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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1912)
2 The Commoner. rc Tr?"r" w W - l.-,! ?;. " ,. ' i. : fc w ; 3i ' IT . ""Tf, r a' & IX NEBRASKA In Nebraska a democratic governor and a democratic aoase of the state legislature was chosen. With this ranch power the Nebraska democrats will hare the opportunity to do some effective reform work. Fortunately, they hare In the state platform, adopted this year, a splendid program for practical effort. Govefr-nor-elect Morebead and every democratic candi date for the legislature is pledged to this plat form. Governor Morehead will urge, these re forms in his message to the legislature and will do everything in his poorer to pnt them upon the statutes. The place to make -winning democratic campaigns in the nation is in the democratic bouse, in the democratic senate, and in the demo cratic ezecutive department. The place for win ning democratic campaigns in the state is in the legislative and executive departments, and par ticularly In those where democrats .have control. If the democratic governor and the democratic house of representatives in Nebraska shall do their part in carrying into effect the reforms outlined in the democratic platform for 1912, they will have done more to insure democratic success In Nebraska than they could possibly do by any effort made by democratic committees, orators and editors during the campaign period. The Nebraska democratic platform for 1912 is an follows: We favor the passage of a law having for its purpose the abolition of vote trading, conimonly called "log rolling," in thejegislature. "We favor a law requiring the governor to make public the names of all persons who peti tion blm, either verbally or in writing, to ap prove or veto any measure. We commend the last democratic legislature for the passage of the Ollis stock yards bill, and wo promise such further regulations for 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 commission, in order to help systemizo 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. The state Is rich In natural resources not yet developed, a condition due to the lack of public knowledge of such wealth. We therefore favor a liberal appropriation by tho legislature for the purpose of giving publi city to tho state's resources. We favor the enactment of a law directing and empowering the state railway commission to examine and audit the books and accounts of all public service corporations doing business within the state, and to limit the earning power of such corporations to a reasonable propor tion 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 everything in his power to see that the telephone business Is properly regu lated and that rates charged for telephone ser vico aro reasonable. Wo further promise such additional legisla tion as may be necessary to protect the interests of the users of telephones in Nebraska. Wo deplore the needless delay in the disposi tion of controversies throughout tho courts of tho state, and especially that of the supreme court, and pledge our candidates for the legisla ture, if elected, to support such measures and endeavor to crystallize Into law an act of tho legislature which will result in the speedier dis position of cases in the higher courts of the state and at the same time safeguard the rights of litigants. Nebraska's awkward and inequitable taxation system should be replaced by a.,wentieth cen Wy method. We favor, therefore, taxation reforms 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 speculative purposes and without improvement ought to carry a larger share of taxation than it now does. 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 tho enactment of tho taxation system, and then provide for the selection of a commis sion whose business it will be to investigate and report for the consideration of tho legislature its idea of the taxation system suited for Ne braska's peculiar needs. We favor Insurance reform for old line as well as fraternal companies. We favor automatic benefit in case 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 policyholders. And the initiative and referendum should be given to fraternal organizations for the protection of-the rank and file. Recognizing the growing demand for scienti fically 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 appropria tions for our four state normal schools and for normal training in the high schools. We point with pride to the fact that the demo- cratic legislature appropriated more money for the permanent equipment of normal schools than bad been before expended for like purposes during the entire history of the-state. We pledge ourselves now to the support of these in stitutions commensurate with their growth and demands. We point with pride to our state university and agricultural college and favor liberal ap propriations for those institutions. We favor a just workingman'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 of manu facture of Intoxicating liquors from contributing money or valuable thing to any person or or ganization or to any contest where the question of liquor license is involved. 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 legislature and all other demo cratic officials to the following described poli cies with respect to state government Reservation for the people of control over the water power provided by Nebraska rivers and leasing of rights with supervision over the rates that are to be paid by consumers of this power. A "blue sky" law patterned after the Kansas law and requiring investment schemes to under go examination by the state board. Prison reform, with the abolition of the prison contract, the establishment of a binding twine factory for the more desperate men and the purchase of a large farm for the 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 in mates of the state's prison should not be de prived entirely of a father's or husband's earn ing power; but a certain portion of the regular hire, as well as . overtime earnings of the prisoner having a mother, wife or child depen dent on his labor should be devoted to the sup port of those innocent people. ISIDOR RAYNBR VOLUME 12, NUMBER 48 of a man of national prominence and usefulness who was in the prime of his usefulnesc, bat afso because it takes from the senate a capable demo crat, who will be replaced by a republican b gubernatorial appointment at a time irhen h'.3 services are especially needed by the demoeracr. New York Post: He will be missed upon the democratic side of the senate as one of the small group of men whose speeches upon important occasions were such as to attract national attention. In the death of Isidor Rayner of Maryland, the democratic party lost a strong leader and the United States of America lost a valuable citizen. Mr. Rayner served for two terms in tho house of representatives. He served the state of Maryland as attorney general for many years. He was attorney for the late Admiral Schley during the famous Schley-Sampson con troversy. He was more than Schley's attor ney he was his friend, and he felt that a great injustice had been done the hero of Santiago bay. In every position of life Mr. Rayner dis charged his duty faithfully. He was not only strong as a public servant and faithful as a citi zen, but he was one of the gentlest of men. It is indeed a pity that he could not have lived to render to the party he loved so well the fine service of which he was so capable and which the party will be so greatly in need of at this critical time in its career. Senator Rayner exemplified all that is best in public life and thought. His talents were conse crated to the people's service and to unusual ability and unquestioned integrity he added a rare courage that daily added to his Influence among the leaders of his party. His career will be an inspiration to young men who are build ing their lives upon ideals. The Commoner ex tends sympathy to the bereaved family and assures them that their sorrow is widely shared. Nashville Democrat: Tho death of United States Senator Isidor Rayner. of Maryland, Is to be deplored, not only because It ends the life Washington Post: His state and his friends mourn the loss of a man who was tried and true, but the nation's loss is in the passing of a de fender and a statesman. Philadelphia Public Ledger: He was at the height of his powers, which were not confined to very striking oratorical gifts and readiness in debate; he was a man of sense and power, thor oughly equipped for the tasks of statesmanship, and a sound, admirable constitutional lawyer. Baltimore Sun: His death leaves a vacancy in Maryland's senatorial representation which it will be difficult to fill. In fact, as we look around we do not see any man who is big enough to really fill his place. His successor, whoever he may be, will have to grow to fill it as worthily, as brilliantly, as patriotically, as faithfully as Isidor Rayner did. New York World: Isidor Rayner, of Mary land, was more than a great senator. He was a great democrat also, and he was a great demo crat well placed. In his death the country loses a statesman of ability and character, and the party to which he adhered is deprived of the counsel of one of its most. distinguished mem bers in a position where he will be greatly missed. Chicago Inter-Ocean: With the death of Senator Isidor Rayner, of Maryland, one of the real statesmen in the ranks of the democratic party has passed, and. his loss will be severely felt by the incoming administration, with the head of which he has been in thorough sympathy. GOOD FOR BORAH A Washington dispatch to the Louisville Courier-Journal, says: "Senator Borah, of Idaho, prime mover in the cause of direct elec tions of United States senators, believes that thp next batchy of senators will be elected by the people voting under a new federal statute. He said that he is going into the ten states whee legislatures meet this winter to do all in his power to secure legislative ratification of the constitutional amendment providing for direct elections. Two states Massachusetts and Ari zona have already ratified the proposed amend ment. When the indorsements of thirty-six states have been secured congress will be em powered to pass legislation providing machinery for the direct election of senators. Every voter qualified to vote for members of the state lions'? of representatives will then be able to cast his personal ballot for a United States senator." Good for Borah! It would be well for Ms good example to be followed by other advocates of this great reform. Who will be the first to volunteer to go Into doubtful states and aid in the campaign to further the adoption of one of the most important constitutional amendments ever submitted to the people. APPOINTMENTS AFTER ELECTION Says a special Washington dispatch: Presi dent Taft has indicated that he deems it his duty to make appointments to all vacancies, without leaving the work for his successor. In many instances, he feels that such a course would save Mr. Wilson embarrassment. He in tends to send to the senate the nomination of a successor to Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, chief chemist of the department of agriculture, the nomination of nine members of the industrial commission, and the appointment of several postmasters, collectors, surveyors and judges of the federal courts. All these appointments, however, will be hung up in the senate by the concerted action of the democrats, if the plan now being considered is adopted. Moreover, the recommendations n the president's message will be completely ignored. The president will appeal for the passage of a workmen's compensation act, cur- 1.