The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-20
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Proposals Which Minority Party Puts
Forward in Vermont

TTOpOodio WUlCH mlUOVllJ al " Fdbo
Forward in Vermont
The Democratic party of Vermont
meets today with bright prospects.
The Republican party for the first
time recognizes that the states have
rights and that the tariff is not sa
cred thing, but a business proposition.
The voters in the most intelligent
states of the nation are in revolt at
the failure of the republicans to keep
their promises to reduce the duties on
the great essentials of life, sugar, coal
cotton and wooden goods.
We still believe in the old demo
cratic notion OF equal opportunity for
all and special privileges for none.
The Tariff
We condemn the Payne-Aldrich tar
if bill passed in 1909 as being unjust
and illogical, and demand a speedy
revision downwards.
We particularly commend the indie
pendent republicans and democrats
in the present congress for their at
tempt to defeat this act. The Repub-
lican party has acted insincerely in
the matter of reciprocity with other
nations and we favor an honest plan
of ciprocity with all the world. and
particularly without neighbor, the Do
minion OF Canada.
Cannon and cannonlsm
We condemn that despotism on the
part of the speaker of the House Of
Representatives known as Cannon
ism. To prevent this form of tyran-
ny we favor an amendment to the
United States constitution IL neces-
sary, which will render this method
OF overriding the rights of the citi-
zens absolutely impossible.
We lament the fact that the Yer
mont delegation in congress were not
found voting with those who have
been successful in Kidding the coun-
try for a while at least of the abuse
known as Cannonism.
We condemn the present federal
corporation tax law and recommend
its appeal
We demand the passage by the
coming legislature OF Vermont OF the
proposed amendment to the United
States constitution giving congress
the power to levy an income tax.
We demand the election of United
States senator's and president by di
rect vote OF the people,
State Affairs
The Democratic party today stands
as il has always stood for progressive
public schools OF the highest type.
In the large towns and cities where
our party has great influence a plan
OF manual training has for some tim'
been In use. We ask that manua
training be taught in all public
schools.
With great regret We note the fac
that this republican banner state ha
sunk from the fifth position to tn
saith in illlteracy.
For more than so years the Reput
lican party has been In absolute col
troll OF the legislation. in Vermont an
yet they have during all that tim
kept upon the statute books doubl
taxation.
For nearly 20 years this same part
has promised to reform this matte
These promises like many others
lhas failed to keep and Judging by th
past no relief can be reasonably e.
pected In the future.
We demand therefore reform
tax legislation and In such ways q
win completely wipe out the wrong
ntaiiod by double taxation.
/ Caucus Law
I We urge the repeal Of the preset
! obsolete caucus and convention law
/ ! md the substitution OF a direct PIT
/ lmary law. through which the poop
/ lmay speak and which viii sound n
! death knel to purchase nomination
't3~d elections, bosses and bosslsm.
Publication Of Campaign Expensel
| We demand the publication OF q
/ campaign expenses by all candidate
! for elective offices. both before al
after election. Isl, I0H laII
I el Railroad Influence
II With concern we view the intend,
| control OF legislative action by Il
| railroads OF Vermont and that son
/ " the railroads are taking acti
I lpurts In securing the nominations al
! election OF state officials.
= Labor
The wage earners will never secu
/ their just rights until the leglslatu
| passes a just employers liability a,
and give an exemption for wages
at least twenty FIVE dollars. Both
these acts We greatly favor. The h
publican party has repeatedly pro-
n Used these acts to the wage carmel
but merely to catch their votes.
We also favor a state board Of #,
filtration to which shall be referr
all matters In dispute between lab
and capital.
Good Roads
We approve OF the yearly expen
ture OF reasonable sums. for MAXI
= and keeping good roads but substg
TALLY In the manner now In use.
We do not favor the expenditure
public money for benefit OF the fe
but for ALL
We do not believe II wise or exp,
- lent for the state to issue bonds
q improve the highway.
n License Law
= The present local option high
;. cense law has resulted IN great go
to the state. No part OF the reput
can platform reveals It's insincerI
more than the plank referring to
referendum.