The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-24
PARTY PLATFORM
GIVES CHALLENGE
TO PARTY ENEMY
Endorses Administration of
Governor VIM. RI. Mann
and His Prede-
CessOrs
POSITION TAKEN ON
NATIONAL QUESTIONS
Revision of Tariff and In
come Tax Amendment
Endorsed Demand
Free Port for
Virginia
BY EUGENE TRAVIS.

NORFOLK. y ~. May 20 ne 10
owing platform and resolutions wer
ldopted at 10 O'Clock tonight by tn
state Democratic convention:
The Democratic party OF Viz
ginia. in convention assembled.
heartily endorses the adufnfstra-
lion of Governor William Hodges
Mann and the other State officers
and challenges the most searching
scrutiny as to their fidelity and
devotion TO the pledges which were
made by them 10 the people.
After twenty seven years of un-.
disputed supremacy in the State,
the Democratic party Of Virginia
refers the Eaablie to consistent
record OF honesty. efficiency, and
progress in administration and
Legislation and the present result in
p the conditions Of good order,
good feeling and general prosper
ity unprecedented In our history.
The Etaterlas not only met her
financial obligations punctually.
but has anticipated them. Her
credit is as good AS that of any
government in the world. Her
people, encouraged by stable con-
ditions, moderate taxation fairly
adjusted EU1uHE ait cfasses and
wisely progressive leadership, give
their attention more hopefully and
earnestly than ever before to the
development of our vast material
resources and to the establish
ment of permanent and general
systems OF good roads and pub
lie schools,
The Democratic party is proud
of the fact that, without increas-
ing the burden on the tax payers.
more money is being used for
school purposes and for roads
than ever before in Virginia, and
thar pensions to the survivors of
the Confederate armies have
steadily increased as the revenues
and the necessities OF the State
permitted,
farin Division.
Resolved. That we endorse the
action Of rae Democratic house OF
representatives in it's wise and
timely. revision OF the tariff, III
its determined efforts for econom-
ical administration of the govern
ment and its statesmanllke lead
ership. which has brought har-
nony 10 the party councils and
thereby afforded TO rhe people the
spectacle Of a party fully equip
ped to gagislate in the interests
OF all the people.
Resolved. That We favor that
revision OF the tariff which is
embodied in the bills which have
passed the house of representa-
nav
conviction tina 1.-THE people will
ONLY secure relief from the unjust
burdens, under which they are
- .s.stsggering., by placing the peno*
cratic party in power, we beneNe
thar the tarfff Is the most vtraf
issue in this campaign and that
1T should not be obscured by any
other issue.
For Free Port.
Resolved. That we heartily en-
tiorSe the suggestion that this
government should establish at
least one free port" and that
such port" be established on
Hampton Roads in the Stare of
Virginia. We believe that the
honest business, farming and
working classes of the country
would be largely relieved from
panics and consequent unemplny-
ment, by a Democratic and nom
partisan revision and codificatton
of our antiquated banking laws.
which, while creating an elastic
not and credit system. would. at
the same time, preserve our inde-
pendent bank from any dominant
financial or political control.
We approve the principle OF
national aid to State roads as an
nounced in our last national plat :
form. and specifically indorse the
bill which affords such aid and
which was recently passed by a
Democratic house OF representa-
tives.
Income Tax.
Believing that the principle OF
graduated tax on incomes Is
sound, equitable and thoroughly
Democratic and that the pro-
posed amendment 10 the Federal
constitution. which has been sub
mitted to the ses eral States of the
Union for ratification. designed to
make clear the power Of the Fed
eral government to lay such n tax
without apportionment among
the several States. according to
population should receive the
ratification Of Virginia and OF
such other States as have not
already ratfl1Sd II. We declare II
as the sense OF this convention
that said proposed amendment
should be ratified by the next
general assembly OF Virginia. and
we express the hope that a Demo
cratic congress- and president will
carry this method Of taxation
into effect at the earliest oppof-
tunity. to the end that wealth may