Bisbee daily review., 1908-08-16
DEMOCRATIC PLEDGES
A BINDING OBLIGATION

A BINDING OBLIGATIONS
The Phoenix Republican in an at
tempt to throw cold water on the
straight forward and vigorous de
eiarations OF the territorial democrat
ic platform, says:
Candidates for county ohices and
the legislature are In no way bound
by any thing that may be agreed upon
at territorial convention whose in
auence upon party affairs dies with
adjournment"
No doubt that may be the opinion
which prevails in republican circles
and is endorsed by republican news
papers. but the democrats of Arizona
view platform declarations in deffes-
ent light from our republican friends
The territorial convention which met
at Prescott last week, was composed
of regularly elected delegates from
each county and when assembled, re-
presented the democracy Of Arizona.
Among other duties which devolved
upon that convention was the adop-
ton of platform-a declaration Of
principles and issues to which the
party, through its delegates. is com
mitted and pledged to put into force
and effect. The territorial convention
in Arizona is not unlike any state or
national convention. According to the
logic Of the Republican the declara
ton and pledges of the national party
should not be considered binding upon
republican congressman who are
nominated by district conventions ia
several states. and likewise, mem
bers of the state legislatures need not
consider themselves bound by the
platforms adopted by the state con-
yention. The reform platform adopt
ed by the democrats, which the legis-
latiye candidates in Arizona on tae
democratic ticket, are pledged to car
~ out has swept the last chance of
republican victory out of sight and
started cold political chill down the
backs of republican politicians.
The democrats are promising the
people of Arizona needful and bene-
fetal legislation. Legislative nomi-
nees in the several counties are
pledged in advance to carry out the
recommendations of the territorial
democracy. A democratic legislature
win carry out these pledges.
The democratic party in Arizona
has not been given to putting mean
ingless things in their platforms and
in the past has lived up to it's pro-
misses. Notably, it was the demo
Gratis of Arizona that made the plat
form declaration in favor of an S-hour
law in this territory and it was a dem
ocratic legislature that passed the
s-hour law ; two years ago the dem
ocrats Of Arizona made the platform
declaration in favor of making all
property in this territory owned by
corporations or individuals, pay a just
proportion of tax for the support of
government and the democrats in tn
legislature following are entitled 10
credit for giving support 10 the mea-
sure which changed the system Of tax
ing mines and resulted in increasing
the mine tax of Arizona thousands OF
dollars. 1t will be remembered that
this new mine tax was bitterly op.
posed by a republican governor.
According to the Republican it viii
matter little what the republicans put
into their platform, as no one is bound
by it who might be in a position te
put in force its declarations.
| If the democrats are put in control
Of the next legislature the people Of
Arizona will need no further guar
antee of the passing of such laws a:
will be in keeping with the promises
made by the Prescott convention.