The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-10-06
Platform.

IlaLIOf1Il+
We, the representatives of the democ
racy of Tennessee, in convention assem-
bled, re-affirm our faith in the princi-
pies of democracy, and renew our re-
solve to persist in maintaining them.
l. We believe that political parties
are indispensable to republican govern
ment, and that the rules ~ that indi-
vidual opinion should yield to the ag.
gregated party judgment, and ~ that
whenever abuses exist they should be
reformed by and within the party it.
self, and not through selfish or corrupt
bargains with adversary organizations
are just principles essential to party
life.
ii. Continuously for many years the
democrats of Tennessee, constituting
the great majority of the white citizens
and taxpayers of the state, have ad-
ministered public affairs. Their poll
cies rs to the vStraRs of the civil war
education and public schools, labor,
child labor, public roads and other
public measures long since enacted
by them into laws, are unimpeachable
witnesses to the wisdom and fidelity
democratic administration.
Continuously for many years this
party of whites, taxpayers, have con-
trolled and directed the affairs of Ten
nessse. Their long administration has
been economical, humane and enlight-
ened, and we endorse and approve the
same.
Ill The democracy of Tennessee,
over republican opposition, has steadi-
ly appropriated public funds as pen
sions to support the Confederate veter-
ans of the civil war. AS representatives
of democracy and as citizens of Tennes-
see we receive the satisfaction the re
cent declaration of republicans OF Ten
nessee of their intention hereafter to
approve and support publict pensions
for Confederate veterans, for that it is
a confession and acknowledgment, tar
dy though it be, that these soldiers
were not "traitors and that the civil
war was not rebellion, but war re-
sulting from conflict of political ideas
in which those who strove were equal |
ly alike patriotic and deserving. We
accept it as public confession that
the epithets "traitor and "rebel y
heretofore so freely tongued were un-
warranted and undeserving.
The Trusts.
~. The modern business combina-
tons called TRUSTS" are menaces to
the republic, in that they increase the
cost of living, extract from the con-
sumer are hostile to opportunity and
tend to suppress independent indi-
Vidual efforts"
V. Trusts are the certain fruits of
that system of tariff taxation called
"Protection," system that we con-
denim as oppressive and injurious and
in its stead we demand system of
tariff taxation wherein the tariff shall
be laid primarily, not for protection,
but revenue to defray the expenses of
government, economically admins
tered, and with such incidental protec-
ton ms the higher standard of living of
the American working man demands
and requires.
VI. Tennessee, rs now divided into
legislative and congressional districts,
was disturbed by democratic legisla-
tions with an eye to that which was
best for the people of Tennessee.
The redistricting required by the
census of 1910 should be done as here
tofore by that party which represents ,
the white'taxpayers of the state and {
should be done for the best interests of
the people, and not for the purpose Of ,,
increasing the representation of the re-
pubksAn party in congress We favor
such redistricting OF the state as will :
prove TO he of the interest of the peo- |
ME and fair to both nolitical partieS