The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-03

the executive, the legislative and the
Judicial-eacn keeping within its. own
bounds aud not .encroaching upon the
just powers or any of the others.
Believing that the most efficient re-
suits under our system of government
are to be attained by the full exercise
by the states of their reserved soVer-
eign powers, we denounce as usurpa-
ton the efforts of our opponents to de-
prive the states of any OF the r1ghlS
reserved to them, and to enlarge ana
magnify by indirection the powers OF
the federal government.
We insist upon the full exercise OF
all the powers of the government. poth
state and national, to protect the peoee
pie from Injustice at the hands OF
those who seek to make the govern
ment a private asset in business.
There is no twilight zone between tne
nation and the state in wnlcn Elk
plotting interests can take refuge from
both. It is necessary that the federal
government shall exercise the powers
reserved to them but we insist thds
federal remedies for the regulatlon OIL
interstate commerce and for the pre-
vention of private monopoly snail De
added to and not substituted for state
remedies.
Income Tax.
We congratulate the country upon
the triumph of two important REFORMS
demanded in the last national platform,
namely the amendment of the teoerdl
constitution authorizing an income tax
and the amendment providing FOR the
popular election of senators, ana we
call upon the people of all the states 20
rally to the support of the pending
propositions and secure their ratlnca-
ton.
We note with qualification the I'M
animous sentiment in favor of publicity
before the election of campaign contrl-
butions-a measure demanded in our
national platform of 1908, and at that
inc Nv he
and we commend the Democratic house
OF representatives for extending the
doctrine of publicity to recommenda-
lions, verbal and written, upon which
presidential appointments are made, to
the ownership and control of newSpa-
perS and to the expenditures made by
and behalf of those who aspire to
p7 esidential nominations and we point
for additional justification for this leg
islation to the enormous expenditures
of money in behalf of the president and
his predecessor in the recent contest
for the Republican nomination for pres
ident-
Presidential Primaries.
The movement towards more popu-
lar government should be promoted
through legislation in each state which
will permit the exception of the pref
erence of the electors for national
candidates at presidential primaries.
We direct that the national commit
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 conducted by the party organiza-
ton in each state where such express
sion and election are not provided for
by state laws. Committeeman who are
hereafter to constitute the member
ship of the Democratic national COM
mlttee and whose election is not pro-
vided for by law shall be chosen in
each state at such primary elections
and the service and auth ority of COM
mitteemen, however chosen, shall be.
gin Immediately upon the receipt of
their credentials respectively.
Campaign Contributions.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the. enactmentuof a law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
a campaign fund and any individual
from contributing any amount above a
reasonable maximum.
Term of President.
we favor single presidential term
and to that end urge the adoption of
an amendment to the constitution
making the president of the United
states ineligible for reelection and we
pledge the candidate of this convention
to this principle
party after a generation of unlimited
mower in it's control of the federal gov
eminent is rent into factions, it is OPP
perfume to point to the record of ac-
complishment of the Democratic hous'
of representatives in the Sixty-s second
congress We endorse it's action and
we challenge comparison of its record
with that of any congress which has
been controlled by our opponents.
We call the attention of the patriotic
citizens of our country to its record
of efficiency, economy. and constructive
legislation It has among other achieve
ments, revised the rules of the house
of representatives so as to give to the
of the American people
freedom of speech and of action in
advocating, proposing and perfecting
remedial legislation. 1t has passed bills |
for the relief of the people and the |
development of our country; it has en- |
deavored to revise the tariff taxes
downward in the interest of the con- |
Stunning masses and thus to reduce the |
high cost of living.
1t has proposed an amendment to |
the federal constitution providing for |
the election of q. S. senators by the |
direct vote of the people. 1t has Sc /
cured the admission of Arizona and |
New Mexico as sovereign states. 1t |
has required the publicity of campaign
expenses both before and after cleo
ton and fixed a limit upon the cleo
ton expenses of U. S. senators and
1t has also passed a
bill to prevent the abuse of the writ
Of injunction.
1t has passed a law establishing an
S-hour day for workingmen on all
public work. 1t has passed a reSolu-
ton which forced the president to
take immediate steps to abrogate the
Russian treaty and, it has passed the
great supply bills which lessen waste
and extravaganza and which reduce
the annual expenses of the govern
ment by many millions of dollars.
We approve the measure reported
by the Democratic leaders in the
house of representatives for the crea-
ton of a council of national defense
which will determine a definite naval
program with a view to increase eff
ficiencv and ECONOMY The party that