| Show PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES Adopted by the Democratic Club of Utah ThLs club shall be known as the Democratic Club of Utah The members of this club do hereby reaffirm and endofee the principles embodied lu the platform adopted by the National Convention of the Democratic party held ntChicago on the eighth day of July 18S4 For a more specific statement of tho principles princi-ples to which the members of this club will ad here and struggle to make predominant we do hereby declare FirstThat the affairs of government can be safely entrusted to the intelligence of free people Second That all just government is derived from the consent of the covnrnfd That vv citizen should be allowed the exercise of the largest tr liberty consistent with the public good and safety Third That in such government a trust is devolved de-volved upon every citizen after informing himself him-self upon any question of policy or govern mont to act politically as his best individual judgment would direct absolutely free from coercion control or dictation ecclesiastical or otherwise Wliilo the State has given a consti tutional pledge not to interfere with religion there is a reciprocal obligation on the part of religion not to interfere with the State Font to do so is dangerous both to itself and the ex istence of free government This would become be-come the more evident if each of the many denominations should independently engage in a struggle for political supremacy FourthPolitically all men are created free and equal the priest and the layman must stand upon the same plane Therefore we reaffirm that the affairs of church and State ought to and must be forever separate and distinct locally and nationally Fifth Local selfgovernment is a cardinal principle of Democracy and as such we affirm and endorse it On the tme hand a local political organization appeals for the abrogation of all local selfgovernment in this Territory by the establishment of a Legislative Commission On tho other hand an opposing political organ isation has afforded by the conduct and declaration of its most influential members the means by which the former might make its appeal successful SixthThe withdrawal of all powers of government gov-ernment from the people implied in the estab lishment of a Legislative Commission would be to remove all inducement encouragement to political activity and independence and by the lethargy which would ensue engender ut ter indifference to the exercise of free and In telligent political thought and action This would but aggravate the evils which it Is designed de-signed to cure and can of course find no sup port except by those who believe the application applica-tion of free principles inadequate to human government SeventhTo obtain selfgovernment the Territory must be redeemed from the discredit that has been brought upon it Eighth We shall struggle to make predominant predomi-nant the sentiment that every citizen should and must obey every law until by legitimate agitation if obnoxious or unjust its abrogation or repeal can be secured Ninth Religious belief or fidelity should never be made a test of political or official pre ferment The application of such a test tends to the promotion of an inferior grade of officials offi-cials and often of persons utterly disqualified or unfit for the positions they are called to oc cupy In the selection of officers to administer and execute the laws fitness for the office should be the only qualification required TenthTo the end that free local selfgovern ment may be secured and participation in national affairs had and maintained upon the basis of these principles we severally pledge ourselves to support l them and to stmepfo that they may become predominant and invite all good citizens who believe that the principles thus enunciated should be supreme irrespect ive of religious belief or previous political affiliations to unite with and aid us to consum mate this end J L RAWLINS President JOHN IT BURTON Secruajy n IAWS OF TH cLim r ARTICLE LThc officers of this Club shall consist con-sist of a President VicePresident Secretary Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer to be elected annually to serve for one year or until their successors are elected or appointed ART 2The said eleqlipn of officers shall take place at an annual meeting of the Club to be held at Salt Lake City on the 8th day of January Jan-uary in each year unless said day should hap pen to be Sunday in which event on tho day following ART 3ln case of failure to hold such annual meeting the election may be made at the next general meeting of the Club after the time when such annual meeting should have been held I Jf ART 4ln addition to the annual meeting eneral meetings of the Club shall be held at Salt Lake City on the first Tuesday in April July and October in each year Special meet ings may be called by the President by giving reasonable notice thereof ART 5There shall be an Executive Committee Com-mittee of thirteen members which shall consist con-sist of the officers of the Club and eight other members to be appointed by the President It shall have the general management of the affairs of the Club with power to appoint Sub committees as it may deem proper and to fill any vacancy which may occur in any office until the next election ART GAzmy male citizen of the United States may become a member of this Club after receiving the endorsement of three of Its members and subscribing to its platform ART 7All County Democratic Clubs adopt ing the platform of this Clubsh ll be recognized by the election of the Presidents of the several Clubs to a VicePresidency provided they place themselves in correspondence with this Club and transmit a full list of their enrolled members with a correct statement of the trans actions of their organization from time to time ART 8Any member upon reasonable no tice may be expelled from the Club on a two third vote of the members present at a regular meeting AET 9These bylaws may be amended upon the twothirds vote of a regular meeting con vened next after that at which the announce ment of the contemplated amendment has been made |
