The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1910-11-05
ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
PLEDGES PROGRESS IN REFORM
Beneficial Legislation Still Enacted.

I the State revenues until the power
plants begin to earn a revenue to
meet this obligation. After the
bonds shall have been retired by the
revenue from water power, the State
| shall have large and perpetual rev.
enue from that source, relieving the
taxpayers in every county in the State
of corresponding burden of taxa
ton. The public mind should not be
confused regarding this. Immediate
legislative action means the taking
over of the great wealth of water
power for the State, while delay
means it's abandonment by the State
and its seizure by private persons and
corporations.
Approve Denecn's Record.
| We endorse and approve the ad-
| ministration of Governor Charles S.
Deneen as one of the most progress
sive in the history of the State. 1t
and efficient
We commend it for the fidelity with
which it has administered the public
business and labored to bring our
laws and their administration up to
the highest standards. Governor De-
neen has been a fearless and persist
ent advocate of laws which would af-
ford to the people greater measure
o. control over the entrances to pub
lie life and in the administration of
public affairs. He has stood for rails
ing the standards of service in every
department of the public business by
administration and legislation, aud
the advancement which has been
made In each department is the best
commentator of his administration.
Amend Primary Act.
The Republican party of Illinois
hereby declares in favor of the fol-
lowing measures and instructs the
Republican members of the legisla-
ture to support and vote for them in
the General Assembly:
l. We favor direct primary law
and such amendment of the present
law as experience may show to be
necessary.
2. We favor the amendment of the
election laws so that registered vot-
ers may be identified and that means
may be afforded effectually to prevent
fraudulent voting or frauds in the
recording and counting of votes.
Approves Civil Service.
8. We favor a comprehensive State
wide civil service law.
L. We favor the enactment of an
effective corrupt practices act.
5. We favor the enactment of an
anti-pass law governing steam and
electric railroads and an Of anti-frank
law governing telegraph, telephone
and express companies, and Of law
prohibiting gas and electric compa-
MES from furnishing service without
charge to public officials.
6. We favor the revision of the
law relating to fire insurance along
such progressive lines as have gov
erned the recent revision of life in
surance laws in this State.
Z. We favor the revision of the law
regulating the practice and procedure
in courts of record.
8. We commend the appointment of
revenue commission and favor the
revision of the revenue laws SO that
the burdens of taxation may be more
equitably distributed.
9. We regret the failure of the en-
ployers' liability commission to agree
upon a definite recommendation of
legislation and urge the General AS
sembly to take such steps as will
lead to the enactment of laws gov
erning the relations of employers and
employees, which shall be fair alike
to all parties in interest.
Labor Legislation.
The Republican party invites a con-
sideration of its record in the mat
ter of legislation directly in the in
lerests of the wage-workers. During
Governor Deneen more laws Of this
character have been enacted than In
any similar period of the past. Briefly
summarized, these acts provide for:
Detailed reports to the Bureau of
Labor of all serious accidents; the
establishment of a department of fac
tory inspection; the protection of
working men engaged In the construc-
ton of buildings anu other structures:
the appointment of an occupational
diseases commission; the substitution
Of non-competitive for competitive
work in penal and reformatory insti-
tutions; the licensing and regulating
OF the business of BARRIERS. plumbers
and private employment agencies; the
health. safety and comfort Of en-
ployes in factories, mercantile estab-
llsirnents. mills and workshops; l
ten.hour day for women in certain
industries; a coal-mining commission,
commission to revise the railroad
laws OF the state; an employers lia-
biiity commission; the protection of
coal miners; the establishment OF
three mine rescue stations at conven-
lent centers of the coal fields Of the
State.