Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-08-04
State Democratic Platform

Of the democratic members Of the
next legislature, to-wit
Full equality should be given by law
to men and women and all inequali
ties imposed upon women should be
abolished.
Public service corporations should
be denied the power to issue stocks.
bonds or other securities, until after
the same shall have been first ap.
proved by duly. constituted authority
of the state or municipality.
That interest of Is per cent now
permitted to spectators and others
in tax titles be reduced in amount,
and that means be devised for the
state or county carrying the same so
as to eliminate the professional deal
or in tax titles.
We favor q law allowing damsg es
to be recovered for the death Of q hu.
man being, and permitting the same
to descend the same a. personal
property.
Medical attendance ~ first aid to
injured should be allowed under the
industrial insurance law.
The labor law Of this state should
be amended to the effect that q la.
borer shall be entitled to his pay
promptly upon the termination Of his
employment.
The enactment Of laws providing
that all county officers shall be elect
ed on a strictly non.partisan basis.
A presidential primary law.
A secret primary ballot. similar to
the ballot now in use in our general
elections.
A stringent corrupt practices act,
such as will effectually preserve the
purity and secrecy Of the ballot and
prevent tho undue power Of money
at our elections.
The immediate survey and taxation
Of the millions Of acres Of unsurveyed
lands now in this state in the hands
of various great corporations and
others.
Our election laws should be amend.
ed so as to permit the name of any
candidate to appear on any or all
party tickets at the same time.
We consider the present constitu-
tional provision relating to taxation
TO be Anticipated and inequitable and
we favor such an amendment to Ar
ticle VII of the state constitution as
will empower the people to enact
revenue system that will be in har-
mony with changed economic condi-
tions.
We believe that elections are too
frequent, with the result that the
people become careless and indiffer-
ent in affairs of government; also
that too many officers are put on our
ballots; that a reduction in the mum.
Der Of elective officers would cause
closer scrutiny of the personnel and
qualifications Of the various candl-
dates and that therefrom public ser.
wants of higher ability and greater
worth would be obtained.
We, therefore, favor a reduction in
the number Of elections and a ma
terial shortening of the ballot.
We indorse the plan OF Governor
Lister further to reduce the cost of
administration by the consolidation
and elimination of some Of the exist.
ing commissions.
We favor the recall of judges and
the amendment of existing statutes
relative to the initiative referendum
and recall so as to make them effec-
tive instruments in the hands of the
people. We believe that a measure
brought before the people, either by
referendum or initiative, thereby be-
comes essentially non-partisan mat
ter.
We commend the action of the
state legislature and the governor
and the national reclamation service
in providing for the survey Of the
Palouse project in Eastern Washing
ton, looking to the irrigation OF
many thousand acres of our most fer
tile lands, and the providing Of homes
for many thousands Of people, and
we pledge the party to continue its
efforts for the completion of said pro-
ject.
We favor a complete recodification
Of our irrigation laws.
We favor the sale to actual settlers
Of all lands not chiefly valued for
timber, mineral, gas or oil, derived
from the government Of the United
States and now held for the construc-
ton, maintenance and operation of
state, educational or penal institu-
tions, and for state and educational
purposes generally, upon such terms
and in such manner as shall yield the
full value there is to our state.
Governor Lister Made Good
Governor Ernest Lister promised
the people of the state of Washing
ton economy and efficiency in the
of the state. This
promise in spirit and letter he has
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