THE PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM OF NEBRASKA DEMOCRACY ' We, the democrats of Nebraska iri state convention assembled, send greetings to the democrats of the nation and congratulate them upon the good results at the Baltimore convention in the nom ination of Woodrow Wilson for president and Thomas R. Marshall for vice-president, and in the adoption of a good thoroughly pro gressive platform. We hereby express our unqualified approval of the nominees and of the platform. We point with pride to the leadership Nebraska's democracy has taken during the past eighteen years under the guidance of William J. Bryan. ,We congratulate the democrats of the nation that they had in Nebraska's distinguished citizen a man who dared defy the ele ments that had wrecked the republican party and that sought at Baltimore the destruction -of the democratic party; that with su perb courage he challenged the right of those elements to dominate in democratic convention and stood for what he believed to be the interest of "the folks at home;" that through his leadership the convention "at Baltimore was transformed from what at one time seemed to be a reactionary gathering into a real democratic conven tion with real democratic candidates standing upon a genuine dem ocratic platform. We cordially approve Mr. Bryan's course at Bal timore and we heartily commend him for the course he adopted, and we congratulate him upon the magnificent victory. We approve the work of the democratic house of representa tives, and we heartily Commend the Nebraska democratic delegation in either, branch of congress for' their faithfnl efforts to represent in the votes they have cast the democratic sentiment in Nebraska. We invite attention to the fact that there are important prob lems of state government, and we pledge the best efforts of demo cratic members of the legislature and other democratic officials to the solution of these problems by the way of constructive legislation. We favor the adoption of the proposed constitutional amend ments providing for the initiative and referendum. We favor the adoption of the proposed constitutional amend ment giving to eities of more than 5,000 population the privilege of framing their own charters consistent with the constitution and laws of the state. We favor the adopt oin of the proposed constitutional amend ment providing for a board of control for the government of state institutions, and we promise that the democratic governor will ap point as members of the state board men upon whose integrity and capability the people may rely for economical and businesslike con duct of all the affairs of the state institutions. We favor zealous guardianship of the right of the state to reg ulate common carriers with relation to interstate commerce. We favor the passage of a law having for its purpose the abo lition of vote trading, commonly called "log rolling" in the legis lature. We favor a law requiring the governor to make public the names of all persons who petition him, either verbally or in writ ing, to approve or veto an5' measure. We commend the last democratic legislature for the passage of the Ollis stock yards bill, and we promise such further regulation of stock yards as the public welfare may require. We promise the faithful enforcement of the anti-lobby law to the end that such a law shall no longer be a dead letter upon the statute book. We favor the enactment of a law creating a state highway com mission in order to help systematize road construction and thereby further the good roads movement. We favor the eight-hour day for all toilers, especially in the case of state and municipal work.. Our state is rich in natural resources not yet developed, a con dition due to the lack of public knowledge of such wealth. "We therefore favor a liberal appropriation by the legislature for the purpose of giving publicity to the state's resources. We favor the enactment of a law directing and empowering the state, and to limit the earning power of such corporations to accounts of all public service corporations doing business within the state, and to limit the earnig power of such corporations to reasonable proportion of the capital invested. We recognize in the merger of the telephone companies of the state an effort to establish a complete telephone monopoly. We promise that our member of the railway commission will do every thing in his power to see that the telephone business is properly regulated and that rates charged for telephone service are reason able. We further promise such additional legislation as may be necessary to protect the interests of the users of telephones in Ne braska.l We deplore the needless delay in the disposition of controver sies throughout the courts of the state, and especially that of the supreme court, and pledge our candidates to the legislature, if elected, to support such measures and endeavor to crystalize into law an act of the legislature which will result in. the speedier dis position of cases in the higher courts of the state, and at the same time safely guard the rights of litigants. Nebraska's awkward and inequitable taxation system should be replaced by a twentieth century method. We favor, therefore, taxation reform by separation of the sources of the state and local revenues, thus giving to counties and towns the privilege of enjoying- the taxes from purely local valuations. Land held for purely speculative purposes and without improvements ought to carry a larger share of taxation than it now bears. To this end we promise to submit to the vote of the people a proposed constitutional amendment enlarging the powers of the legislature with respect to the enactment of the taxation system, and then provide for the selection of a commission whose business it will be to investigate and report for the consideration of the legis lature its idea of the taxation system best suited to Nebraska's pe culiar needs. We favor insurance reforms for "old line" as well as fraternal companies. We favor automatic benefit in ease of lapse of policy after three annual premiums have been paid. Securities in which insurance reserves are invested should be deposited with the state for the protection of the policy holder, and the initiative arid referendum should be given to fraternal organiza tions for the protection of the rank and file. , Recognizing the growing demand for scientifically trained teachers to the end that the best results may be realized from the vast sums of money annually expended for the maintenance of our public schools, we favor liberal appropriations for our four state normal schools and for normal training in the high schools. We point with pride and approval to the fact that the last two' demo cratic legislatures appropriated more money for ' the permanent equipment of normal schools than had been before expended for like purpose during the entire history of the state. We pledge our selves anew to the support of these institutions commensurate with their growth and demands. We point with pride to our state university and agricultural' college and favor liberal appropriation for institutions. We denounce the usurpation of power on the part of the .fed eral judiciary, as shown by the decision of Judge Daniel Thew Wright of the District of Columbia, wherein he sentences to impris onment sueh champions of the wage earners of the nation as Samuel Gompers and John Mitchell for daring to exercise the perogatives of free speech. And we-call upon Nebraska's representatives in congress to investigate the record of this procedure with a view to the judge's impeachment. We favor a just working man's compensatory law and pledge the passage of such a measure by a democratic legislature. We favor the enactment of a law prohibiting any person or firm engaged in the sale or manufacture of intoxicating liquors from contributing money or valuable things to any person or or ganization, or to any contest where the question of liquor is in volved. The penalty for a violation of this law shall -be forfeiture of license and fine. We pledge the best efforts of democratic members of the leg islature and all other democratic officials to the following described policies with respect to state government: . Reservation for the people of control over the water power pro vided by Nebraska rivers arid the leasing of rights with supervision Over t.hft rAtpS thfl.t. flrA Hp Ttniri hv nneiiTncra nf 4-liic! TMMirfti. ,A "blue sky" law patterned after the Kansas law and re quiring investment schemes to undergo examination by the state board. ' , Prison reform with the abolition of the prison contract, the es tablishment of a binding twine factory, for the more desperate men, anu me purcnase 01 a large iarm ior tne training in agriculture, horticulture and manual training of those prisoners who are willing to be helped to an improved view of life. ' " The dependent wives and children of the inmates of the state prison should not be derived entirely of a father's or husband's earning power, but a certain portion of the regular hire, as well as overtime earnings of the prisoner having a mother, wife or child dependent upon his labor, should be devoted to the support of those innocent people. f JOHN H. MOREHEAD. John II. Morehead, democratic candidate for governor, was born in Iowa, upon a farm. He attended district school and worked as a farm hand until he was old enough and far enough advanced to enter a business college. He worked his way through the busi ness college, then came to Ne braska. About al he had when he crossed the Misonri river to the sundown side was health, strength and a determination to succeed honestly and fairly. He found work as a farm hand, theu secured a certificate and taught country school for a year or two, and having saved up a little money engaged in the general merchandise business at Barada, Richardson county. In business he was successful, and he invest ed his money in land and en gaged in fanning and stock rais ing. Although now classed as a banker, Mr. Morehead gives more attention to his farm and live ' live stock enterprises than to banking. While engaged in business at Barada he was nominated for county treasurer by the democrats,' and to everybody's surprise but his own was elected the first democrat elected to office in that county. Two years later he was re-elected by, a greatly increased majority.' In 1910 he was nominated for state senator, and he again broke a record, being the first democrat ever elected to the state senate from that district. He was made president pro tern of that body and served with credit. Mr. Morehead served two terms as mayor of Falls City, and in 1908 was a delegate to the democratic national convention. He has always .given his hearty support to Mr. Bryan ( in every campaign, and advocated the re form' policies which have made Nebraska democracy famous throughout the nation. Last spring he was nominated for governor by the democracy of the state. - Mr. Morehead makes no pretense of being an orator. He is a level-headed business man who believes that it is the duty of the state's chief .executive to conduct the state's affairs on strict busi ness lines insisting upon a dollar's worth of service for every dol lar paid, and select public servants because of their ability to per form their duties instead of because of purely partisan service. He is thoroughly committed to the political reforms outlined in the democratic state platform. He was fighting for reform when some who are now so loudly protesting their progressiveness were well known sa corporation tools. With other progressive men he labored successfully to give the state a workable initiative and referendum law, a board of control for the state institutions, a non-partisan ju diciary which measure was vetoed by his opponent for the office of governor and other reforms. If Nebraska wants a chief execu tive who will be a Chautauqua attraction instead of a business over seer, Mr. Morehead is not the man. If Nebraska wants a level headed, successful business man to manage the state's business af fairs, Mr. Morehad is the man for the position. He will be on the job all the time, giving it his best attention. WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION. The Shelton Clipper is a republican paper that was once edited by a gentleman who would scorn to misstate facts, and who was above willful misrepresentation of any man. That there has been a change is readily observed by those who have had occasion to note the Shelton Slipper of late. In a recent issue the Clipper said : "Mr. Morehead 's political record is enough to satisfy and pro gressive in the country as to his brand of democracy and progres sion. In every vital instance when a vote in the body of which he was a member he east his lot, not with the people for a better ment of civic governmental conditions, but with the special interests." It is true that Mr. Morehead 's senatorial record, as well as his record as a private citizen, marks him as progressive enough to satisfy any. honest, and thoughtful progressive who really studies the records of men. It is not true that Mr. Morehead cast his lot with the "special interests" to the abandonment of the interests of the people. The record proves the contrary. Mr. Morehead ad vocated and voted for the initiative and referendum. He voted for the constitutional amendment providing for a board of control of the state institutions. He voted, against the attempted grab of Governor Aldrich, who sought an illegal appropriation to pay the grocery bills of the executive mansion. He voted for liberal appro priations for agricultural extension and other educational purposes. He voted for the bills safeguarding the life and limb of men and women- working for wages in mills and factories and upon public buildings. When the present editor of the Shelton Clipper was be ing pinned up instead of buttoned up, John H. Morehead was fight ing for progressive principles. He was advocating and fighting for many of the things that so-called republican progressives have just discovered long before the present editor of the Clipper was out of short pants, and long before" Theodore Roosevelt had discovered the Ten Commandments or repealed that one of the ten which for bids the bearing of false witness. The Clipper says "Mr. Morehead is a nice old gentleman who has accumulated a fortune in the banking business." Mr. More head is a comparatively young man, his fortune is not large, and he made most of what he has out of farming and stock raising. Other wise the Clipper comes near to the truth in its quoted statement. The Clipper further says that "Mr. Morehead was picked up by the interests a year ago to be the democratic nominee for governor, and although he spent a small fortune on his own primary cam paign, the interests went him one better in their support arid left not a stone unturned." It is the easiest thing in the world to make false statements; much easier than to investigate and tell the truth ; and the Shelton Clipper, under its present management, chooses the easier way. Will Maupin's Weekly first mentioned Mr. Morehead 's name in connection with the governorship. This news paper advocated his nomination because its editor has known John II. Morehead for more than a quarter of a century! He knows Mr. Morehead to be a clean,, progressive arid enterprising citizen; a man of unquestioned integrity, a successful business man who never wronged man, woman or child; who is as free from corpora tion control as any business ' man in Nebraska ; who worked his own way up from the bottom without ever having had a dollar given him, and without ever having taken a dollar wrongfully. Mr. Morehead filed a sworn statement of his primary expenses, and if what the Clipper says is not true, then the Clipper is subject to prosecution for libel. It might be well to make an example of some newspapers that are so free in charging public men wjth violation of the 'law. . ' , ANDREW. M. MORRISSEY. A native of New York, Andrew M. Morrissey came to Nebraska before he was a voter and pioneered in the extreme Northwestern part of the state. He studied law while working at anything he could find to do to earn an hosent livelihood, and was admitted to the bar. He practiced in northwestern Nebrsaka for a number of years, and his reputation for ability soon extended beyond the bounds of the state. Handling important eases involving large in terests, he found himself pitted against the foremost -attorneys of Nebraska and adjoining states, and he always gave a satisfactory account of himself. About two years ago he removed from Valen tine, where he had had practiced for a number of years, and located in Lincoln.' Last spring his friends in the northwest insisted upon his filing for the demorcatic nomination for "attorney general, and he yielded. His standing as an attorney and as a citizen among the people of the northwest, where he had lived, man and boy, for years, was attested by the handsome vote given him, and he was nominated by a handsome majority over an unusually strong op ponent. , .. 7 Mr. Morrissey is unusually well equipped to discharge the du ties of attorney general. He is thoroughly informed as to the liti gation in which the state must engage, has familiarized himself with pending suits, .is full of energy and ambitious only to serve the people with credit to himself and to their satisfaction. His standing at the bar is evidenced by the respect in which he is held by his fellow practitioners, and he is thoroughly devoted to the re form measures that the people are demanding. , i , WRONG AGAIN. The Tamora Lyre says that Mr. Morehead in his address to the Grand Island convention "either forgot or failed to say anything about the Baltimore platform," or even say that "he would stand upon and holler his head off for the contents of the democratic state platform." The Lyre, either intentionally or unintentionally, is. Mr. Morehead did endorse the Baltimore platform.' He did not mention the state platform specifically ior Ihe simple retson that it had not been presented to the convention at the time Mr. More head made his address. But he did express confidence that 'the platform to be presented would be a good one, and asserted his wil'lingness to stand by the will of the majority. Instead of "growing chesty because he had amassed a few dollars," as the Lyre asserts, Mr. Morehead contented himself with pointing to his record as a business man as an evidence of his ability to administer the business of the state in a businesslike manner. How about that seed corn?