Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1898 — INDIANA DEMOCRATIC [ARTICLE]

INDIANA DEMOCRATIC

PLAT FOB MU UlMlllM Hp*a Which the Democratic Paitf Carry on the Campaign. The lottowing we the resolutions in 101 l adopted unanimously by the oonTentiouc We, the damocraoy oX Indiana, in convention aeeefcbled, now, as always, loyal to oiMT country and our dag, affirm that (he oauM tor which the United States is angaced to war with Spain ie just and We recall with pride the early •Spousal and wilted and persistent support ot this saust by the senators and representatives of the democratic party In congress. ws congratulate the country upon wta universal patriotic uprising which has swept away the last vestige of sectionalism. and revealed us to the world as a united people. We rejoice In the heroic feeds of Dewey, Bagley, Hobson and their brave comrades, which have added now luster to the American name. We demand, now as heretofore, the most vigorous prosecution of the war until it shall have ended to vindication of the national honor, the absolute relinquishment by Spain of possession or control of any part ©; the western hemisphere, and the formal acknowledgment by that kingdom of the independence of the Cuban republic. We favor tbs prompt recognition by the United States of such independence as a war measure, and aS an act of justice to a brave people, struggling for freedom. We urge the immediate increase of the volunteer forces of our army and navy to any extent necessary to assure speedy suid deolslve results, and the appropriation of all the funds requisite for the adequate equipment and support, and for the comfort, of our gallant soldiers and sailors In armed conflict against the publto enemy. The supreme duty of the hour is to relieve the perishing viotfms of Spanish orueMy and secure the complete triumph of the national arms. When this •haU have been accomplished the justice and wisdom of the Amerioan people may be safely trusted to deal with all question* which may grow out of existing complication*, in such a way as best te promote the objects for whioh this republic was founded. We favor such a permanent strengthening of the qavy of the United States and euoh ttnpnvemeiit* of our system of coast defenses as shall assure adequate protection of the country against foreign aggression. Liberal Pensions Advocated. The democratic party of Indiana, now, as in the past, advocates liberal penfltens am well to riie disabled survivors of the Union army hi the civil wv, and their widows and orphans, as to the victims in the present conflict, and those who may bo dependent upon them. Wo bon ir alike the valor of those Who suffered for ihe flag In the gigantic oorvtest of ldtil 05, and of those who have now gone forth to do battle in the cause of liberty and har.ianity. We are th favd? of the construction anl control of the Nicaragua canal by .this government, when its feasibility riia-ll have been determined; but we are opposed to a loan of the national credit to any private oorporation for that purpose. Question of Finance. We reaffirm and emphasize the platform adopted by the national democratic convention of 1896 at Chicago. (Great applause and calls of "Bryan”.) We are in favor of the free and unlimited coinage ot both gold and stiver at the existing ratio •< 18 to 1 (applause), without the aid or *WMa< of any other nation. Ws sm unalterably opposed to the single gold stagard, and we specialty protest •gainst the declared purpose of the present Republican secretary of the treasury of applying that policy more thoroughly. W« believe that the praotioe of the treasury In paying treasury notes in gold only, ft» violation of the law, and in surrendering the option of the government, reserved by th* Statute, to pay in gold or silver, is otolefly responsible for the great money depression now, and for a long period, exiting in this country, is destructive of business enterprise, dangerous to the public credit and the prosperity of the people, and a serious menaoe to the national honor. Income and Inliesitance Tax. _We insist that the wealth of the coun•ry should bear its just share of the public burdens. For that reason we approve the ffiherttaaoe tax reoently adopted through the efforts of the Democrats in congress, and we favor the principle and polioy of an Income tax. The demonetization of silver and the judicial denial of the power to tax inoomee have materially impaired our resources for war purposes. We saver the retmposltlon'of an income tax, so that the question of its validity may be reviewed by the supreme court. Tariff For Revenue. We earnestly reassert the Democratic doctrine that all tariff taxes shall be laid for revenue as their sole object and purpose (applause), and we do at this time especially denounce and condemn the high prohibitory rates of the present Republican tariff, commonly called the Dlngley bill, under the operation of which trusts and aombinations have multiplied, the dost of the necessaries of life has been Increased and the wages of labor have not been advanced, and which has entailed upon the oountry a deficit of many millions, to be made up only by additional taxation in time of war, thus imposing, Ipgtead of a benefit, an onorous burden upon the people of the Uhlted States. Senatorial Flections. Ws reafflra and emphasise our repeated deotenatlona ,n favor of the election of united States senators by the people. Our Tax Law. Ws congratulate the tax-payers of Indi* •na upon the rapid deorease in the stats debt, and beg to remind them that the revenues with which the payments therein have been made and are being made f®*ult from the enforcement of the demo--oratio tax law of 1891, which was enacted £a Democratic legislature over Repubaa opposition and protest, which was assailed by a Republican state convention, denounced by Republican orators and the entire Republican press, but which was sustained In the highest court of the natioa through the efforts of a Democratic attorney-general. Every dollar paid on the state debt by Republican officials is Cumulative evidence of the stupidity, or worse, of the Republican organization in Its bitter opposition to the law which made sush payment possible, and which, since coming into power, they have made ns effort to repeal. Creation of a Sinking Fnnd. We also recall that a Democratic legislature enacted a law creating a sinking fund of 8 cents on the hundred dollars, to be applied exclusively to the extinguishment of the state debt, and that under these laws the Democratic administration of Governor Matthews, to 1898 and 1896, W ttffi pace by reducing the state debt those than two million dollars Australian Ballot System. *he Democratic party feels a just pride to the other great legislative reforms It has accomplished for the people of Ind*gaa and points to their continuing benefit* •• oertaln proof of their wtedom. Wo gall attention to the Australian ballot law, spaetpd against Republican opposition and «lfl having a great purifying effect on mentions, notwithstanding the Republican amendments lessening its safeguards; to the board of state charities law for the toipervisioo and regulation of our penal and charitable Institutional te the school took law, by whioh the great school book ! trqst has bssn driven from ths state, the pries of ths books used in public schools W tow reduced over one-hats and the frequent changes to books, formerly so burdensome to the people and detrimental tp the schools, have been prevented; to the lee and salary law and other great measures of reform which the state of Xhdlana owes to the Democratic party. We call attention to the record of the last wto legislatures, each Republican, to both branohes, which made scarcely a law of material benefit to the people. Both of these legislature were mnrhsfl by corruption and debauchery so saandaloue that even Republican organs were driven to denounce them. They have to theh Credit the Iniquitous speolal verdict law—made In one and repealed in the otherj ihe^presentJssfelaUv? gerrymander, br

vmicn me senate I* given rmy-one mem bers, in violation of the constitution; the anti-trust law, inspired by trust attorneys and purposely made so worthless that Republican state officials dare not attempt to enforce it; an oppressive garnishee law, which undertook to deprive wage-earners of the state of their constitutional right of exemption; and the out rageous partisan measures to extend the term as the appellate judges, county #uj> erintendents and township trustees. Primary Election*. We are earnestly in favor of legislation for the regulation and reform of primarj elections. We recognize Ihe existence of grave de sects in the laws governing counties and townships of this state. We favor a complete and systematic revision of such iaws to the end that public business may be transacted with greater efficiency and economy. We favor such an amendment of the truancy law, which now requires a large and unnecessary expenditure of public moneys, so as to transfer the duties of such officials to township trustees, who shall perform the same without further compensation. Organized Labor. We sincerely sympathize with organized labor In its efforts to adjust differences between the employer and employe. We denounce the incorporated trusts which have overcome these efforts by cruel and unjust methods and we favo- a system of equal and disinterested arbitration as a means of adjustment of such differences. We take prj.de in the long list of laws enacted by Democratic legislature for the benefit of tl>e workingmen of the state, including the eight-hour labor law, the law prohibiting "pluck-mc-stores,” the repeal of the infamous Republican intimidation laws, the law prohibiting the importation of Pinkertons, the law prohibiting "blacklisting,” the miners’ law providing ror the proper ventilation of mines and the use of honest weights and screens; the law protecting workingmen In the right to organize for mutual defense; the co-employes’ liability law; the mechanics’ lien law; the law prohibiting the forced collection of fees from employee of railroad corporations to sustain company hospitals, restaurants, etc/; the law guaranteeing the civil rights of all citizens, and the law prohibiting the importation of paupers and aliens undor contract into the state who have no purpose of becoming citizens thereof. We demand a more thorough enforcement of the elght-diour and other laws in the interest of labor by the public officials charged with that duty. We are opposed to the contract labor system In prison, bat we believe that to maintain oonvicts In Idleness is inhuman and unjustly burdensome to tho people We believe some plan should be devised for the profitable utilization of their labor without bringing It into competition with free labor. The projects for Its employment under the public account system, or in the construction of a ship canal connecting Lake Michigan with the Wabash river, or In some other enterprise of great public-utility should be carefully considered, and that plan which promises the best results and is open to the fewest objections should be adopted by the next legislature. We approve the child labor and factory inspection law, and favor such amendments to the same as shall render it mora effective. We adhere firmly to the teachings and practice of the Democratic party in favor of the largest measure of personal liberty consistent with public security and social order. We are opposed to all project? of legislative Interference with or regulation of matters which lie within the domain of individual judgment and conscience. Bryan and Turpls Indorsed. We express our undiminished confidence In William Jenings Bryan (loud applause), our peerless leader in the national campaign of 18S6, and we note with much gratification his patriotic) course in leading to the defense of his country a regiment of cjtizen soldiers. (Applause.) We indorse the record of our distinguished senator, the Hon. David Turpie, who, by his able and eloquent championship of Democratic principles and measures, his sturdy devotion to the interests of the people, his uncompromising v, rfare upon extravagance and jobbery, advocacy of great reforms, sudh as f’ e popular election of United States senait rs, and his warm espousal of the cause of Cuban independence, has justified the confidence which the Indiana democracy has reposed in him. Tribute to Dan el To.orbees. Whereas, Since the meeting of the laat state convention we have suffered an irreparable less in the death of the Hon. Daniel W. Voorhees, late a senator of the United States, one who had faithfully served the people, the state and the country, for many years in the highest official station, we deplore, with profound sorrow, his departure from the scene of his great achievements, and shall always cherl?h hts memory with the most sincere regard, reverence and admiration. Changing Couvoatjo.a I'iace. Chairman Merss then read a resolution, adopted unanimously by the committee, declaring that in the future th< Democratic conventions should be held in the various cities of the state ca pable of entertaining them, which was adopted without protest. Also a resolution declaring the rooster to be the emblem of the party was adopted.