Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-10-20
State Democratic Platform

We consider the present constit.,
tional provision relating to taEaeSsU.
to be antiquated and inequitabIe asG
we favor such an amendment to ~
ticle VII of the state constituti0a -
will empower the people to enaet q
revenue system that will be In Aas-
mony with changed economic oanG-
tions.
We believe that elections are tse
frequent, with the result that ~
people become careless and inafaeS-
emit in affairs Of government; ass
that too many officers are put On oxx
ballots; that a reduction in the sum~,
Der Of elective officers would csusS
closer scrutiny of the personnel asx
qualifications of the various csmsS
dates and that therefrom public -.
wants of higher ability and grusssr
worth would be obtained.
We, therefore, favor a reductisn -
the number Of elections and 4 N.
terial shortening of the ballot.
We indorse the plan of Govanw
Lister further to reduce the cot r
administration by the consolidsEiua
and elimination Of some Of the exit
ing commissions.
We favor the recall Of judges an
the amendment of existing stafuA.e
relative to the initiative refereaAR
and recall so as to make them e0n+
tive instruments in the hands al -.
people. We believe that a mes
brought before the people, either u
referendum or initiative, thereby -.
comes essentially a non-partisaa ~
ter.
We commend the action or IL,
state legislature and the govesnR
and the national reclamation sesvfk
in providing for the survey Of ~
Palouse project in Eastern Was1ssa:-
ton, looking to the irrigation G
many thousand acres of our most Eev-
tile lands, and the providing of hazseG
for many thousands of people, sndt
we pledge the party to continue ~
efforts for the completion of said pru-
ject.
We favor complete recodifcziscS
of our irrigation laws.
! We favor the sale to actual settlers
of all lands not chiefly valued sr1
timber, mineral, gas or oil, derived
| from the government of the United
States and now held for the conssrze-
ton, maintenance and opeartioD at
state, educational or penal iustSs9-
tons, and for state and educatiGaN
purposes generally, upon such serne
and in such manner as shall yield tks
full value there is to our state.
Governor Lister Made Goes
Governor Ernest Lister prouigel
the people of the state of WashaR&-
ton economy and efficiency in Tn
administration of the state. Tnia
promise in spirit and letter he bag
sacredly kept. A republican lesisfsr
ture enacted laws by which the uR
of approximately $24,O0O,OO0 wax -
be appropriated out of the state treas.
ury. OF this sum Governor Lis4ar
vetoed bills which resulted In q -.
duction Of approximately $5,000,eo
Governor Lister has initiated . ~
tenn of financial reports from the Rub-
lie institutions and departments q
the state by which he has at hasf
for Immediately reference the ex>as
amount expended monthly by onAA
institution and department and UC
exact cost of maintenance to- e. =
inmate in each public institution psx
day. He is in constant and eScse
touch with the public business of tAe'
state.
AS further achievement of Cop.
ernor Lister, we point to the fact
that for the first time since the a.
ministration of Governor Rogers, thu
executive and administrative depart
ments under the governors supexvs-
sion and control, are within their r<-
spective appropriations, fact tAaf
demonstrates not only the strict coon
omy but the high efficiency as veia
of the administration Of state affairs
by our democratic governor
We recognize President Woo6rux
Wilson as the leader of the deans
cratic party in the nation, and GGv+
ernor Ernest Lister in the state. and
we pledge our legislative candidates.
to support any policy of reform req
commended that will lessen the hvs-
dens of taxation upon the people Of
this state.
Eager for the battle in the age-ale
war against the forces led by psivf-
lege and greed, and confident of eHs'
appreciation and support OF figsss.
thinking Americans, who place kcmor
above the dollar and humanity ahcwei
mere material interest, the democrats
of the state of Washington and et
the union gladly await the issue.