The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-01
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
FOR TIE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

bled at Huntington:
The Democratic party of West Vii
ginia, in convention assembled, i
duly thankful that, in this hour d
its brightest hopes, It can congratu
late itself that during the trying year
of Ring Rule and arbitrary govern
ment, with which the state has beef
inflicted since 1897, it has been tru,
to the cause Of the people and hal
consistently kept the ancient Demo
cratic faith that there is no power
under the American government
greater than the peoples will.
The doctrine that the people arr
the source Of all power, and that theil
expressed will is the true warran
for changes in the law, is the founda
ton stone of our party. "Progressiv
ism in it's chief essentials is but the
cardinal democratic faith, that gov
ernments are made to serve the PEG
pie, and that organic and statutory
law should keep pace with the growth
OF business, trade, labor and enlighten
ment among the people. 1t is as true
y
to-day as it was when the founder oil
our party wrote it into the Declaration
of independence and afterwards en-
grated it into the platform of our
party, and won thereon the signal vic.
tory of 1900, that our government rests
upon the consent of the governed, and
that the right to form a government
carries with it the right and duty to
change laws and constitutions when
the latter fail to serve all the people
with justice and without favor or spe-
cial privileges to any
We, therefore, endorse the Demo
cratic progressive platform as adopt
ed at the Baltimore convention and
ratify and approve the nominations
of Woodrow Wilson and Thomas r.
Marshall, both of whom have redeem
ed their promises and their party's
pledges to the people.
Greetings To Wilson.
There are no dissatisfied nor dis
appointed Democrats in West Vir-
ginia, and we send greetings to our dis
tinguished nominees for President and
Vice President, that all progressives
in West Virginia will vote for them
and we pledge them the electoral
votes of our state We further pledge
these great leaders of our cause that
there will be no "acid tests" required
of the electors whom we shall name
and elect. They will be men who
would spurn an election upon false
pretenses, and each and every one of
them will be personally and politically
inclined, as. in honor bound, to vote
for our candidates
Primary Election Law.
We favor the enactment of a pri-
mary law, the expense to be paid by
the state, and all parties to nominate
all officers at the same time and to
be guarded by an adequate corrupt
practice act. And we further pledge
the voters. that such laws shall be
SO framed that the poor man shall
have the same opportunity as the rich
man, and that the expenses of cam
paign for nomination shall be SO adj
justed that all candidates shall be so
protected by rigid laws that no ring
or CLIQUE by money, favoritism or
patronage shall usurp the offices.
We pledge the people that we will
enact an honest, fair, non-partisan
registration law, protected by severe
penalties, and giving to the voter and
to the people the benefit of the great
est publicity possible in it's enforce
ment. We also pledge ourselves to
enact an honest, fair, non-partisan
election law, severe in its penalties
against bribery, corruption, fraud, ar
bitrary methods and bull-dozing, and
protecting with the fullest power of
the state the right of every voter to
cast one ballot free from molestation
At the polls and beyond the power of
sny one to question it afterwards.
Municipal Code Law.
We favor home rule for cities and
pledge ourselves to pass municipal
code law.
We favor an amendment of the pres
INT tax laws. Every family should be
exempt from taxation on at least 5000
worth of property subject to that hui
name and wise exception In favor Of
hose already heavily burdened in the
struggle for existence and to that end
We favor a constitutional amendment. |
Extravaganza Of State Government.
Where much is spent, much must be
eyied, and we reafirm our belief that
,ur state government has become ex-
ravagant by unnecessary increase in
he number of ofice-holders, constant /
y increasing salaries, and unwise pub
ic expenditures. We promise the
most rigid economy and the strictest
honesty in public expenditures, and we
urther promise to reduce taxation to
he lowest possible limit.
Compensation Act.
We favor the enactment OF a fair
md just compensation act.
Education, health, the preservation |
II our national resources, the utmost |
humane treatment of those unable to
,are for themselves, the prevention OF T
and disease, the health and
are of children, the preventing of
mall children from working in. dan
ferrous or unhealthy occupations, and
he uplifting of mankind in general T
md the Improvement of his condition
n life, are some of the things which
lemand the highest and greatest care