The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-31
Democrats Among Other Things
Demand Two Cent Fare.
Add Four Planks to Original
Draft Of Platform.
THEY ASK PUBLICITY.
Declare for Publication of Cam
paign Contributions.
Want Effective Jurisdiction by
Interstate Body.

Four planks additional to those en-
bodied in the draft of the Democratic
party platform had been adopted when
the caucus was adjourned shortly prior
to o'clock Tuesday afternoon. By these
addenda the Democratic party of Kan
I sas is made to declare for the enact
ment of a maximum railroad passenger
| rate of two cents a mile; the increase
| of the interstate commerce commits
sion so that it will have effective jur-
isdiction;'' the amendment of the long
and short haul clause pertaining to
freight rates, and the publication of
campaign contributions and expenses
prior to the election.
A unanimous vote of thanks was
| given Chairman Barney ]. Sheridan of
| Paola, and Secretary Samuel Graybill
of Hutchinson, by vote of the eau
Gus.
Jack Shepherd, of Fort Scott. intro
| duced the plank demanding a maxi
| mum railroad passenger fare of two
cents a mile, and George Nicely intro
duced the plank declaring for the
greater jurisdiction by the interstate
commerce commission. The latter
plank reads:
I'VE favor increasing the powers of
the interstate commerce commission so
that they shall have effective jurisdic-
ton over all interstate business, in
Guiding express, telephones, telegraph
companies and pipe lines
The plank favoring the publication
of campaign contributions and expenses
before election was introduced by Jay
Carlyle of Kansas City, Kan
George A. Nicely, of Reno county, in
troduced the plank reading:
I'VE favor amending the long and
short haul clause of the Hepburn bill
RI Objective rrnWiSiOn
that a common carrier may not charge
a higher rate for a short haul than
for the long haul in the same direc-
ton, thereby removing the discrimina-
ton between the jobbing center"
The platform as adopted by the Dem
ocratic party council is as follows:
Il. We, the representatives of the
Democratic party in the state or Kan
sas, hereby commend the following
platform to the voters as embracing
needed progressive legislation, inpera-
tive and essential at this time
'2. When great men and newspapers
deny the self evident truth that gov
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed and sub
stitute the despotic doctrine that gov
ernments exist for the benefit of the
governed When thousands of dollars
are used to corrupt the electorate and
our representatives and cabinet off,
Gals, use their delegated powers to
make laws and decisions to enrich
themselves and their friends, it is time
for those who would perpetuate free
dom and establish justice to act
g. Statistics show that 81 out of
every IS expended for the necessities OF
life is paid in increased prices due to
our tariff system, thus robbing every
family of over 800 per annum, and
I'VE demand that all articles manu-
featured here and sold abroad for less.
than they are sold to the people of
this country shall be placed upon the
free list.
And we reaffirm the declaration of
the national Democratic platform that
private monopoly is indefensible and in
tolerable and must be destroyed through
the power of taxation.
I'VE condemn the present Republic
can tariff law, drawn by the few
against the interests of the people.
"A. We denounce the present nation
al administration for having broken the
pledges made to the people two years
ago and for having surrendered the
rights of the people into the hands
Of the predatory wealth
SO. The corrupting system of pat
ronage has become a national and a
state scandal. That the evils of this
system may be destroyed we favor the
election of all officers, including Uni
ted States senators. federal judges and
postmasters. by direct vote of the
people.
"6. Until the constitution can be
amended we favor the Oregon plan of
electing United States senators, and
denounce the present state administra-
ton for defeating such a law in 1909.
~. We favor an income tax law by
means of which the vastly rich shall
be required to bear their just share
of the expenses of government.
IS. We denounce the present So
called postal savings bank law, enact
ed at the behest of President Taft,
as a short cut for the savings of the
Kansas people into banks of Wall
street, and demand its repeal and the
enactment of a true postal savings
law in the interests of the whole peo-
pie. A law that will leave deposits
in the community where savings are
deposited.
80. We favor the enactment of
laws prohibiting corporations from is
suing fictitious stocks and bonds and
for the physical valuation of railroads
and other public service corporation
properties to the end that these cor
porations shall be limited to just and
fair compensation for services rem
dered to the people, and be required
to pay their just proportion of the
taxes necessary to support the gov
eminent.
10. We pledge our congressional
candidates to the policy of conserving |
all natural resources.
I'll. We reaffirm our past declara- |
tons in favor of the enforcement of
all laws.
"12. In 1897, under Governor
Leedy's administration, with 1,366,7S7
population, the state taxes were
$1,333,954. In 1902, with a popula-
ton of 1,707,491, the states taxes
were $3,193,O71. An increased popu-
lation of 242,S63 and an increased
state tax of $1,141,720 is out of all
proportion to the growth and devel- |
opment of the state and shows waste
q Il 49, r,f IL,
dominant party We pledge ourselves
to an economical state administration
and to require all public servants to
devote their entire time to the bust |
ness of the state.
"13. Believing that tho intelligence
of the voters of Kansas is such that |