Evening journal., 1913-05-06
Contlnued From First PAGE.

and is not TO be regarded as ephemer-
Al. to participate in one campaign
and then disappear. The predictions
Of our opponents that the party would
disappear have not been fulfilled and
IN other states We see no indications
that Progressive voters will drift
back into the older parties from
which they came"
DR.. Reed said the party was not
alone a personal following Of Roose-
Welt, and that if Roosevelt had fallen
at Milwaukee. the Progressive party
would have gone on. This. he said,
proved that Il was a party born from
the conviction that the democratic
and Republican parties had outgrown
their usefulness.
Robert G.. Houston, the next speak
er. declared that while he did not
care to appear as II meddling in the
city's affairs, and his followers 1t
home could not assist with their votes
he pledged the local Progressives
their moral support.
Following the nomination Of the
ticket. Mr. DUPONT was escorted to
the platform where ne made an ad-
dress setting forth his views on the
Progressive movement Mr.. DUPONT
said he did Lot promise to do more
than Mayor Howell had done, as he
had done his best The fault, he said,
Was in our form Of city government
Addresses also we're made by Or.
Hughes and others
The platform adopted at the con-
vention was as follows.
The conscience OF the people in a
time Of grave national problems has
called into being new Party, born
Of the Nations awakened sense of
Justice.
We. the Progressive Party of the
City of Wilmington, dedicate ourselves
to the duty OF carrying into City Gov
crnment. so far as is possible, those
principles which have come 10 be
recognized as progressive and which
arise from this awakened sense OF
justice.
Political parties exist to secure re-
sponsihle government and to execute
the viii Of the people. From these
great tasks, both of the old Parties
have turned aside.
We hereby endorse the platform of
the Progressive Party adopted at It's
First National Convention.
Rule Of the People.
We deplorc the present inefficient
system OF our City Government, with
its lack Of executive responsibility,
which exists largely by reason of the
number OF independent departments
into which our City Government rs
divided We. therefore. pledge our
Party and our candidates 10 use all
possible efforts TO secure for our city
modern and efficient form of Gov
ernment. with centralized authority,
which will be responsible and respon-
sive to the will of the people, by
means OF the Initiative and Roferen-
dun.
VIC insist that our city shall he run
as a modern business institution. om-
nloying business ideas. capable and
efficient men who understand the
business for which they are employ
cd. and we pledge ourselves not only
10 labor diligently to bring about
these results as far as possible under
our present inadequate charter, but
10 urge before the Legislature OF the
State and 10 insist upon such legis-
lation as is necessary TO bring about
these, ends
Franchises.
The test Of efficiency of Public
Service Corporation is the ability
better to serve the public and those
who control by sharing with the pub
lie the fruits thereof We. there
fore. demand strong municipal
regulation Of our Public Service
Corporations. Experience has shown
that the management of the Public
Service Corporations of this city. con-
sisting principally of the Gas Com
pany, the Lighting Companies and
the Street Railway lines. unguarded
and uncontrolled by the city or state,
has placed IN the hands Of a few men,
enormous. secret. irresponsible power
over the daily lives OF our citizens, a
power insufferable IN free govern
ment, and that has been grossly
abused In monopoly OF resources; in
stock watering: in unfair competi-
tion: in exorbitant charges for SER
vice. IN total disregard Of the
rights and comfort Of the people, and
finally in sinister influences on the
public agencies OF the city AM state
We insist that the power OF our Pub
lie Service Corporations shall be exer-
cised openly. under publicity. super
vision and regulation of the most eff
cient sort. which will preserve their
good while cradicatlng and prevent
ing their evils.
We disapproye Of the present
methods Of granting franchises
through the Street and Sewer De
partment. which consists of three
men. OF whom majority. only two in
number, can oyorrule the veto of the
mayor
We are IN favor OF a Public Utili'
ties Commission. with ample powers
and, until such powers are granted e
the. present or TO new commission
we believe that the commission nov
existing should employ their Office tC
investigate our Public Service Cor
porations. appraise their properties
determine their ownership and profits
and make the results of such inves
legations public. so that thi
people may know the extent &
which their rights are at the presen
time being abused by our publi
service corporations
All street railway lines. With
the city OF Wilmington should be re
quired to sell not less than ST
tickets for twenty-five cents. unles
good reasons can be given for nc
doing so. Such lines should also b
required to provide for each passer
ger a seat i'm cars that are sanitarl