Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-10-06
Of progressive legislation in Wiscon-
sin.
Completion and operation Of binder
twine plant al state prison.

Completion and operation OF binder
twine plant al state prison.
Madison.-A. J. Schmitz, Demo-
cratic candidate for governor, was
successful in defeating the attempt
to omit any mention Of county op-
ton in the platform. and those Wis
consin Democrats who have SO long
and so faithfully followed Mr.. Bryan
now find themselves severed from the
peerless leader. who in his own stats
is leading a fight for county option
and has repudiated his party candi-
dates on that issue The following
is the declaration Of party principles:
We. the candidates of the Demo-
cratic party, according to law, do
hereby reaf1rm the declaration of
principles contained in the platform
adopted by the national Democratic
convention held in Denver, 1908, and
do further adopt and promulgate the
following declaration Of principles:
Democracy is a cOnserVator of
property and Of the equal rights and
liberties Of all the people. 1t OPP
poses alike paternalism and commun-
ism. It is a friend Of both capital
and labor. 1t adds to the reward of
human endeavOr by giving equal op-
portunity to all and special privileges
to none; but emphatically denies that
wealth and cunning cooperating to-
gether may lawfully concentrate into
few hands the profits of the produc-
tive energy of the nation.
We hold that the Republican sys-
tenn of tariff protection, like any
other system of laws which enables
the favored few to take, without con-
sideration, a large portion of the
earnings of toiling millions, is eco
nOmically unsOund, politically cor
rupt, contrary to sound morals and is
legalized robbery. 1t brings into
close combination two dangerous
forces in the life of this republic, I'M
merited Wanting of political ambi-
ton and corrupt commercial avarice.
We denounce the Payne-Aldrich
tariff act passed by the Republican
party in fragrant violation of the
solemn promise made to the peo-
pie, as an indefensible masterpiece of
injustice, legally authorizing remorse-
less extortiOns from the many to en-
rich the few through the operations
of trusts and monopolies which it
fosters. Tariff taxation, like other
taxation, should be for revenue pur-
poses only and not for private profit,
and should be SO levied as not to dis
eliminate against, nor be in favor of,
any section, class, industry or COR
poration and limited to the actual
necessities of government, honestly
and economically administered. We
insist that any law enacted with the
intention of enabling individuals or
corporations to levy tribute upon the
American people, or to guarantee d
reasonable profit" to any class, is in
violation of the constitution of the
United States and is indefensible
from either a legal or moral stand
point.
We favor any honest, nonpartisan
investigation of the tariff by author
lied experts to the end that the cleo
tors of the nation may be enlightened
as to the iniquity of the present sys-
tenn of spoliation, established and
maintained by the Republican party
for the past fifty years, but we regard
the creation Of a board of tariff ex-
perts by the last congress and the
appropriation of a quarter of a mill
lion dollars to enable them to visit
foreign countries, and then speciical-
ly limiting the report of their investi-
cation to the president alone as a
mere subterfuge satisfactory to the
special interests, intended to deceive
the American people and deliberately
proposed to indefinitely postpone a
reduction of tariff taxation
We approve of the gallant opposi-
ton of the Democratic members of
congress to the enactment of the
Payne-AIdrich tariff act and pledge
our candidates for congress and
United States senate to work and
vote for an honest reduction of the
tariff in favor of the people, without
reference to the interest of the prod
uct of any trust or combination
whatever
We favor the ratification of the
proposed amendment to the United
States constitution authorizing con-
gress to levy and collect an income
tax
Amendment to the constitution of
the United States to permit the cleo
tion of United States senators by peo-
pie
Opposed to all subsidies by the gov
eminent
Denounce postal savings bank law,
passed by the Republicans.
Attack Republican hypocrisy and
call the attention of the people to the
insurgent faction of the party as an
evidence of party corruption
Charge the Republican party as be-
ing reckless in squandering national
resources.
The Democratic party favors the
conservation of all the natural re-
sources of the state for the benefit of
the many instead of the few We be-
lieye that the resources of the state
are the heritage of all and should be
conserved for the benefit of all.
1t is within the power of the state
TO protect its citizens against the ex-
tortions Of trusts; it is the duty of
public officers to vigorously enforce
against trusts and combinations the
statute law of the state.
Condemn the extravagant use of
money contributed by individuals or