The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-08-02
PLATFORM OF BULL MOOSE"
PARTY-IT ELIMINATES THE
"BROTHER IN BLACK"
The Platform

The Platform
This was a long and rather we'll
sounding document. almost Desperate
in its best utterances and telling the
uncomplmentary truth about the re-
publicans az well as any democrat
could do. 1t began with the sonorous
utterance:
We the national progressives Of
Florida. former democrats and repub
licans. in convention assembled at
Ocala, Florida. deemIng it ut and
proper that IN the organization of a
new political party in the nation and
state make the following declaration
of principles:
The next two paragraphs. speaking
Of the condition Of the country in
general and the policy Of the repub-
lican party in particular, are quite ac-
curate and might have been written
or endorsed by any progressive dem
ocrat They are as follows:
The economic conditions existing
in this nation, resulting from the
stupendous increase in population, the
extreme cost of living, the unequal
and unfair distribution Of wealth, the
special privileges and advantages en-
joyed by the few to the exclusion of
the many, the corruption in and dom
nation of the republican and demo-
cratic parties by the money interests,
the unequal burden Of taxation rest
ing on the man Of small means and
the control Of the government BY sin
lister influences Of the privileged
classes, make it the solemn duty of
the people to demand that the gov
eminent be restored to the people and
that it be administered in their inter
ests.
THE republican party under malign
influences controlling the president Of
the United States has betrayed the
people. 1t is reactionary in sentiment
and practice. It is revolutionary in
its purpose TO overthrow and thwart
the will Of the people, organized fifty
six years ago upon the principles of
liberty Of all the people; il has degen-
Grated into a camp of reckless mercen-
aries. The attempted theft of the
presidency a Chicago this year is the
browning act of its infamy. 1t has de-
serted the people and has allied itself
with the interests and the appeal of
the citizens is met with mockery and
SUI II All rs COQllSciS II IL DOSS- Tkuueu
under a self perpetuating system and
all hope of its reform is lost"
The next paragraph denounces the
democratic party as heartily for sins
of omission as it does the republicans
for sins Of commission. 1t IS wander
ing, wishy-washy, hypocritical. non
dependable, doesn't and will not com
mand the respect of the people To
sum it up shortly, the third party ac-
cuses the other two parties of every
crime in the calendar except rape,
murder and arson, and rather insin-
yates the last two.
1t went on to tell of the heartache
caused by the breaking away of the
faithful from the old party, but if any
thing ached in that convention except
Lewis Otto's corns, there was no out
ward evidence Of the fact We don't
know that Mr., Otto has any corns We
name him because he is further off
than any other delegate and less like
" 10 come back and lick the reporter
The next section bid for the ola sol
der vote Of both armies by promising
a pension Of not less than 5 4 a day for
each veteran. Union or Confederate.
The next section denounced misman-
agement Of state finances by the dem
ocratic party, and promised that the
progressives if put in power, would
not only conduct matters more ef-
fcientlv but 30 away WITH state and
county taxation
Ike next section denounced the ex-
cessive duties imposed BY the tariff.
but pledged protection for Florida
products
The next favored elimination Of
politics in the selection Of judicial and
quasi judicial officers.
The next favored a session of the
legislature to enable municipalities to
build docks ana warehouses. provide
terminal facilities and acquire riparian
property.
The next favored good roads.
The next favored continuation of
drainage
The next TWO denounced union Of
the races in political as weH as social
affairs
The appointment Of John n Cheney
as Judge Of the district court Of the
southern circuit Of the state was de-
nounced, not BECAUSE the convention
finds any fault with Mr., Cheney as a
citizen, but because, it alleges. he
lacks experience as a civil practitioner
and because his appointment was
made as the result of political bar
gain. The language of the resolution
would have blistered the smile off Mr..
Taft if he had heard it, and we think
almost every democrat could endorse
it.
The document concluded by paving
a high tribute to Theodore Roosevelt.
and instructing the delegates to Chi