Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-08-12

The Democratic state platform
adopted late Wednesday night by the
Democratic state convention, at Park
ersburg, one of the strongest political
instruments ever adopted in the state,
is as follows, in full:
Introduction.
President Wilson, in q very re
cent address delivered in the city of
Washington, said in effect that he
was only interested in a political
party as an instrument of service to
all the people.
1.-THE Democratic party of West Nir
ginia, in Convention assembled de
clares this view of the function of a
political party to be thoroughly sound
and fundamentals Democratic. A
political party should be a means to
an end, and that end good govern
ment. When control of a political
party is seized by leaders who,
through greed and arrogance, come
to think they are the party, and even
the state itself. and to substitute
service to themselves for service to
the people, il ceases to be a real par
ty and degenerates into a personal
faction. political machine, extorting
from the people a heavy tribute Of
taxes to keep itself in power.
Twenty years ago the Republican
party came into power in this state,.
and as early as twelve years ago therd.
was unmistakable evidence that it
was ceasing to be real party and
becoming an instrument of cunning
self-seekers. This degeneracy has.
grown into a despotism that is gall
ing to Republicans as Well as Demo
Gratis, and reaching the summit of ar
rogance under the present admins
tration, has, by ballot frauds and cor
rupt practices, destroyed self-goyern-
ment in the state.
HeIpIessness of Independents,
Courageous attempts have been
made within the party to stop this
evil thing, but the helplessness OF the
independent Republicans was demon
strated in the recent primary, when,
led by a brilliant campaigner, backed
by a thorough organization bitterly
lighting the entreLched machine at
the time of that machines most OBJ
noxious leadership. they were unable
to free themselves. II they really
won, as many think, their victory
was barren of results, as it always
will be while the machine controls
courts and primaries.
1T is plain to all who want TO see
that the honest Republicans Of the
state cannot clean house without the
help of the Democratic party. for the
same old crowd o. oiIiceholders VIII
name the Republican ticket in 1871
and 1924. regardless of the party viii,
lust as they did this year. So the
Democratic party frankly asks all
such independent Republicans to non
with US. az least for this campaign
IN what is really nonpartisan flght
TO drive trcm power this selfish rae
tional machine that is just as offen-
sive to Republicans as to Democrats
eve offer YOU state. candidates,
Who. if elected, win not build up a
personal machine, or even Demo
cratic machine, but will serve the
whole people Of the state every day
of their official lives. and if success
ful we pledge ourselves among other
things TO provide for genuine ade-
ouate and honest registration Of vot-
ers. to pass a corrupt practice act
with teeth in it. and to permit all
marty organization now existing OF
hereafter organized, to participate on
equal terms in fair. open elections
10 the end that if we do not give
the state good and satisfactory gov
eminent. there shall be no partisan
barrier on tile statute books to pre-
vent our rebuke by an untrammelled
expression OF the public judgment
The State Machine and High
Taxes.
1.-THE cost of machine politics mas
increased taxes in this state until the
ownership Of property is almost pen
allied. \ and if the system continues
il viii soon be Impossible TO bring a
dollar OF outside capital into the
state. We pledge the people 10 stop
the expense Of useless Offices toat
have been created to strengthen the