at bryan's urging, his previous endorsement of government ownership of railroads was omitted from the platform. the democratic platform nevertheless advocated regulatory authority for the interstate commerce commission, emergency currency "issued and controlled by the federal government," and an income tax on individuals and corporations. accepting most of the demands of samuel gompers, the president of the american federation of labor, the democrats criticized the unfair use of injunctions against striking workers, affirmed the right of labor to organize and not be charged with restraining trade, and favored an eight-hour workday for federal employees, a general employers' liability law, and a separate department of labor. also, the democrats advocated in support of a homestead law for hawaii, territorial governments for alaska and puerto rico, independence for the philippines once a stable government was established, and a ban on asian immigration to the united states.