Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-07-09

state and national, to protect the peo-
pie from injustice at the hands of
those who seek to make the govern
ment private asset in business.
There is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state, in which exploit
ing interests can take refuge from
both 1t is necessary that the govern
ment shall exercise the powers re-
served to it, but we insist that federal
remedies for the regulation of inter
state commerce and for the preven-
ton of private monopoly shall be add
ed to and not substituted for state
remedies.
Income Tax and Popular Vote.
We congratulate the country upon
the triumph of two important reforms
demanded in the last national plat
form-namely, the amendment to the
federal constitution authorizing an in
come tax and the amendment prOvid-
ing for the popular election of senat-
urs-and we call upon the people of
all the states to rally to the support of
the pending propositions for further
ratification.
w Z uOlC Win SAdll!lAuNAOlA NAAN ulltAAA
imous 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 recommen-
dations, verbal and written, upon
which presidential appointments are
made, to the ownership and control of
newspapers and to the expenditures |
made and in behalf of those who as |
pire to presidential nominations; and |
we point for additional justification |
for this legislation to the enormous eX- |
penditures of money in behalf of the |
president and his predecessors in the |
recent contest for the republican nom
ination for president
Presidential Primaries.
The movement towards more popu
lar government should be promoted
through legislation in each state which
will permit the expression of the pref
erence of the electors for national can
didates at presidential primaries.
We direct that the national commit
tee incorporate in the call for the next
nominating convention a requirement
that all expressions of preference for
presidential candidates shall be given
and the selection of delegates and al
ternates made through a primary cleo
ton in each state where such express
sion and election are not provided for
by state law. Committeeman who are
hereafter to constitute the membership
hn lnr,noraffo national ,TnifSon ] .
and whose election is not provided for {
by law shall be chosen in each state at
such primary elections and the service
and authority of committeeman, how !
ever chosen, shall begin Immediately ,
upon the receipt of their credentials :
:
Campaign Contributions. '
We pledge the democratic party to {
the enactment of law prohibiting any S
from contributing to a t
fund and any individual c
from contributing any amount above
a reasonable maximum. c
Terms Of President.
We favor a single presidential term
and to that end urge the adoption of 7
an amendment to the constitution .
making the president of the United :
States ineligible for reelection and =
Ne pledge the candidate of this con- -
Tention to this principle. a
Carriers. a
We favor the efficient supervision p
md rate regulation of railroads, ex- o
,ress companies, telegraph and tele- o
,hone lines engaged in interstate COM Il
nerce. To this end we recommend V
he valuation Of railroads, express
telegraph and telephone a
ines by the interstate commerce com o
mission, such valuation TO take into Ia
consideration the physical value of the Fl
property, the original cost, the cost of Il
eproduCtion, and any element of value
hat will render the valuation fair and
ust IlC
We favor such legislation as will ef- Al
ectually prohibit the railroads. eX-
ress, telegraph and Telephone COM
anies from engaging in business "a
rhich brings them into competition n
nth their shippers or patrons also NJ
agislation preventing the over-issue n
( stocks and bonds by interstate rail.
Dads, express companies. telegraph
nd telephone lines. and legislation -.
9
rates as conditions will n
ermit. care being taken TO avoid re- -
uCtion that would compel a reduction ,.
wages, prevent adequate service or -
o injustice 20 legitimate investments. IN
Banking Legislation. lis
We oppose the so-galled Aldrich bill
r the establishment OF a central bank
nd We believe the progress Of the d
Duntry will be largely freed from al
inicS and consequent unemployment er
nd business depression by such @ sys-
matte revision Of our banking laws
, will render temporary reueI lu m
calities where such relief is needed -
it'll protection from control or dom mr.
alton by what is known as the mon Ne
Z trust. 40
Banks exist for the accommodation sI
the public and not for the control .tr,
business. All legislation on the M
bject Of banking and currency has M
r its purpose the securing OF those MS
on terms Of absolute All
curity 10 the public and % complete ~
otection from the misuse OF the m
wer that wealth gives TO those who th
ssess IL. tn
We condemn the present methods Of III
,,efff~r- gr,gar-u r7arff funds rrr - e. .