The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-04
TEXT OF PLATFORM
Which DEMOCRATS
OFFER TO PEOPLE
Pledges Support to Ticket, Gov
eminent Cost Cut, Aid to
Agriculture


has always taken the position that
the basic industry of this country is
agriculture and that agriculture Is
the fountain-head Of our whole eco
nonic structure; opposed to this con-
cept is that of the directors of the
policy of the Republican party who
continually minimize the Importance
of agriculture and magnify the i'm
portance of manufacturing, conf
merce and their allied financial in
terestS.
THE failure of agriculture to give
its whole-hearted support to its adj
vocate and champion, the Democra-
tic party, has been detrimental both
to agriculture and to manufacturing
and commerce and to the country as
a whole.
Intelligent self-interest demands
that the people of this agricultural
state lend their political support to
the party that views agriculture as
our basic industry and not as an un-
important industry that is more of
burden than help to the general
welfare.
1.-THE political and economic policy
Of the leaders of the Republican par
ty has resulted in the impoverish-
ment of the people of our state to
the point where, to support through
taxation even the bare essentials of
government is an almost unbearable
financial burden. At this time of
grave financial distress we find our
taxpayers burdened with the support
of state commissions, boards and bu-
reaus and find that the functions of
our state government have been
otherwise increased to the point
where our people are virtually being
denied the right of local self-gov-
eminent and the tax burden neces-
sary to support this expanded and
ever expanding state government
threatens the loss Of the very homes
Of our people through tax sale.
Comes With Clean Hands
I'm view of this situation, and real
izing that it is the one party organ
ization in the state that can, with
clean hands. come to the relief of
our harassed taxpayers, the Demo-
cratic party of North Dakota does
hereby offer relief and leadership on
the following platform
1--WE unreservedly endorse the can
didacy of the honorable Franklin D.
Roosevelt, and Honorable John N.
Garner for vice president, and the
entire national platform adopted at
Chicago. We direct special attention
to that part of the platform which
relates to the rehabilitation of agri-
culture. Governor Roosevelt stands
for the immediate refinancing of
agriculture with the same vigor that
the Republicans have shown to re-
lieve the banker, railroads and insur-
once companies. Governor Roosevelt
believes that the secretary of agri-
culture should be a person sympath-
etic with and conversant with the
problems of agriculture. He has eX-
pressed himself as heartily in favor
OF appointing men who understand
and are in sympathy with the great
agricultural interests of our country
as members of farm loan boards and
other boards dealing with farm fl
nance and farm problems. This in
dehtedness of the farm and the home
owner must be refinanced, and that
on basis that will instill hope in the
heart Of the debtor. We further en-
dorse the candidates. of p. w. La
nier for U. S. senator. w. d. Lynch
and r. B. Murphy for members OF
congress, H. G. DePuy for governor
and the remainder of the state ticket,
knowing these men are whole-heart-
edly behind Governor Roosevelt and
the entire Democratic platform.
Would Cut to Minimum
2 We declare that the activities
OF our state government should be
Immediately reduced to the absolute
minimum
g. Where public regulation or SUI
pervlsion Is necessary, we declare
that, as far as possible. such regula-
ton and supervision should be per-
formed by the duly elected county
and municipal officers and not
through commissions, boards and bu-
reaus of the state government.
4. The multiplications of state
laws has kept pace with the growing
lneffectivenesS of government and We
declare the policy of the Democratic
party to be to discourage the enact
ment OF new laws and to encourage
the legislature to exert itself towards
the repeal Of unnecessary expense
producing laws now on our statute
books and toward the elimination oil
the many antiquities and conflicts
now found In our statutes and which
are the cause of much confusion.
IS. We declare that the substitu-
ton of boards, commissions, and bu
reaus for the courts in the settlement
Of disputes involving property right;
is inimical to the best interests of the
individual citizens and should be dis
couraged.
"6. We favor the distribution Of
the burden of taxation SO as to re-
lieve tangible, real and personal prop
erty from the confiscatory burden
that is cast upon it under the present
system, and urge our legislative body
to labor toward the attainment OF
that end. We particularly urge the
legislative body to give immediate
consideration to the proposition Of
diverting and pro-rating to the schoo
districts of the state funds now ralsec
through income and indirect taxa
ton, so as to assure the maintenance
OF our public school system.
Raps Wholesale Initiative
~. Until such time as agricul
ture is re-habilitated and reason
able degree Of prosperity attained BY
our people. the general policy of thu
state government should be, as far a.
possible, to dispense with all activitie!
Of government that are not neces
sary.
e. We disapprove Of the wholesale
submission at general election Of mi
tiated measures covering q variety o
subjects, such as was recently pro
posed by the Republican candidat,