The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-11


the legislative and judicial-each
keeping within its own bounds and
not encroaching upon the just powers
of either of the others
Believing that the most efficient
results under our system OF govern
ment ARE to be attained by the full
exercise by the states Of their re-
served sovereign powers, we denounce
as usurpation the efforts of our OPP
ponents to deprive the states OF any
of the rights reserved to them and
to enlarge and magnify by indirection
the powers of the federal government.
We insist upon the full exercises OF
all the powers of the government,
both state and national. to protect the
people from injustice at the hands Of
those who seek to make the govern
ment a private asset In business.
There is no twilight, none between
the nation and the state, in which
exploiting interest can take refuge
from both. 1t is necessary that the
federal government shall exercise the
powers reserved to them, but we In
sist that federal remedies for the reg
ulation OF interstate commerce and for
the prevention OF private monopoly
shall be added to and not substituted
for, state remedies.
income Tax and Popular Election Of
Senators.
We congratulate the country upon
the triumph OF two important re-
| Ind In a. Al
platform, namely, the amendment Of
the Federal Constitution authorizing
an income tax and the amendment
providing for the popular election of
senators, and we call upon the peo-
pie of all the states to rally to the
support of the pending propositions
and secure their ratification.
We note with qualification the unan-
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 Demo
cratic House of Representatives for
extending the doctrine of publicity to
recommendations verbal and written,
upon which presidential appointments
are made, to the ownership and con-
troll of newspapers and to the expendi-
lures made by and in behalf of those
who aspire to presidential nomina-
tions, and we point for additional JUS
LITIGATION for this legislation to the
enormous expenditures of money in
behalf of the president and his prede
cessor in the. recent contest for the
Republican nomination for president.
Presidential Primaries.
The movement toward more popular
government should be promoted
through legislation in each state
which will permit the expression OF
tho preference of the electors for ma
tional candidates at presidential prl-
maries.
We direct that the National Com
mittee incorporate In the call for the
next nominating convention require
ment that all expressions of prefer
ence for presidential candidates shall
be given and the selection of dele
gates and alternates made through
party organization in each state where
such expression and election are not
provided for by state law. Commit
teemen who are hereafter to consti-
tute the membership Of the Demo
cratic National Committee and whose
election Is not provided for by law
shall be chosen In each state at such
= ~ he
authority OF committeeman, however
chosen, shall begin Immediately upon
the receipt of their credentials re-
spectively.
Campaign Contributions.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of 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 adop-
ton Of an amendment to the constitu-
ton making the president Of the
United States ineligible for reelection,
anu We PlSu6C EnO ScAd1ddtS VI ln1b
convention to this principle.
Democratic Congress.
At this time, when the Republican
party after generation Of unlimited
power In its control of the federal
government, Is rent into factions, it
is opportune to point to the record OF
accomplishment of the Democratic
House OF Representatives OF the sixty
second Congress. We indorse its
action and we challenge comparison
of its record with that of that other
Congress which has been controlled
by our opponents.
We call the attention OF the patri-
otto citizens OF our country to It's
record of efficiency, economy and con-
structive legislation.
1t has, among other achievements,
revised the rules of the House of
Representatives SO as to give the rep
resentatives 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 endeavored to re-
wise the tariff taxes downward, in the
interest of the consuming masses, and
thus to reduce the high cost of living.
1t has proposed an amendment to
the federal constitution providing for
the election of United States senators
by the direct vote of the people.
1t has secured the admission of
Arizona and New Maxicn 90 tu,o