The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-05-04
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE PLATFORM 1876
AS Adopted by The North Carolina Democrat
tic Convention in Raleigh, Thursday Apr. 9th

! OF the future. We endorse the admin.
1strat1on of Governor Locke Craig and
other state officers Tor it's fidelity to
| the highest ideals of public service
and notable achievement in the pub.
lie interest. We point to sixteen years
OF Democratic administration sub.
Jected regularly to the closest scruti.
ny, investigation and audit, without
an instance of scandal or unfaithful
public service-as a record meriting
the unlimited approval and good will
of the white people of the state. They
have covered sixteen years in which
constant progress and development
Of public education, of temperance, of
public health laws and administra-
ton, and of every branch of public
service have kept the pace with agri-
cultural, commercial and industrial
progress. Construction of improved
public highways have in every legiti-
mate way been encouraged, institu-
tons for both sexes have been en-
larged and strengthened, the public
health service has been developed to
high state of efficiency, and public
institutions for the care of the dis
eased and unfortunate have been in
creased in number and enlarged in
capacity and equipment.
Corporations that serve the public
have been wisely and justly regulated
in the public interest, and there is
now saved annually to the people of
the state in their freight bills alone
in specific reduction of interstate
and intra-state freight rates in the
last two years not less than one and
a half million dollars per year-an
amount in excess of the entire ad-
ministration of state government.
Lowest Per Capita Tax in Whole Union
It is not accidental that after six
teen years Of the most notable pro-
gress in the entire history of the
state in all these lines of public effort,
the reports of the United States Cen
sus Department show that our state
government is maintained upon a
payment of taxes by the people of this
state less per capita than that of any
other state in the Union. This result
has been achieved by the Democratic
party being true to its pledges OF
the utmost economy in the admins
tration of public affairs. Public office
in this state is still public trust,
and must be administered with the
utmost fidelity to the public interest.
We find cause Tor congratulation
that we have passed the period Of ap-
prehension that the state revenues
may not be sufficient to meet the nee
essarily increased public needs of
growing State Treasury, under a de-
creased rate of tax levy for solely
state purposes, and we have a bal
ance in the Treasury; that the demand
for an equaliZed basis of taxation has
been conservatively met, and that with
modern inheritance tax statute
large fortunes, in their transmission,
are already contributing substantially
to the states revenues and will in
a large measure take care of the in
creased needs of the state for flu
ture progress. We pledge the party
to a continuation of the policy of
strict economy, and to turning back
into channels of direct benefit to the
people of the state every dollar of
public revenue raised by the state
that is not essential for state admin
istration, for the benefit of public edu-
cation, for state assistance in public
health, and in liberal pensions for the
remaining Confederate soldiers and
widows, and other appropriate chan
nels Of serving and conserving the
public interest We declare and re-
iterate our firm belief in the great
Democratic principle OF strict publicity
in the receipts and expenditures of
all public funds by all state and coun-
ty officials and state institutions so
that every citizen of North Carolina
can easily and intelligently acQuaint
himself with all reasonable informa-
ton pertaining to such receipts and
Of public funds.
We challenge a comparison Of this
clean, progressive, Democratic record
with the Republican record which pre-
coded it-a record too we'll scared
into the minds of the people of this
state to need reviewer with any
previous or future service that can
come from the present
of the Republican Party,
and declare:
Educated Citizenship Goal.
LIST. The development of public edu-
cation has been the chief pride of the !
Democratic party, and nothing less
han an educated citizenship must be |
he goal of our continued and untir
ng efforts Our public school term !
las been increased to a point much
,ounnd the Con stitntinnaI ranuira.