Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1916-06-15

lrdmc anu tne enforcement OF the law
' The present Democratic administra
tion stands for the supremacy ant
majesty Of the law, for economy, eff
ficiency and fidelity in Office and ha.
exemplified in every department, the
truth that public Office is a public
trust We believe in local self gov
ernment, but deny that it can bt
used as pretext to challenge the
sovereignty of the state.
The state, through it's chief execu
tive officer has the inherent power
to enforce it's police regulation and
compel the impartial observance oi
state statutes throughout it's bound
aries. On this principle rests the en-
forcement of the temperance laws
and all other laws, where local officials
or local sentiment shall oppose their
observance.
We indorse the present admins.
tration for it's recognition of this
principle by the passage of the rang
er law and the custer law, and we
promise that these laws shall be
feariessly, impartially and honestly
applied by Democratic executive au-
thority.
Upon the efficiency of our public
schools depends the character of the
citizenship of the state in coming
generations. We pledge our unstint-
ed support to all the institutions of
the state, from the elementary
schools to the state university. We
especially emphasize the necessity
for the improvement of the rural
schools. These schools should re-
ceive stronger support, have better
teachers who are encouraged to make
teaching profession, be adapted to
the communities they must serve, and
in every possible way be brought
nearer TO the people. We favor such
changes and notifications of the
present method of examining and Ii
censing teachers as will give the To-
cal school authorities such supervis-
ion as may not be inconsistent with
efficient service in the school room
The Democratic party mas always
favored honest and fair elections. To
this end, bona fide representation
should be given to both political par
ties on every election board, and at
every ballot box; every legal voter
should be permitted to cast IL.
according to his own will and have
it counted and returned as cast and
the violation of the election laws be
made a felony.
We declare for the enactment of
legalized primary law with all the
safeguards of regular election, with
severe penalties against corrupt prac
tices of every kind
We declare for the proper regula
ton of the fee system.
The people of Tennessee have long
since recognized the demand for eco
and better highway traffic
involving the co mercial,
social, moral, educational
and agricultural welfare of our state
and nation. We therefore indorse the
action of the national Democratic ad-
in supporting federal aid
legislation for the construction and
of public roads.
We endorse the present state Demo |
cratic administration in establishing
a state highway department and Pied
ge our support for such additional
legislation and appropriations as may
be necessary for the efficiency of /
this department to enable them to
construct and maintain public roads
funds and the economical expendi- /
lure and accounting for the same.
We also pledge ourselves to the en-
actment of such laws as may be nee
sssary to secure any federal road
funds that may be available for Ten
lessee.
In the assessment of property, we
avor policy having for it's object
u CT st.1x nvSI srrnf tro
If all tax payers alike.
We oppose discrimination among
he different classes of tax payers
md demand that all property, real,
and mixed, be compelled to
,ear it's proportionate part of the tax
burden, subject only to those exemp-
ions made by the constitution of the /.
tate. We favor such modification or
evision of our tax laws, with refer
nee to the assessment and collection
# all revenues as may be necessary
o secure adequate revenue and in .
rider 10 equalize tax burdens, mini :
nize expenses and insure the prompt l
objection of all taxes with least vex- .
tion to the citizen. !
The Democratic party is irrevocably .
ommitted to the policy of adequate ,
Y providing for Confederate soldiers
nd sailors and their widows, and we
ereby give our solemn pledge to 9
ontinuation of this policy by render !.
lg to them every assistance possible. l
We indorse the present state Demo =
ratio administration for enacting a
NV under which very large number
I state prisoners confined in the coal e
lines of the state have been placed ;
, work under contract, with the road =
of the various counties, =
hereby relieving the coal operators 9
{ the state and the miners of hurtful a
nd destructive competition during
he season from April to Dec. /, e
hen this competition is most seri- I,
usly felt. We favor the enactment Y
[ law abolishing the convict lease 3
ystem, the removal of state priso- =
ers from the coal mines and facto- d
es and placing them on the public .
Dads as soon as advisable for the =
IKE Of humanity and the develop =,
tent of the resources of the state y
Tennessee.
We favor workman's compensa- a a