The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-25

DEMOCRATIC PLAT.
FORM ADOPTED At
HUNTINGTON
Favors The Enactment Of A State
Wide Primary Law.
Fayors Good Roads But Opposes
Convict System in Use.


The platform of the Democratic
state convention adopted at Hunting
ton Wednesday follows:
The Democratic party of West Vir-
ginia is thankful tGaI during the
years of ring rule and arbitrary
government with which the state has
been inflicted since 190i Z, 1t, has been
true to the cause of the people.
The doctrine that the people are
the source of all power, and that
their expressed will is true warrant
for changes in the law is the foun-
dation stone of our party.
We endorse the Democratic pro-
gressiye platform adopted at the
Baltimore convention and ratify and
approve the nominations of Woodrow
Wilson and Thomas K. Marshall.
There are no dissatisfied nor dis
appointed Democrats in West Vir-
ginia, and we send greetings to the
nominees for President and Vice
President. There will be no "acid"
tests required of our electors.
We favor the enactment of a pri-
mary election law, the expense to be
paid by the state, ana all officers to
be named by all parties at the same
time and guarded by an adequate
corrupt practices court.
At the root of every honest cleo
ton is an honest, fair registration.
The legal voters should be entitled
to register and this right should be
protected. We pledge the people
that we will enact an honest, fair,
non-partisan registration law, pro-
tected by severe penalties
We believe that the time has come
when railroads and other public
utilities should be regulated by law
and we pedge our party to enact such
legislation that the public shall be
duly protected from the arbitrary
methods Of corporation officials. We
think that the commission plan,
protecting both the public and the
public service corporations, a wise
solution 6f this problem, and we
pledge the party to pass such law.
We favor home rule for cities and
pledge ourselves to pass a municipal
code law.
The power Of taxation is the life
Of the state and should not be ham
pered and we favor a law making it
impossible to enjoin the collection OF
taxes.
Tax law should be framed SO as
to put the necessary burdens of gov
eminent upon all properties equally
and fairly.
We re-affirm our belief that our
state government has become extray-
agant by the unnecessary increase in
the number of officehol,ers constant
" increasing salaries and unWise
public expenditures.
We promise rigid economy and to
reduce taxation to the lowest posi-
BILE limit.
We favor the enactment of fair
and just compensation act.
The Democratic party believes in
the protection of property.
Modern business methods and true
progress demand that our court pro-
ceedings shall be sinlplified and the
costs of litigation reduced. We
promise to make this reform.
No guard system should be allow
ed to supercede the power and duty
Of the state. 1t is the duty OF the
state to see that an ample and eff
cient constabulary service shall be
maintained. We denounce as unjust
the present irresponsible guard sys-
tenn.
We are opposed to the present sys-
tenn of convict labor in the state, and
favor abolishing the same and using
convict labor in the construction OF
a good roads system. The crying
need of the state is better roads We
favor national aid for good roads
Public education, non-political and
non-sectarian, is an absolute neces-
sity in self-governing state
We favor such appropriations as
will enable our agricultural depart
ment to render all possible aid.
We favor the enactment of law
similar to the Clayton anti-injunc-
ton bill
The isdependence of the judiciary
is necessary in republic, but we IA
vor modification OF the law regard
ing the removal of judges and the
enlargement Of the grounds OF such
removal.
We endorse the action of the state
committee in calling post-election
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