The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-07-28

sistent with the terms of the state
constitution: and we believe 1t is
strictly in accordance with the prln-
ciples of home rule that the citizens
of municipalities should be per-
mitted by the state legislature to de-
termiRe whether or not they shouId
adopt the initiative, referendum and
recall.
We condemn the action Of the Re-
publican party of Wisconsin for en-
acting a law which they intended TO
prevent the Democratic party from
having a place as a party on the
ticket
We favor the amendment of the
constitution of the United States IN
such manner as to permit OF the elec-
ton of United States senators by ol-
rect vote of the people.
The Democratic party favors the
conservation and government controI
of the natural resources OF the state
and nation; and true to its past MS
tory Of conservation demands the
enactment of laws which shall pro-
vide that every grant or FRANCHISE 70
individuals or corporations for tneir
use OF any of the natural resources
of the state, shall be coupled WITH
the express provision that sucn III
dividuals or corporations shall pay
into the state treasury annually such
percentage of the gross earnings de-
rived through the use Of such natural
resources as may be determined by
the rate commission of the state 10
be just and reasonable; and that III
case of forfeiture all improvements
made by any such grantee on the
public lands of the state shall pc ior-
feited to the state. We charge that
the Republican party has been
reckless squanderer of our natural
resources. Of our public domain,
once the greatest heritage or our
people, the Republican party mas
from the year 1862 down to the
present time, granted to corporations
49, ,56S acres, and to foreign
capitalists and noblemen total OF
HIP, 900 acres, equal in size In the
! aggregate to ten average states OF
the Union; from all of which the
people of the United States have de-
rived no profit or compensation
whatever. The Democratic party
during it's history added to our pup
lie territory the lands bounded by the
Mississippi river on the east and the
Pacific ocean on the west; and con-
sistently conserved these lands 1or
the use of the homesteaders or the
nation. During approximately three
quarters of a century OF Democratic
rule there was granted to the seVeral
states in trust only for the education
of the people 7,893,919 acres OF
land. During the whole OF that
period Democracy opposed the count
less schemes and opportunities OF
favorites and refused to grant any
of the public domain except to bona
fde homesteaders and for the pur-
poses of free public education. we
point to these facts of history as evil
dence of the attitude of the Democ-
racy in respect to the conservation
of our natural resources.
We favor the enactment of law
requiring the publication OF all cam
paign contributions and expenses
prior to the time of election.
We favor the enactment and the
rigorous enforcement of stringent
corrupt practice act to the end that
politics may be purified and mem
bers of corrupt combinations in poll
tics adequately punished.
We denounce the Infamous Payne
Aldrich tariff law passed by the last
congress as a betrayal of the in
terests of the people, and as meas
ure enacted for the benefit of special
interests offering no relief what
ever to the consumers of our coun-
try; and we approve of the gallant
opposition of the Democratic mem
bers of congress to the same; and
declare for a prompt reduction OF
the tariff in favor of the people, and
not in the interest of the product OF
any trust or combination whatsoever.
We favor an amendment to the
constitution of the United States
authorizing congress to enact an in
come tax law.
We reafirm our devotion to tae
Democratic principle of economy in
public expenditures, both state and
national We denounce the reckless
and unjustifiable extravaganza of the
Republican state and national ad-
ministrations; and we oppose the
practice of creating unnecessary Of
fees for the purpose of supplying
places to political henchmen, whose
chief occupation is that of keeping
the Republican party in power at
the expense of the tax payers OF the
state.