The Democratic Platform

The democrats of Michigan control] ed the state in the era of honesry anc economy in state affairs which preced ed the war. Since that period the demoorats were in control in Miohigan for bnt two short years, coming in power in 1891. That short Winans adxainistration was one to be prood of. What the deruoorats then did is thus told in the Grand Rapids platform : "We oall attention to the faot that when the democratie party carne into power in tnis state in 1891 for the first time in many years, it promptly inaagnrated measnres looking to the equal and jnst tasation of railroad and other corporations. It passed a law compeling railroads to carry passengers at two cents per niile, which has been snstained by the sopreme conrt of the state ; it established a franchise fee for corpoiations, whiob bas prodnced large revenues ; it restricted the right of consolidation of competing railroads; it inangnrated the first Australian ballot law ever enacted in the state, designed to prevent the coerción of the votes of workingmen by ccirporate agents; it enactd the first practical and effeotive law for the protection of mechanics' liens; it repealed the law whioh practically exempted mining companies from taxation, and compelled them to pay their jnst sbare of taxes It introduoed bnsiness methods in all branches of tbe state government by which the people weie bet-ter served at rnnch less expense than any prior or subseqnent administration. " So mnch for past performance. For the future tbe promises are as good. They can best be told in the words of the platform : "We promise a cnntinuance of this work. We believe and confidently assert that the record of the republican party in this state preolndes its support of any measnres not satisfactory to the combinations of capital which have been the chief developroent of its policy. We demand the passage of state laws wbich shall keep the control of corporate action at all times in the hands of tbe people, and place a limit to permissible extortion by fixing a maximum charge for freighr and passenger service, and compel recognition of the pnblio rights by the holder of every franchise. Wo demand a strict Bopervision of telegrapb, telephone, express and other corporations neing similar privileges, that their charges for services shall be held within reasonable limits, and the rights of patrons vigoroosly proteoted. "We condenan the repnblican party of Michigan for its machine methods and its snbserviency to corporate wealth by which, in the last legislature, it con trolled the state sena te and throagh which it boasted that in the fnture all attempts to eqnalize taxes or impose jnst bnrdene upon oorporations shall be defeated ; we appeal to the people of the state to select a democratie legislatnre in both branches, and thus gnarantee reforms on those important qnestions. " The democratie party may well be proud of their candidato for governor, Jnstin R. Whiting, of St. Clair. He is a brainy man, an honest man, a man of clear oonvictions and he is a democrat of long standing in the party who has done excellent servioe in oongress. If electors made it a rnle to vote for the best qualified man for the office of governor, Jnstin E. Whiting would have an overwhelming majority in November. That the democratie campaign in Michigan this year will not be a mere formal matter is clearly indicated by the selection of Daniel J. Campan as the cbairman of the state committee. Mr. Campaa is a geniosas an organizar and will throw experience and push into tbe oampaign. The United States has been doing a great bnsiness with Europe dnring the past year. For the eleven montbs ending May 31, our exporta were $1,135,485,618. This is an increase of $400,000,000 in foor years.