The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-09-09
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

Section National Administration
Commended and Wilson Endorsed for
Re. EIeetlon.--We, the representatives
OF the Democracy OF Kentucky, in con.
vention assembled, do reaffirm our de.
votion to the principles Of local self.
government formulated by Thomas
Jefferson and preserved and enforced
by his ilustrious Democratic success.
ors. We heartily indorse the present
Democratic Administration and review
with pride the promises made In the
last National Convention. Its plat.
form was a covenant made and kept
with the people, trusting, not without
cause, the wisdom. courage and patri.
otism Of the Democratic President and
Democratic Congress pledged to re.
forms den .nded BY public long de.
ceived and betrayed by the broken
faith. the sham, pretense and incom.
petence OF their Republican prede
cessors.
Our great President has been called
upon to solve the most grave and Sc.
rious problems which have ever faced
any executive In this generation, and
his patience. strength and superb
craftsmanship have deserved and re.
ceived the confidence and approval OF
his countrymen and the admiration OF
the world We believe that his mas.
terry of the situation requires his re.
nomination in 1916. and heartily in.
dorse him as the partys most efficient
and trusted leader In the coming ma.
tional election. believing that patriots
without regard to party recognize
Woodrow Wilson as the one man best
suited to bear the burdens and per.
form the herculean tasks now con.
fronting the President of the United
States.
We heartily commend the efficient
service of our distinguished Senators
and Representatives In Congress who
have tirelessly and successfully en-.
deavored to assist their colleagues in
the work of this Administration.
Section State Issues.-Faith in
the people and faith kept with the
people are the fundamental truths of
Democratic doctrine and practice. We
commends the present Democratic
State Administration for its adherence
to these principles and its capable
and efficient administration of public
affairs The Democratic State Plat
form of 1911 made covenants with the
people and our State Legislatures
have kept these covenants We con.
trast this record of party performance
with the utter failure of the Repub-
iican administration during the four
years from 1907 to 1911 to carry into
effect the platform promises of the
Republican party
Section Good Roads.-A Demo
cratic General Assembly and a Dem.
ocratic Governor have restored State
aid to road building In Kentucky after
period OF seventy.five years. In
consequence. 10& OF the 100 counties
OF the State are now preparing to
build roads with State aid and under
State supervision. The State has
given its guarantee that the roads
built under State supervision will be
built honestly and intelligently. Good
roads mean an increase in the market
value of the land In every community
through which they run; they mean
q saving in the wear and tear of farm
vehicles. They mean access to the
church and the school and thus better
churches and better schools. They
substitute prosperity for poverty. not
alone for the individual. but for the
community and the State as we'll
Within five years. If the present plan
OF road building is continued. every
county seat in Kentucky will be reach
ed by one OF more roads constructed
under State supervision. each forming
q part of the Statewide system.
The Democratic party pledges itself
to continuance Of the State aid sys-
TEN Of road building and to add to its
effectiveness by more adequate su.
pervision and to use its every effort
to make available Federal aid to be
used In connection with the aid fur.
nished by the State and the respective
counties. 'ss-sSA'.>sS-~s s'~s~
Section 4.-conviet labor.-We ia.
vor the adoption of the constitutional
amendment SGthorizine the employ
ment of convicts on the public roads |
of the Commonwealth. We favor the
abolition of. or such change In, the
Prison Contract Labor System as will
make available at the earliest pos
sible moment TO the State and to the
several counties the labor of such con
victs as may be safely worked outside
the walls of the penitentiary in the
construction OF public roads and in
the manufacture and production OF
road material
Section Our Public School Sys.
tem.-The Democratic party has al
ways been the friend of education and
has built up our present excellent
school system. and we pledge our sup
port to the public school system OF
the State and to other educational in
stitutions, and favor the enactment
Of such laws as will guarantee that
the money belonging to the school
fund and appropriated for school pur'
poses is wisely and economically ad'
ministered. Money spent for educa'
lion is an investment from which the
State reaps rich returns In the future.
We favor the enactment of all such
laws as will make our entire common
school system more efficient and more
practical,
We congratulate the people OF the
State on the increase of the per cap
ia for school children from s441 In
1911 to So rs this year. and on the
In The lAnpIh in the school