Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1914 — Party Platform Adopted by Democrats in the State Convention Thursday [ARTICLE]

Party Platform Adopted by Democrats in the State Convention Thursday

The democracy of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, remembering the great responsibility cast upon the democratic party of the nation by the overwhelming voice of the people at the last national election, points, with supreme pride and satisfaction, to the record of its achievements within the first year of its accession to power, as without a parallel in history of the prompt and complete f ulfill merit of the party’s pledges to the people; Wilson Praised. Succeeding to national power or the 4th of last March, under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson, by diligent effort, within less than i single year, it relieved the people cf the excessive burdens of an unj Ist and oppressive system of indirect taxation, upon the coni forts and n - cessities of life, placed upon them by the persistent and repeated acts of the republican party, at the behest of a combination of private interests of insatiable and unconscionable demands. Currency Bill. Undismayed by the repeated failures of the republican party to provide any measure of substantial relief from the disastrous effects of periodical monetary stringencies, with a resolute determination to relieve active business of this interruption, the democratic administration has enacted a measure, the first in the history of our government, designed to furnish the people with an elastic volume of sound currency, based upon the commercial assets of banks, to be issued under the supervision, control and protection of the national government. Pledges Redeemed. We, therefore, heartily commend the untiring zeal and ceaseless labors of President Wilson, Vice-Presi-dent Marshall, and the democrauc members of" congress in both the senate and the house, for the prompt and faithful manner in which they redeemed the solemn pledges made by the party to the people in the Baltimore platform of 191 2, and express the greatest confidence that when the present session of congress shall have terminated, a record of sound, sagacious and beneficial legislation, unsurpassed in the annals of congress, will have, been accomplished. < Mexican Situation. President Wilson havihg demonstrated the ability to deal wisely with all questions coricerning the domestic affairs of the people of the United States, and its relations with foreign nations, we are content to trust him arid his secretary of state, Mr. Bryan, to deal with the unfortunate situation in Mexico. believing that they will exercise the same wisdom and foresight tb<at they have demonstrated with reference to other matters concerning the interests of the people Of the United States. Indorse Shively and Kern. We cordially indorse the records of Senators Shively and Kern in the senate, arid of our solid democratic delegation in the house of representatives; we especially commend them for having given the president' their unanimous, support ih his efforts to redeem in good faith the party’s obligations to the people. Upholds Ralston. We commend with pride and satisfaction the administration of our state affairs by Governor Ralston and his associates in office; and we approve the firm, yet considerate manner in which the laws of the state have been upheld and enforced.

Republican Extravagance, y Mindful of the state’s financial em hurras-nient visited upon the commonwealth by an extended rule of republican extravagance and maladministration, we coin mend this ad-> ministration s policy jp relieving; this enjharjrassmeht.;' without any prolonged increase in the public' CVbt. . . . ' | State I'inani <-*. I The disastrous financial mi-man- 1 ag < •:!: en t■ o ‘ pa -1 . rep lic;in .adm ini stratiqns not only injured the credit o the state, but serjoiisiy affected the efficiency of the statesi educational and benevolent institutions, and we heartily approve the administ ration of Governor Ralston in its business policy in the treatment of 11 «-.-e great institutions,particularly in providing funds for their support and placing them upon a business basis. Dcipocrats Have Paid Debts. I When Governor Marshall assumed oJ'i< e in 1'909. following sixteen years! of republican rule in Indiana, be found the financial policy of the; state unwise and unbusinesslike. He also found the state senate and all of-the state's administrative offices; under republican control. He founds that the republicans had diverted, the 3 cents sinking fund for three years to the payment of current ex-’ penses and the state was then work-’ ing under a republican law that per- 1 milted the sinking fund to be used ' to pay current ex|»en.ses. The demo-' cratic legislature Of 111 provided ’ that the sinking furid should be held ! sacred for the payment of the bonded • debt pf the state. The all-democra-i tic administration has paid $520,000, of the bonded debt and $103,000 of; the state board of agricultural’s Coliseum indebtedness, or a total of $623,000 of the state debt. In fact, every dollar of the state debt paid In the last twenty years has been paid under a democratic law I and the democratic administration, will pay the entire $280,000 of the< balance due on the foreign debt of[ the stale l»e'ore the first day of January, 191.7. The democratic leg-, islature. of 1915 will eliminate the sinking fund tax and this will reduce the taxes of the state $300,000 per year. ' , - J J Recommend Arbitration Board. We favor an act creating a board] which will provide fdr mediation, conciliation and arbitration in con-1 troversies between employers and. their employes, and we recommend} the enactment of a law similar to the; federal law on this subject. Enforce Workingmen's Lavs. We pledge a rieid enforcement of the laws that have been enacted in t he interest and for the protection of railroad employes qnd all other employes and wage earners of the state. Primary Elections Favored. We declare in favor of a state- j wide primary election law. carefully guarded as to simplicity and. econ"my. at which the people shall nominate all candidates for office; that all the provisions o' the corrupt practice ac". and general election law's shall be made to apply to such primary election—the state convention to be retained for . the purpose of counsel, organization and declaration of party principles, and precede the nominating primaries. Commend General Assembly. We commend the last general assembly for. its prompt response to the demands of the people for beneficial and up-to-date legislation. In obedience to thia demand it enacted many laws for the benefit of all of

the people, among which may be nientiomsl the laws creating the I'ubiic Service Commissionj providing for vocational education; the ani I i-hog cholera law ; the inheritance tax; law; the housing law; the law regulating loan sharks; tike new registration act, and the.law providing for the appointment of a county agent to act under the supervision of Biirdue University in disseminating practical information among those engaged in agriculture. I’ubiic Service CoiiiniLssion. We especially commend the legisiat ure tor the ♦uiaclinent of the Bublie Service Com mission act. The wisdom Of such eiiactment has already been vindicated. We approve 11.«? course of the Public Service Commission in the administration, of this act and pledge the people of the state that this law shall ‘be maintained in its integrity. The result of tilt- appllcjition of its broad generiil pro; ision. w ill prove a financial benefit to tiie people <’! the state and will estalilish equitable and just relations bet we« n the utilities andi the ii; ars of. their services. Favor Compensation Act. Ihe general welfare demands t‘he enactnient of a workmenV compensation law in conformity with the humane spirit of the age. Amending Constitution. We approve the action ol the last general assembly in making provision that the people may declare whether they desire a convention to frame a new constitution for Indiana. Local Option Plank. We recognize the right of the people to regulate the social and moral conditions of their own communities and their right to say whether intoxicating liquors shall be sold In their own city or township, and that the d«*<-.’sion of the majority shall bind all. A democratic legislature has recognize that right and provided for an expression of the will of the majority, and we approve that la W. ■. . - Regulate Liquor Traffic. We also approve the action of the same legislature in the enactment ol a law providing for a stricter regulation of the liquor traffic. We demand a rigid and impartial enforcement of this law/ tpd we again deciare afkinst the repeal or modification of tho present remonstrance laws. ; f Flood Prevention. The disastrous floods of 1913 resulted in a tremendous loss of life ?na property in the state. The value o: the property destroyed runs far into the millions, the real amount of which can npveri be estimated. The danger of a recurrence of these floods is a constant menace to the property, lives, health and comfort of the citizens of the state. The local authorities have been endeavoring to find ways anu means for the prevention of these disasters, but existing laws are wholly inadequate to meet the situation. This being a subject which affects the state generally, we believe that legislation should be enacted by the next general assembly which would enable the state to join with local authorities in the improvement of water ways, the construction of levees and such other means as will prevent a repetition of these flood uisasters. Better ivoads. Good roads are of supreme importance to the general welface of the state. .Indiana neeus better roads and better roau maintenance. We commend Governor Ralston in his determination to appoint a nonpartisan committee to stuuy, without expense to the state, our roads and road lavs to the end that legislation may be enacted by the next general assembly, providing for the better construction, supervision and maintenance of our public highways.