The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-09-15


Louisville Herald on the Democratic
platform is worthy OF the thoughtful
consideration Of all citizens:
"A CLOSE perusai Of the Demo-
cratic platform brings forth one
fact--it is sincere. II evades no
issue and haits at no crossing, but
plungee In with distinct purpose
In view, and with battie-cry OF
honesty and integrity calls 20 the
people to follow"
Such. in part, is the reply Of the
Paducah News-Democrat to an edi-
torial In these columns contrasting
the paths Of the two parties. and
claiming for that upon which o'Rear
and his host Of followers are travel
Ing. the virtues Of sincerity, courage
and progressiveness.
A conspicuous lack Of these virtues
was charged against the Democratic
platform, and the charge IL hereby re-
iterated. with the following specific In
dictment:
First - The Democratic platform
cvades the Issue Of direct primary
system by emitting the word com
pulsory" from its plank and employ
ing language 80 indefinite az to leave
II open to serious question whether It
proposes any real advance whatever
upon the present method Of nomina-
ton.
Second - The Democratic platform
lodges the question Of publicity for
campaign funds by failing to specify
that such publicity must be made be-
fore elections, or that II need be made
at all in connection with primary cleo
tions.
Third The Democratic platform
fails to repudiate campaign contribu-
tions from corporations.
Fourth-The Democratic platform IL
deliberately indefinite In its plank re-
1ating to prison reform; Its indorse-
ment Of the Prison Commissioners
marks 1t as insincere; its failure to
condemn prison contract labor betrays
the influence Of the Third House, and
its weak concluding sentence leaves
the whole matter of prison reform sus
pended In mid-air and the party abso.
lutely unpledged to any real measure
Of relief for existing conditions.
Fifth The Democratic platform
manifests cowardice in dealing with
abe issue of the legislative lobby. 1t
avoids any direct reference to the
Third House, and. by limiting its de-
nunciation to corrupt" lobbying,
leaves loophole for countenancing
the demoralizing activities of those
who ply their traffic In legislation by
the use of patronage and other meth
DDS of driving bargains In bills. II
offers no practical suggestion for the
cure of the evil, and makes no promise
to extend the power Of the people so
as to enable them to cope with 1t II
necessary.
Sixth-The Democratic platform In
dulges In vague and meaningless gen
eralization on the question Of educa-
ton.
Seventh-The Democratic platform
has no promise Of remedy for the In
iquitous and unconstitutional legisla
tive distributing that prevails In Ken
lucky.
Eighth The Democratic platform
omits any reference to the bipartisan
election of judges.
Ninth-The Democratic platform, In
its alleged county unit plank. not only
fails to mention the county unit. but
uses language 80 shrewdly worded as
to admit Of more than one interpreta-
ton. 1t evidences it's insincerity by
declaring that temperance Is not a po-
litical question, and in the next para
graph employing 1t as a campaign
issue. -.
We might continue this Indictment
several additional counts as
pertinent as those already enumerated
but these will suffice to call the ridicr.
lous bluff Of our Paducah contempt
rary.
We challenge It to defend It's party |
against this Indictment II can not
get away with the bald claim printed
at the beginning Of this editorial. 1t
must show that the Democratic plat
form Is not a work Of deceit and CHI
evasion and betrayal We
have been waiting for some Democrat
with nerve enough to file an apology
for that convention document, and we
hope our Paducah neighbor will prove
to be the much-needed champion