Democratic Platform

The platform adopted by the Democratie state convention reafHrms the' Chicago platform, favors a vigorous prosecution of the war with Spain in the interests of the nation, congratulates the nation on the volunteer troops, and especially those from Michigan, favors equality in taxation and insiste that corporations and accumulated vteaJth should bear their just share of taxation, favors the initiative, endorses Congressmen Brucker and Todd and says: "We cali attention to the fact that when the Democratie party came into powt-r in this state in 1891, for the first time ín many years, it promptly inauguratet measures looking to the equal and just taxation of railroad and other corporations. It passed a law compelling railroads to carry passengere at 2 cents per mile, which has been sustained by the Supreme court of the state: it established a franchise fee for corporations, which has produced large reveirues; it restricted the right of consolidaron of competing railroads; it inaug-urated the flrst Australian ballot law ever enacted in the state, designed to prtvent the coerción of the votes of wtrkingmen by corporate agents; it enacted the first practical and effective law for the protection of mechanics' Hens; it repealed the law which practically exempted mining compañías from taxaikn, and compelled them to pay their ;ast share of taxes. "It introduced business methods in all branches of the state government by which the people were better served at much less expense than any prior or subí?ír;uent administration. "We promise a continuance oL this work. We believe and confidently assert that the record of the Republican party in this state precludes its support Of any measures not satisfactory to the combinations of capital, which have teen the chief development of its policy. "We demand the passage of state laws which shall keep the control of corporate action at all times in the hands of the people, and place a limit to permissable extortion by lixing a maximum charge for freignt and passenger service, and compel recognition. of the public rights by the holder of every franchise. "We demand a strict supervisión of telegraph, telephone, express and other corporations similar privileges, that their charge for service shall be held within reasonablo limits and the rights of patrons vigorously prottcted. 'We condemn the Republiean party of Michigan lor its machine methods, and its subserviency to corporate wealth, by which in the last legislature it controlled the state señale and through whieh it boasted that ia the future all attempts to equalize taxes or impose just burdens upon corporations shall be defeated. We appeal to the people of this state to select a Democratie legislature in both branches and ihus guarantee reforms on these tmpcirtant questions."