Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-25
State Democratic Platform

We consider the present constitu-
tional provision relating to taxation
to be antiQuated and inequitable and
we favor such an amendment to Ar.
ticle VII Of the state constitution az
will empower the people to enact q
revenue system that will be In mar
mony with changed economic conds
lions.
We believe that elections are toe,
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 reduction in the num-
Der of elective officers would cause
closer scrutiny of the personnel and
qualifications of the various candi.
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 measure
brought before the people, either by
referendum or initiative, thereby be.
comes essentially a 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 it's
efforts for the completion Of said pre-
ject.
We favor a complete recodiflcation
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 Coco
Governor Ernest Lister promised
the people of the state of Washing.
ton economy and efficiency in the
administration of the state. This
promise in spirit and letter he has
|
tnre enacted laws by which the sum
of approximately s24,000,O00 was to
be appropriated out of the state treas
ury. Of this sum Governor Lister
vetoed bills which resulted in re-
duction of approximately 100000
Governor Lister has initiated q sys,
TEN of financial reports from the pun,
iic institutions and departments OF
he state by which he has at HAND
fer Immediately reference the exact
amount expended monthly by each
institution and department and the
exact cost of maintenance for each
inmate in each public institution per
day. He is in constant and close
touch with the public business of the
state.
AS further achievement of Gov
ernor Lister, we point to the face
that for the first time since the ad-
ministration of Governor Rogers, the
executive and administrative depart.
ments under the governors superyi.
sion and control, are within their re-
spective appropriations, a fact that
demonstrates not only the strict econ
omy but the high efficiency as well
Of the administration of state affairs
by our democratic governor.
We recognize President Woodrow
Wilson as the leader of the demo
cratic party in the nation, and Gov
ernor Ernest Lister in the state, and
we pledge our legislative candidates
to support any policy Of reform REC
commended that will lessen the bur-
dens of taxation upon the people Of
this state.
Eager for the battle in the age-ol6
war against the forces led by priv.
lege and greed, and confident of the
appreciation and support of right
thinking Americans, who place honor
above the dollar and humanity above
mere material interest, the democrats
Of the state Of Washington and OF
the union gladly await the issue.