Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-04
The Democratic Platform

L~Nl ~IL1
necessary that the federal government
shall exercise the powers reserved to
them. but we insist that federal remed-
les for the regulation Of Interstate com.
merce and for the prevention Of pri-
vate monopoly shall be added to and
not substituted for state remedies.
income Tax and Popular Election Of
| Senators.
| We congratulate the country upon
the triumph Of two important reforms
demanded in the last national platform
namely, the amendment OF the federal
constitution authorizing an income tax
and the amendment providing for the
popular election Of senators and we
call upon the people Of all the states
to rally to the support OF the pending
propositions and secure their ratifica-
ton.
We note with qualification the unani-
nous sentiment In favor Of publicity
before the election, Of campaign con-
|tributions-a measure demanded In our
national platform OF 1908 and at that
time opposed by the republican party
and we commend the democratic house
Of representatives for extending the
doctrine Of publicity to- recommends
lions, verbal and written. upon which
presidential appointments are made.
to the ownership and control Of news
papers and 10 the expenditures made
by and IN behalf OF those who aspire
to presidential nominations, and ~
this legislation to the enormous az
penditures Of money In behalf Of the
president and his predecessor IN tho
recent contest for the republican nomi'
nation for president.
| Presidential Primaries.
! The moveme nt towards more popular
government should be promoted
Through legislation In each state which
will permit the expression Of the pre-
ference OF the electors for national
candidates at presidential primaries.
| We direct that the national commit
tee incorporate in the call for the next
nominating convention requirement
that all expressions Of preference for
presidential candidates shall be given
and the selection Of delegates and
'alternates made through primary
election conducted by the party organ.
Iization in each state whore such OK
pressions and elections are not pro
lyided for by state law. Committee
men who are hereafter to constitute
! the membership Of the democratic ma
itional committee and whose election 10
mot provided for by law shall be chosen
in each state at such primary elec-
tions and the service and authority OF
committeeman, however chosen, snail
begin Immediately upon the receipt OF
their credentials respectively.
Campaign Contributions.
We pledge the democratic party 70
the enactment OF law prohibiting any
corporation from contributing 70
campaign fund and any Individual from
contributing any amount above
reasonable maximum.
Term Of President.
We favor single presidentie! term
and to that end urge the adoption OF
an amendment to the constitution,
making the president Of the United
States ineligible for reelection, ana
we pledge the candidate OF this con-
vention to this principle.
| Democratic Congress.
At this time, when the republican
party. after generation OF unlimited
mower in it's control Of the federal Soy.
eminent. IL rent into factions. 1t is
opportune To point to the record OF &C.
accomplishments OF the democratic house
Of represen tatives in the sixty-second
! congress-. We endorse It's action and
W. Challenge comparison OF It's record
with that Of any congress when mas
been controlled by our opponents.
| We call the attention OF the patrio.lc
citizens Of our country to Ns rocoru
Of efficiency, economy and consttu e.
tive legislation.
Railroads, Express Companies, 'e's-
oraph and Telephone Lines.
We fayor the efficient supervision
! and rate 70 gulation Of railroads, ex-
nress companies, telegraph and tele-
phone lines engaged in interstate com
r,nrca. To this end we recommend tine
valuation Of railroads, express com
panies. telegraph and telephone lines
| by the interstate commerce comHls
] sion. such valuation to take into con
sideration the physical value OF w
Denomination. and any. element OF value
| that will render the valuation falf ana
Just. .,
we oppose the so-called Adrich on
or the establishment OF = central pank
and we believe the people OF the coun-
try will be largely freed from panics
and conseq uent unemployment and
business depression by such q system
attic revision Of our banking laws g
viii render temporary relief In local.
ties where such relief is needed. with
protection from control or domination
Nv what is known as the money trust
| Rural Credits.
OF equal Importance with the cues
lion Of currency reform is the question
Of rural credits or agricultural finance
Therefore we recommend that an IN
vestigation OF agricultural credit 70
nfeties in foreign countries be made.
! Waterways. f
We renew the declaration in our last
| platform relating to the conservation
Of our natural resources and the DC
! yelopment Of our waterways. The
| present devastation Of the lower Miss
| issippi valley accentuates the move