The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-07-05
C.maeratic Congress.

pi HIS cOuN0ullOu W
t".. ttr
G.nocratic Congress.
Al - ,...I,. when the Republican
pas, ar II genera ton of unlimited
urA n III Us control of the federal gov
efi,.n,it;. l.. rent into factions, it Is
opportIn+. 10 point to the record Of
ACCOMPLISHMENT of the Democratic
house of representatives in the Sixty
ton. and we challenge comparison of
it's record with that of any congress
which has been controlled by our op-
ponents We call the attention of the
patriotic citizens of our country to its
record of efficiency. economy and con-
structive legislation.
1t has among other achievements re-
vised the rules of the house of repre-
sentatives so as to give to the repre-
senta tives Of the American people
freedom of speech and of action in adj
vocating, proposing and perfecting
remedial legislation.
1t has passed bills for the relief of
the people and the development of our
country. 1t has endeavOred to revise
the tariff taxes downward in the in
terest of the consuming masses and
thus to reduce the high cost of living
1t has proposed an amendment to
the federal constitution providing for
the election of United States senators
by the direct vote of the people.
1t has secured the admission Of Ari-
IONA and New Mexico as two sover-
eign states.
1t has required the publicity of cam
paign expenses both before and after
election and fixed a limit upon the
election expenses of United States SEN
ators and representatives.
1t has passed bill to prevent the
abuse of the writ of injunction. 1t has
passed a law establishing an eight hour
day for workmen on all national pub
lie work.
It has passed a resolution which
forced the president to take Immediate
steps to abrogate the Russian treaty.
And it has passed the great supply
bills which lessen waste and extrava-
gance and which reduce the annual ex-
penses of the government by many mil
lions of dollars.
We approve the measure reported by
the Democratic leaders in the house OF
representatives for the creation Of a
council of national defense which will
determine a definite naval program
with a view to increased efficiency and
economy.
Republican Extravaganza.
We denounce the profiigate waste of
the money wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation through the lavish
appropriations Of recent Republican
congresses, which have kept taxes high
and reduced the purchasing power OF
the peoples toll. We demand return
to that simplicity and economy which
befit Democratic government and
a reduction in the number of useless
offices, the salaries Of which drain the
substance of the people,
Railroads. Express Companies, TeIe-
graph and Telephone Lines.
We favor the efficient supervision
and rate regulation Of railroads. ex-
press companies, telegraph and tele-
phone lines engaged in interstate COM
merce To this end we recommend the
valuation of railroads, express compa-
MES, telegraph and telephone lines by
the interstate commerce commission.
such valuation to take into cOnsidera-
ton the physical value Of the property.
the original cost. the cost of the pro-
duction and any element Of value that
will render the valuation fair and just
Banking Legislation.
We oppose the so called Aldrich
bill or the establishment Of a central
bank. and we believe our country will
be largely freed from panics and con-
sequent unemployment and business
depression by such systematic revi-
sion Of our banking laws as will render
temporary relief in localities in which
such relief is needed, with protection
from control or dominion by what is
known as the money trust.
We condemn the present methods of
depOSiting government funds in few
favored banks. largely situated in or
controlled by Wall street, in return
for political favors, and we pledge our
party to provide by law for their de-
post by competitive bidding in the
banking institutions of the country,
national and state. without discrimina-
ton as to locality, upon approved Sc
curities and subject to call by the gov
eminent
Waterways.
We renew the declaration in our last
platform relating to the conservation
of our natural resources and the de-
velopment of our waterways. The
present devastation of the lower Mis-
sissippi valley accentuates the move
ment for the regulation Of river flow
by additional bank and levee protec-
ton below and the diversion, storage
and control of the food waters above
and their utilization for beneficial pur-
poses in the reclamation of arid and
swamp lands and the development OF
water power instead of permitting the
foods TO continue as heretofore,