Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, July 4, 1912, Page 9

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| ; . @fctary is so great the standards B ool NATIONAL REPUBLICAN _PLATFORM by the Convention »lflm'oved at Chicago and Showing Prin- : ) ciples For Which It Stands. 5 The following is the platform adopt- #d by the republican national conven- tion: The Republican party, assembled by 3ts representatives in the National con- Vveniion ,declares its unchanging faith in government of the people, by the people, for the people. We renew our allegiance to the principles of the Re- publican party and our devotion to the cause of the Republican institutions gstablished by the fathers. 1t is appropriate that we should now recall with a sense of veneration and ratitude the name of our first great eader, who was nominated in this eity, and whose lofty principles and ®uperb devotion to his country are an inspiration to the party he honered— Abraham Lincoln. In the present state of public affairs we should be ].n?l.nd by the broad statesmanship #nd by his tolerant spirit toward man. The Republican party looks back up- on Its record with pride and safisfac- tion and forward to its new responsi- bilities with hope and confidence. Its mchievements in government institute the most luminous pages in our his- tory, Our greatest national advance has been made during the years of its ascendancy in public affairs. . It has been genuinely and always a party of progress; it has never been either stationary or reactionary. It has gone from the fulfiliment of one great pledge to the fulfillment of another in Yresponse to the public need and to the Ppopular will. We believe in our self-controlled o) entative democracy, which is a vernment of laws, not of men, and in which order is the prequisite of Progress. The principles of constitutional gov- ernment, which make provision _for orderly and effective expression of the popular will, for the protection of civil liberty and the rights of men, and for the interpretation of the law by an untrammeled and independent ju- diciary, have proved themselves ca- pable of sustaining the structure of a government which, after more than a century of development, embraces one hundred millions of people ,scattered over a wide and diverse territory, but bound by common purposes, common jdeals and common affection to the Constitution of the United States. Under the Constitution and the prin- ciples asserted and vitalized by it the 1nited States has grown to be one of the great civilized and civilizing pow- ers of the earth. It offers a home and opportunity to the ambitious and the industrious from other lands. Rest- ing upon broad basis of a people's confidence and a people's support and managed by the people themseives, the government of the United States will meet the problems of the future as satisfactorily as it has solved those of the past. A Progressive Party. The Republican party is now, as al- ways, a party of advanced and ocon- structive statesmanship. It is prepar- ed to go forward with the solution of those new questions, which social, economic and political - development have brought into the forefront of the nation’s interest. It will strive, not only in the nation, but in the several states, to enact the necessary legisia- tion to safeguard the public heaith, ® limit effectively the labor of wo- men and children and to protect wage- earners engaged in dangerous occupa- tions; to enact comprehensive and gen- erous workman’s compensation in place of the present wasteful and un- Just system of employers' liability, and In all possible waws to satisfy those are compatible with the righte of others, shall not be interfered with or destroyed. The soclal and politieal strooture of the United States rests the civil liberty of the indiyid- 1 and for the protection of that 3ib- ercise of governmental powers, and to the rights of even the hum- and least favored individual are the functions of independent eourts of Sustice, Upheids the Courts. The Hepublican party reaffirms its Intemidon to uwphold at all times the ty and property shall be preserved in- vickate. An orderly method is pro- vided under omr system of government by which the people may, when they chosse, alter or amend the constitu- or o4, n ordesty fashion .it is the duty of the oourts to see to it that when chalienged they are . That the courts, both federal and staie jnay bear the heavy burden laid upon them 1o the complete satisfaction of public opinion, we favor legisia- tiom 1o prevent long delays and the te- Alons and costly appeais which have #o often amounted to a denia) of jus- Hee in civil cases and 1o 2 failure to, ‘n«n the public at large In crimin- oases. Bince the responsilility of the ju- ot Judicial action must be always and everywhers above suspicion and re- h. While we regard the recall of iwdges a8 unnecessary and naowise, we favor such action as may be nec- esmary to i ify the process by which any judge who 18 found to be Aerelict In his duty may be removed from office, Together with peaceful and order- Iy development at home, the Republi- can party earnestly favors all meas- ures for the establishment and pro- isotion of the peace of the world and for the development of closer rela- toms hetween the varfous natfons of the earth, 11 helieves most earnest- v n fly-dpaulflll setilement of inter- national disputes and in the reference af all justifinble contraversies hetween the nations 1o an International court of justics, Monepoly and Privilege. The Hepublican party le oppesed to privilege and to monopoely, It m upon the statute books the In. teratats Commerce Act of 1887, and the important ts thereto, and the Anti-trust Act of 1890, and It has consistently and successfully enf ad the pr of thess lawy, It wifl {ake no rrd #Lop to permit the re-astabil in any degres of conditions whieh were l#ouubu. xperiency makes it plain that the businees of the couniry may be earried on without fear or wi t disturbanea, and st the same tims without ‘resort to practives which are abhorront 1o the common senss of justies, The Repub- Uean parly fayvors (he ensctment of legislation supplementary 1o the ex- Isting Anti-trust Aet, whieh will define | ne eriminal offensed these speeifig aets that unifermly - Al Lo restrain and o )l Lo | the | end that those who honestly intend to obey the law may have a guide for their action, and that those who aim to violate the law may the more sure- ly be punished. The same certainly should be given to the law prohibit- ing combinations and monopolies that characterizes other provisions of com- mercial law in order that no part of the field of business opportunity may be restricted by monopoly or combin- ation, that business success honorably achieved may not be converted into crime, and that the right of every man to acquire commodities, and particu- larly the necessaries of life, in an open market uninfluenced by the manipula- tion of trust or combination may be preserved. Federal Trade Commission. In the enforcement and administra- tion of federal laws governing inter- state commerce and enterprises im- pressed with a public use engaged therein, there is much that may be committed - to a federal trade com- mission ,thus placing in the hands of an administrative board many of the functions now necessarily exercised by the courts. This will promote prompt- ness in the administration of the law and avoid delays and technicalities incident to court procedure. The Tariff. ‘We reaffirm our belief in a protective tariff. The Republican tariff policy has been of the greatest benefit to the country ,developing our resources, di- versifying our industries and protect- ing our workmen against competition with cheaper labor abroad, thus es- tablishing for our wage-earners the American standard of living. The pro- tective tariff is so woven into the fab- ric of our industrial and agricultural life that to substitute for it a tariff for revenue only Would destroy many in- dustries and throw millions of our people out of employment. The pro- ducts of the farm and of the mine should receive the same measure of protection as other products of Ameri- can labor. We hold that the import duties should be reduced. Readjustment should be made from time to time to conform to changing conditions and to reduce excessive rates, but without injury to any American industry. To accomplish this, correct information is indispensible, this information can best be obtained by an expert com- mission, as the large volume of use- ful facts contained in the recent re- ports of the tariff board has demon- strated. The pronounced feature of modern industrial life is iis enormous diversi- fication. To apply tariff rates justly to these changing conditions requires closer study and more scientific methods than ever before. The Re- publican party has shown by its crea- tion of a tariff board, its recognition of this situation and its determination to be equal to it. We condemn the Democratic party for its failure either to provide funds for the continuance of this board or to make some other provisions for securing the information requisite for intelligent tariff legisia- tion. We protest against the Demo- cratic method of legislating on these vitally importa: subfects without careful investiga We condemn the Democratic tariff bills passed by the House of Represen- tatives of the Bixty-second Congress a8 sectional as injurious to the pub- lic eredit afid as destructive to busi- ness enterprise, Cost of Living. The steady increase of the cost of living has become a matter not only of national, but of world-wide con- cern, The fact that it is not due to the protective tariff system is evidene- «d by the existence of similar condi- tions tn countries which have a tariff policy different from our ewn, as well a8 by the fact that the cest of living has inereased while rates of duty have remained stationary or been redueed, The Republican party will support a prempt scientific inquiry inte the causes which are operative ,both in the United States and elsewhere, to bt the cost of living. When the exadt Taets are known it will take the | necessary steps te remove any abuses that may be found te exist in order that the eost of the foed, clothing and shelter of the people may in no way be | artificially increased, | Barking and Currency, ‘The Republican party has always stoed for a sound curremey and for safe banking methods, It is Tespon - sible for the resumption of specie pay- ments and for the establishment of the gold standard. It {8 committed to the | progressive development of eur bank- | iag and currency system, Our bank- ing arrangements today need further | revision to meet the requirements of current conditions, We need measures which will prevent the reeurrence of | money panics and financial disturbanc | *8, and which will promote the pros- | perity of this country, by producing constant employment. | We need better currency facilities | for the movement of crops in the West | and South. We need banking arrange- ments under American auspices for the encouraging and better conduet of our foreign trade. In attaining these ends the independence of individual banks ,whether organized under na- tional or state charters, must be care- fully protected and our banking and currency. system must he safeguarded from any possihility of domination by gectional ,financial or political inter- ests. It is of great importance to the social and economic welfare of this country that its farmers have facilities for borrowingeasily and cheaply the money they need to increase the pro- ductivity of their land. It is as im- portant that financial machinery be provided to supply the demand of farmers for credit as it is that the banking and currency systems be re- formed in the interest of general bus- iness. Therefore, we recommend and urge an authoritallve investigation of agricultural credit societles and corporations in other countries and the passage of state and federal laws for the establishment and a capable super- vision of organizations having for their purpose the loaning of funds to farmers, The Civil Service, We reaffirm onr adherence to the principles of appointment to public of- fice based on proved fitness and ten- ure during gond hehaviens and ef- fictency, ‘The Republican party stands com- mitted to the maintenance, extension and enforcement of the civil service law, and it favors the passage of lez- Islation empowering the President to extend the competitlve service as far as practicabls, We favor legislation to make possible the equitable retire- ment of disabled and superannuated members of the eivil servica in order that s higher standard of efficiency moy be maintained, ‘We favor the amendment of the fed- eral employers’ 1labllity law, se as te extend its provision te all government emplayes, a8 well a8 to provide a more liberal seale of compensation for in- Jary and death, Campaign Centributione, We faver such additional legislation a8 may be neeessary meore effectually te prohibit corporaiions from con- tributing funds, directly or imdirectly, e eampaligns for the nemimatien or election of president, the vice presi- dent, senators and representatives in Congress. ‘We heartily approve the recent act of Congress req g the fullest publicity in regard to all campaign contribu- tions, whether made in connection with primaries, conventions or elections. Conservation Policy. We rejoice in the success of the dis- tinctive Republican policy of the con- servation of our national resources, for their use by the people who waste and monopoly. We pledge ourselves to a continuance of such a policy. We favor such fair and reasonable rules and regulations as will not dis- courage or interfere with actual bona- fide homeseekers, prospectors and miners in the acquisition of public lands under existing laws. ¥ Parcels Post. In the interest of the general pub- lic, and particularly of the agricultural or rural communities, we favor legis- lation looking to the establishment, under proper regulations, of a parcels post, the postal rates to be graduated under a zone system in proportion to the length of carriage. American Citizenship, ‘We approve the action taken by the President and the Congress to secure with Russia, as with other countries, a treaty that will recognize the ab- solute right of expatriation and that will prevent all discrimination of whatever kind between American cit- izens, whether native born or alien, and regardless of race, religion or previous political allegiance. The right of asylum i8 a precious possession of the people of the United States, and it is to be neither surrounded nor re- stricted, The Navy. ‘We believe in the maintenance of an adequate navy for the national de- fense, and we condemn the action of the Democratic House of Representa- tives in refusing to authorize the con- struction of additional ships. Merchant Marine. ‘We believe that one of the country’s most urgent needs is a revived mer- chant marine. There should be Amer- ican ships, and plenty of them, to make use of the great American inter- oceanic canal now nearing completion. Flood Prevention. The Mississippi river is the nation's drainage ditch. Tts flood waters, gath- ered from 31 states and the Dominion of Canada, constitute an overpower- ing force which breaks the levees and pours its torrents over many millions of acres of the richest land in the Union, stopping mails, impeding com- merce and causing great loss of life and property. These floods are nation- al in scope, and the disasters they pro- duce seriously affect the general wel- fare, The states unaided cannot cope Wwith this giant problem; hence, we be- lieve the federal government should assume a fair proportion of the bur- den of its control ,80 as to prevent the disasters from recurring floods. Reclamation. ‘We favor the continuance of the policy of the government with regard to the reclamation of arid lands; and for the encouragement of the speedy settlement and improvement of such lands we favor an amendment to the law that will reasonably extend the time within which the cost of any re- clamation project may be repaid by the landowners under it. Rivers and Harbors. We favor a lfberal and systematic policy for the improvement of our rivers and harbors. Such improve- ments should be made upon expert information and after a careful com- parison of cost and prospective bene- fits, 4 Alaska. We favor a liberal policy toward Alaska to promote the development of the great resources of that distriet, with such safeguards as will prevent waste and monopoly, We favor the opening of the ecoal lands to development through a law leasing the lands on such terms as will invite development and provide fuel for the navy and the commerce of the Pacific ocean, while retaining title in the United States te prevent monopoly, Philippine Policy, The Philippine policy of the Repub- lican party has been and is inspired by the belisf that our duty toward the Filipine people is a nalional obliga- tion ,which should remain entirely free frem partisan politics, Immigration We pledge the Republican party te the ensetment of appropriate laws te give relief from constantly gfowing evil of induced or undesirable immi- gration, which is inimical te the pro- gress and welfare of the pebple of the United States, Safety at Sea, We favor the speedy enactmesnt of laws to previde that seamen shall not be compeliey to endure invelumtary servitude, and thati life and preperty at sea shall ke safeguarded by the ample equipment of vesseis with life- | saving appliances and with fuil com- plements of skilled, men te operate them. Republican Accomplishment. ablebodied sea- The approaching completion of the | Panama canal, the a bureau of mines, the institution of posta] savings banks, the increased provision made in 1912 for the aged and infirm soldiers and sailers of the republic and for their widows and the vigorous administration of the laws relating to pure food and drugs, all mark the successful progress of Re- publican administration ,and are ad- ditional evidence of its effectiveness. Economy and Efficiency. We comimend the earnest effort of the Republican administration to se- cure greater economy and increased ef- ficiency in the conduct of government business. Extravagant appropriations and the creation of unnecessary offices are an injustice to the taxpayer and a bad example to the citizen. Civic Duty. We call upon the people to quicken their interest in public welfare, to condemn and punish lynching and oth- er forms of lawlessness and to strengthen in all possible ways a re- spect for law and the observance of it. Indifferent citizenship is an evil from which the law affords no ade- quate protection and for which legis- lation can provide no remedy. b Arizona and New Maexico. We congratulate the people of Ari- zona and New Mexico upon the admis- sion of those states, thus merging in the Union in final and enduring form the last remdining portion of our con- tinental territory. Taft Administration Indorsed. We challenge succeesful criticism of the sixteen years of Republican admin- istration under Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft. We heartily re- affirm the indorsement of President McKinley, contained in the platform of 1900 and of 1904, and that of Presi- dent Roosevelt contained in the plat- form of 1904 and 1908, , We invite the intelligent judgment ‘of the American people upon the ad- ministration of William H. Taft. The country has prospered and been at peace under his presidency, During the years in which he had the co-operation of & Republican Congress an unex- ampled amount of constructive leg- islation was framed snd passed in the interest of the people and in ebedience to their wish, That legislation is a record on which any administration might appeal with eonfidence te the faverable judgement of history, We appeal (o the American electorate. upon the record of the Republiean party and upen this declaration ef its principles and purpeses, We are eon- establishment of — e The platform as adopted by the na- tional convention of the democratic party as Baltimore Tuesday follows: ‘We, the representatives of the demo- cratic party of the United States, in national convention assembled, reaf- firm our devotion to the principles of democratic government formulated by Thomas Jefferson and enforced by a long and illustrious line of democratic presidents. Tariff Reform. We declare it to be a fundamental principle of the democratic party that the federal government under the con- stitution has no right or power to im- pose or collect tariff duties, except for the purpose of revenue, and we de- mand that the collection of such taxes shall be limited to the necessities of government honestly and economically administered. The high republican tariff is the principal cause of the unequal distri- bution of wealth; it is a system of tax- ation which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer; under its operations the American Yarmer and laboring man are the chief sifferers; it raises the cost of the necessaries of life to them but does not protect their product or wages. The farmer sells largely in free markets and buys almost entirely in the protected markets. In the most highly protected ‘industries such as cotton and wool, “steel and iron, the wages of the laborers are the lowest paid in any of our industries. We de- nounce the republican pretense on that subject and assert that American wages are established by competitive conditions and not by the taruf. We favor the immediate downward revision of the existing hi and in many cases prohibitive tariff duties. ingisting that material reduc speedily made upon the neces life. Articles entering into competi- tion with trust controlled products and articles of American which are sold abroad more cheaply than at home should be put upon the free list. ‘We recognize that our s m of tar- iff taxation Is intimately connected with the business of the country, and we favor the ultimate attainment of the principles we advocate by legisla- tion that will mot. injure or destroy legitimate industry. We denounce the action of President Taft in vetoing the bills to reduce the tariff in the cotton, woolen, metals and chemical schedules and the farmers’ free list biil, all of which were designed to give immediate reliaf to the masses from the exactions of the trusts. The republican party, while prom- ising tariff revision. has shown by its tariff legislation that such revision is not to be in the people’s interest and having been faithless to its pledzes of 1908 it should not longer enjoy the confidence of the aation. We appeal to the American people to support us in our demand for a tariff for revenue only. High Cost of Living. The high cost of living is a serious problem in every American home, The republican party, im its platform, at- terupts to escapa from responsibility for present conditions by denying that they are due to a protective tariif. W take issue with them on this subj and charge that excessive prices result in a large measure from the high tariff laws enacted and maintained by the repubiican party and from trusts and commercial conspiracies fostered and encouraged by such laws, and we as- sert that no substantial relief can be secured for the peopl: until import du- ties on the necessaries of life are ma- terlally reduced and these criminal conspiracies broken up. Anti-Trust Law, A private monepoly is indefensible and intolerable, We therefore favor the vigerous enforcemeny of the crim- inal as well as the civil law against trusts and trust officials, and demand the enaciment of such additional legis- lation as may be necessary to make it impessibls for a private monepoly to exist in the United States, We favor the deelaratien by law of the condi- tiens upon which earporations shall be permiited to engage in interstate trade, ineluding, among others, the preven- tion of holding companies or interlock ing direetors, of stock watering, of crimipatien in price, and the control by any one corporation of se large a pre- portien of any industry as to make it a menace te cempetitive conditions, We eondemn the actien of the re- publiean administration in compromis- ing with the Standard Oil cempany and the tebaces trust and its failure te inveke the criminal previsioas of the anti-trust law against the efficers of these eorpeorations after the court had deciared that frem the undisputed facts in the reeord they had violated the eriminal provisions of the law. We regret that the Sherman anti- trust law has received a judicial cer struction depriving, it much of i officacy and we fdvor the enaetme of legislation which will restore to ihe statute the strength of which it has been deprived by such interpretation. Rights of the States. We believe in the preservation and maintenance in their full strength and integrity of the three co-ordinate branches of the federal government— the executive, the legislative and ju- dicial—each keeping within its own bounds and not encroaching upon the just powers of either of the others, Be- lieving that the most officient results under our system of government are to be attained by the full exercise by the states of their reserved sovereign pow- ers, we denounce as usurpation the ef- forts of our opponents to deprive the states of any of the rights reserved to them, and to enlarge and magnify by ’ indirection the powers of the federal. government. We insist upon the full exercise of all the powers of the government, both state and national, to protect the peo- ple from injustice at thé hands of those who seek to make the government a private asset in business. There is no twilight zone between the nation and the state in which exploiting interests can take refuge from both. It is as necessary that the federa! government shall exercise the powers reserved to them, but we insist that federal reme- dies for the regulation of interstate commerce and for the prevemtion of private monopoly shall be added to and not substituted for state remedies. Income Tax and Popular Election of Senators. We congratulate the country upon the triumph of two important reforms degranded in the last national plat- form, nameiy, the amendment of the federal constitutien authorizing an in- come tax and the amendment provid- meg for the popular election of senators and we call upon the peopie of all the states to rally to the support of the rending propositions and secure their ratification. ‘We note with gratification the unan- fident that under the leadership of the candidates hers to be nominated our appeal will not be in vain; that the Republican party will meet every just expectation of the people whose ser- vant it is; that under its administra- tien and its laws eur natien will con- tinue to advanes; that peaee and pros- perity will abide with the people, and that new glery will be added to the great republis 3 & manufacture | PLATFORM OF OEMOCRATIC PARTY Document Adopted by Baltimore Convention On Which 5 Party Bases Its Claims For Preference. | f | incorporate before the election of campaign con- tributions—a measure demanded in our national platform of 1908, and at that time opposed by the republican party—and we commend the democrat- ic house of representatives for ex- tending the doctrine of publicity to recommendations, verbal and written, upon which presidential appointments are made, o the ownership and con- trol of newspapers and to the expendi- tures made by and in behalf of those who aspire to presidential nominations, and we point for additional justif tlon for this legislation to the enor- mous expenditures of money in behalf of the president and his predecessor in the recent contest for the republi- can nomination for president. Presidential Primaries. The movement toward more popular government should be promoted through legislation in each state which will permit the expression of the pref- erence of the electors for national candidates at presidential primaries. We direct that the national committee in the call for the next nominating convention a requirement that all expressions of preference for presidential candidates shall be given and the selection of delegates and al- ternates made through a primary elec- tion conducted by the party organiza- tion in each state where such expres- sion and election are not provided for by state law, Committeemen who are hereafter to constitute the member- ship of the democratic national com- mittee and whose election is not vro- vided for by la shall be chosen in each state at such primary elections and the service and authority of com- mitteemen. however chosen, shall be- gin_immediately upon the receipt of their credentials respectively, Campaign Contributions. We pledge the democratic party to the enactment of a law prohibiting any corporation from contributing to a campaign fund and any individual from contributing any amount above a reasonable maximum. Term of President. We favor a single presidential term, and to that end urge the adoption of an amendment to the constitution making the president of the United States ineligible for re-election and we pledge the candidate of this convention to this principle. Democratic Congress. At this time, when the republican party, after a generation of unlimited power in its control of the federal government, is rent into factions, it is opportune to point to the record of accomplishment of the democratic house of representatives in the 62d congress. We indorse its action and we challenge comparison of its rec- ord with that of any congress which thas been controlled by our opponents. ‘We call the attention of the patriotic citizens of our country to its record of efficiency, economy and constructive legislation. Tt has, among other achievements, revised the rules of the house of rep- resentatives so as to give to the rep- resentatives of the American people freedom of speech and action in advo- cating, proposing and perfecting rem- edail legislation. It has passed bills for the relief of the people and the de- velopment of our country; it has en- deavored to revise the tariff taxes downward in the interest of the con- suming masses, and thus to reduce the high cost of living. 1t has proposed an amendment to the federal constitution providing for the election of United States senators by the direct vote of the people. Tt has secured the admis- sion of Arizona and New Mexico as two sovereign states. It has required the publicity of ecampalgn expenses both hefore and after election and fix- ed a limit upon the election expenses of United States senators and repre- sentatives. Tt has also passed a bill to prevent the abuse of the writ of in- junetion, Jt has passed a law estab- lishing an 8 hour day of werkmen en ail national public werk. It has passed a resolution which forced the president to take immediate steps to abrogate the Russian treaty And it has pass- ed the great supply bills which lessen waste and extravagance and whieh re- duce the annual expenses of the gov- ernment by many milliens of dollars. We appreve the measure reported by the demoeratic ieaders in the house of representatives for the creation of a counsel of mational defense which will determine a definite naval pre- gramme with a view to increased ef- fielency and economy. The party that proclaimed and has always enforeed the Menree doctrine and was sponser for the new navy, will continu h- fully te observe teh eonstitutionfil re- quirements to provide and maintain an adequate and well preportioned navy sufficient to defend American pel- icies, protect our citizens and upheld the hemor and dignity of the nation, Republican Extravagance. We denounce the profligate waste of the money wrung from the people by oppressive taxation through the lavish appropriations of recent republican congresses, which hauve kept taxes high and reduced the purchasing pow- er of the people’s toll. We demand a return to that simplicity and econ- omy which befits a democratic govern- ment and a reduction in the number of useless offices, the salaries of which drain the substance of the people. Railroads, Express Companies, Tele- graph and Telephone Lines. We favor the efficlent supervision and rate regulation of railroads, ex- press companies, telegraph and tele- phone lines engaged in interstate com- merce. To this end we recommend the valuation of railroads, express companies, telegraph and telephone lines by the interstate commerce com- mission, such valuation to take into consideration the physical value of the property, the original cost, the cost of reproduction, and any element of value that will render the valution fair and just. We favor such legislation as will ef- fectually prohibit the railroads, ex- press. telegraph and telephone com- panies from engaging in business which brings them into competition with their shippers or patrons; also legisiation preventing the over-issue of stocks and bonds by interstate rail- roads, express companies, telegraph and telephone lines, and legislation which will assure such reduction in transportation rates as conditions will permit, care being taken to avoid re- duction that would compel a reduction of wages, prevent adequate service or do injustice to legitimate investments. Banking Legislation. We oppose the so-called Aldrich bill or the establigshment of a central bank, and we believe the people of the coun- try will be largely freed from panics and consequent unemployment and business depression by such a system- atic revision of our banking laws as will render temporary relief in locali- ties where such relief i{s needed, with protection from control or domination by what is known as the money trust. Banks exist for the accomodation of the public and not for the control of business. All legislation on the sub- ject of banking and currency should have for its puipose the securing of these accommodations on terms of ab- solute security to the public and of complete protection from the misuse of the power that weelth gives to those who possess it. ‘We condemn the present methods of depositing government funds in a few favored banks, largely situated in or controlled by Waill street, in return for political facors, and we pledge our party to provide by law for their de- sit by competitive bidding in the king institutions of the country, national and state, without discrimin- ation as to locality, upon approved se- imous sentiment in favor of publicity | curities and subect to call by the gov- ernment, Rural Credits. Of equal importance with the ques- tion of currency reform is the question of rural credits or agricultural finance. Therefore we recommend that an in- vestigation of agricultural credit so- cieties in foreign counties be made, so that it may be ascertained whether a system of rural credits may be devis- ed suitable to conditions in the Unked States, and we also favor legislation permitting national banks to loan a reasonable proportion of their funds on real estate security. We recognize the value of vocational education and urge federal appropriations for such training and extension teaching in ag- riculture in co-operation with tihe sev- eral states, Waterways. We renew the declaration in our last platform relating to the conservation of our natural resources and the de- velopment of our waterways. The pres- ent devastation of the lower Missis- &ippi valley accentuates the movement for the, regulation of river flow by additional banks and levee protection below the diversion, storage and con- trol of the flood waters above and their utilization for beneficlal purposes in the reclamation of arid and swamp lands and the development of water- power, instead of permitting the floods to continue, as heretofore, agents of destruction. We hold that the control of the Mis- sissippi rivi is a mnational problem, The preservation of the depth of its water for the purpose of navigation, the building of levees to maintain the integrity of its channel, and the pre- vention of the overfiow of the land and its consequent devastation, resulting in the interruption of interstate com- merce, and the disorganization of the mail service and the enormous loss of life and property, impose an obliga- tion which alone can be discharged by the general government. To maintain an adequate depth of water the entire year and thereby en- courage water traisportation is a con- summation worthy of legislative at- tention and presents an issues natiomal in its character. It calls for prompt aection on the part of congress, and the democratic party pledges tself to the enactment of legiglation leading to that end. We favor the co-operation of the United States and the respective states in plans for the comprehensive treat- ment of all waterways with a view to co-ordinating plans for channel im- provement with plans for drainage of swamp and overflowed lands, and to this end we favor the appropriation by the federal government of sufficient funds to make surveys of such lands, to develop plans for draining the same and to supervise the work of cemstruc- tion, We favor the adoption of a Wberal and comprehensive plan for the devel- opment and improvement of our inland waterways, with economy and efficien- cy, 80 as to permit their navigation by vessels of standard draft. Pure Food and Public Health. We reaffirm our previous declara- tions advocating the union and strengthening of the varfous govern- mental agencies relating to pure foods, quarantine, vital statistics and public health. Thue united and administered without partiality to or discrimination against any school of medicine or sys- tem of healing, they would constitute a single health service, not subordinat- ed to any commercial or financial in- terests, but devoted exclusively to the conservation of human life and effi- clency, Morsover, this health service should co-operate with the health agencles of our various states and cit- ies, without Interference with their prerogatives or with tha freedom of individuals to employ such medical o¢ hygienic ald as they may see fit. Civil-Bervice Law. The law pertaining to the civi]l serv- fee should be honestly and rigidly en- forced, to the end that merit and abil- ity should be the standard of appoint- ment and prometion, rather than serv- jce rendered to a political party; and we faver a reerganization of the eivil service with adequate compensation commensurate with the class of work performed, for all officers and em- playes; we also favor the extension to all classes of eivil service employes of the henefits of the provisiens of the employers’ liability law; we also rec- ognize the right of direat petition te congress by employes for the redress of grievances, Law Reform. ‘We reeognize the urgent need of re- ferm in the administration of §ivil and criminal law in the United Stales, and we recommend the enactment of such legislation and the promotion of such measures as will rid the present legal system of the delays, expense and un- certainties incident to the system as now administered The Philippines. We reaffirm the position thrice an- nounced by the democracy in national convention assembled against a policy of imperialism and exploitation in the Philippines or elsewhere. We condemn the experiment In imperialism as an inexcusable blunder which has in- volved us in enormous expense, brought us weakness instead of strength, and laid our nation open to the charge of abandonment of the fundamental doctrine of self-govern- ment. We favor an immediate decla- ration of the nation’s purpose to recoge nize the independence of the Philip- pine islanas as soon as a stable gov- ernment can be established, such inde- pendence to be guaranteed by us untfl the neutralization of the islands can be secured by treaty with other pow- ers. In recognizing the independence of the Philippines, our government to retain such land ag may be necessary for coaling stations and naval bases. Arizona and New Mexico. We welcome Arizona and New Mex- ico to the sisterhood of states and heartily congratulate them upon their auspici beginning of great and glo- rious careers. Alaska. We demand for the people of Alaska the full enjovment of the rights and priviteges of a territorial form of gov- ernment and we believe that the offi- cials appointed to administer the gov- ernment of all our territories and ths District of Columbia should be quali- fled by previous bona fide residence. The Russian Treaty. We commend the patriotism of the democratic members of the senate and house of representatives which com- pelled the termination of the Russian treaty of 1832, and we pledge ourselves anew to preserve the sacred rights of American__citizenship at home and abroad. No treaty should receive the | sanction of our government which does not recognize that equality of all of our ecitizens, irrespective of race or creed, and which does not expressiy guarantee “he fundamental right of expatriation. The constitutional rights of Ameri- can citizens ghoulq protect them on our borders and go with them throughout the world, and every American cltizen residing or having property in any for- eign country is entitled to and must be given the full protection of the United

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