pledge
Of our national platforms of 1896 and 1904
in favor of the measure which passed the
Republican Congress has ever since re-
fused to enact, relating to contempts IN
federal courts and providing for trial by
tions Of judicial practice have arisen espe-
cially in connection with industrial dis
putes. We deem that parties to all judicial
proceedings should be treated with rigid
not be issued in any case in which injunc-
lions would not issue If no Industrial dis
pute were involved.
makes it essential that there should be no
abridgement of the right of wage earners
and producers to organize for the protec-
ton Of wages and the improvement OF
labor conditions to the end that such labor
organizations and their members should
not be regarded as illegal combinations
in restraint of trade.
We favor the eight-hour day on all gov
eminent work
We pledge the Democratic party to the
enactment of law by Congress, as far as
the federal jurisdiction extends, for gen.
eral employers liability act covering in
jury to body or loss Of life of employees.
We pledge the Democratic party to the
enactment of law. creating department
Of labor, represented separately In the
Presidents cabinet, which department shall
include the subject of mines and mining.
Tariff.
We welcome the beated promise of tar
if reform now affected by the Republican
party in tardy recognition of the righteous
ness OF the Democratic position on this
entrust the execution of this important
work to a party, which is so deeply obi,
gated to the highly protected interests as
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 benefciaries Of the high
protective tariff it has always hereto
fore received from them; and to the fur
rupted power no action whatever has been
taken by the Republican Congress to cor
rect the admittedly existing tariff iniqui-
ties.
We favor immediate revision of the tariff
by the reduction of import duties. Articles
entering into competition with truSt-con-
trolled products should be. placed upon
should be made in the tarln upon the nee
essaries of life, especially upon articles
competing with such American manufac
lures as are sold abroad more cheaply than
at hime; and graduate reductions should
be made in such other schedules as may
be necessary to restore the tariff to rev.
enue basis.
Existing duties have given to the manu-
facturers of paper a shelter behind which
they have organized combinations to raise
the price of pulp and OF paper, thus i'm
posing tax upon the spread of knowledge.
We demand the immediate repeal Of the
tariff on pulp print paper, lumber, timber
and logs and that these arLIcles be placed
upon the free list.
Arbitrary Power of Speaker.
The House of Representatives was de-
signed by the fathers of the constitution
to be the popular branch OF our govern
ment, responsive to the public will.
The House of Representatives, as con-
trolled in recent years by the Republican
party, has ceased to be a deliberative and
a majority of its members, but has come
under the absolute domination Of the
speaker, who has entire control OF It's de-
alterations and powers of legislation.
We have observed with amazement the
popular branch of our federal government
helpless to obtain either the consideration
or enactment of measures desired by a
majority of it's members.
Legislative government becomes a fail
ure when one member in the person Of the
speaker is more powerful than the entire
We demand that the House Of Represent
atiyes shall again become a deliberative
body, controlled by a majority of the
peoples representatives and not by the
speaker, and we pledge ourselves to adopt
such rules and regulations to govern the
House of Representatives as we'll enable
q majority Of it's members to direct its
deliberations and control legislation.
Publicity of Campaign Contributions.
We demand federal legislation forever
terminating the partnership which has ex-
listed between corporations of the country
and the Republican party under the ex-
pressed or implied agreement that in re-
turn for the contribution of great sums of
money wherewith to purchase elections
they should be allowed to continue sub
stantially unmolested in their efforts to
encroach upon the rights Of tue people.
Any reasonable doubt as to the existence
of this relation has been forever dispeled
by the sworn testimony of witnesses ex