New Britain herald., 1924-09-19
A PLATFORM CALL FOR POPULAR REFORMS.

a ILAllOltN CALL FOR
 POPULAR REFORMS.
 What the late ex-Presdent Roose welt called ''weasel words" are en- tirely lacking in the platform evolved at the Democratic state convention at Hartford. Although platforms as such are not as highly esteemed by the general public as they once were, circumstances alter cases ifI the platform actually tackles issues in unequivocal language, does not bury some public matters that weigh heavily upon the public mind, or does not serve merely as a. vehicle for partizan bombast.
 The platform of the Hartford con- vention is composed of short, easily understood blanks which leave noth- ing to the imagination, nor give pol itical eXpediency an opportunity later to protrude its annoying presence in- to the psrty's campaign. The major issues, and others which deserve at tention, are succinctly and forceful- iy stated. The platform well earns the designation of being "construc- five and liberal"
 That the operation of the state public utilities commission is not entirely satisfactory is indicated in the adoption of the strong blanks calling for the election of the con- missions members by popular vote. The Republicans should also be in favor of this change as the state c. o. P. platform adopts the princi- pie of voting on ratification of con- .stitutional amendments in the belief that they would be harder to ratify than if left to the legislature. Vot- ing on utility members would not be a more radical change. Both meth- ods should be incorporated into the state laws; the one would produce utility commissions more responsive to popular demands and the other would enable the people to instruct the legislature as to the ratification of federal amendments, as is the case in Massachusetts,
 The convention named the Ku KIux Klan and condemned it as un- American.
 In tackling the so-called rotten borough system" it is stressed that one-siXth of the people of the state elect two-thirds of the house and 40 per cent. of the people elect a ma jority of the senate. The Republi- can party is in favor of this undem- ocratic system because it enables the state machine to hold it's power in the legislature. The Democratic party is against the system because it robs the majority of citizens of ade- uuate representation.
 Repeal of the gasoline tax is again favored. This matter has been grow ing in importance because of the unnecessary burden inflicted upon automobile taxpayers, which in eludes nearly every family. The state doesn't need the money In 1922, the first year the tax was ln- flicted, it yielded $44S,1O2,51 to the state; last year it yielded S765,- sSs.51; this year it will yield close to a million dollars. As the G, o. P. boasts of the improved condition of state finances, due in large measure to the elaborate exercise of taxation, the gasoline tax could well be dropped, fin the opinion of the Dem ocrats. They point to Massachusetts as failing to inflict such a tax, al- though the state possesses a greater mileage of improved highways.
 The gasoline tax is one of those indirect taxes which are superim- posed upon the regular taxes and which enables the state machine to point with pride to the low direct tax per capita in the state: when in reality, if all the indirect taxes were added the tax rate would be high Ii is reflected in the cost of living In the state.
 The plank on welfare legislation for women demands 44-hour work ing week in industry, minimum wage and maternity insurance. Women of the state will take particular in- terest in this effort to provide hu- mane Legislation for their benefit Better legislation to protect children in industry is also a plank that VIII anneal to women. Ratification of the. proposed child labor amend ment to the constitution is favored
 The effort to prevent further ex- ploitation of natural resources with special emphasis on the conservation of water power. should particularly