The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-07-12
A TENTATIVE PLATFORM


in tentative platforms.
The following was handed in by
Mr.. Harris, member of the platform
committee from Florida:
The democratic party, through its
delegates in national convention as
sembled, at Baltimore, Maryland, rec
ognizing the right of the people to
be informed in plain and unequivocal
language of its views as TO the admin
istration of the affairs of the national
government, declares:
First: That strict adherence in
spirit and in letter to the constitution
will, in the future, as in the past, in
sure a perfect union, maintain justice
among all classes and conditions of our
people, promote the general welfare
and continue the blessings of liberty
TO ourselves and to our posterity.
We therefore demand of those who
enact, execute or expound the laws,
that they obey that sacred instru-
ment, leaving it to the people to alter
its provisions or add to same, as con-
ditions may, from time to time, in
their judgment require, and in the
manner therein provided.
Second: We point with pride to the
efforts of the democrats in congress
TO revise the tariff downward, to the
end that the high cost of living may
be lessened
Third: We oppose the holding of
the presidency of the United States
by any one person more than twice.
We. indeed. favor a constitutional pro-
vision limiting the period to one term
of six years.
Fourth: We favor the enforcement
of all the laws of our land without ia
vor TO either the rich or the poor, the
high or the low, that equal justice
may be melted out to every citizen.
That such laws be enacted as will
protect labor in every respect against
the injustice of capital, and that will
protect capital in its legitimate uses,
TO the end that each may receive it's
full and just dues
That the revenues of the govern
ment shall be levied to the extent
only necessary to meet it's expenses,
economically administered. That
the tariff duties on the things that
20 to make up the necessaries of COM
Portable living, when required for rev.
enue purposes, should be placed as
low as possible to meet such require
ment. in order that all conditions of
our people may be permit ed to OBJ
tain necessary food, clothing and shell
ter without governmental interior
ence.
That luXuries be made to bear the
greater burdens of tariff duties.
That in revising the present tariff
duties, care should be taken to avoid
precipitate changes that would injure
those interests built up under it, and
reasonable time and methods provid-
ed to avoid such injury.
Fifth: We demand strict and impair
tial enforcement of the laws against
unlawful trusts. combines and monop-
olies. and that where necessary they
be made more stringent, and that the
individual violating these laws, either
in person or through corporate agen-
cy, be made to suffer punishment adj
equate to stop this evil
Sixth: We believe the natural re-
sources of our country, belonging to
the United States, should be protect
ed and disposed of for the good of all
of the people, and not be permitted
10 pass into the hands of anyone with
out full compensation.
Seventh: We favor the reclamation
of the vast area of swamp and over
flowed lands in the United States,
and the appropriation by the federal
government of sufficient funds to
make surveys of such lands; to de-
yelop plans for draining the same,
and to supervise the work of construc-
ton
Eighth: We favor federal aid in the
construction of national highways, I'M
der the constitutional provision for
the establishment of military and post
roads.
Ninth: We favor the ratification of
the income tax amendment to the
constitution of the United States.
Tenth: We favor a pension for our
soldiers and sailors that will meet
their necessities and make them COM
Portable in old age.
Believing the above to be the main
questions of this day, and all that
need be specifically mentioned in a
brief declaration, we appeal to the
A u