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DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL
PLATFORM
San Francisco, July 2 .—The resolu¬
tions committee draft of the platform
was adopted by the Democratic nation¬
al convention without change. The
document is as follows:
The Democratic party, in its national
convention now assembled, sends greet¬
ings to the president of the United States,
Woodrow Wilson, and hails with patriotic
pride the great achievements for country
and the world wrought by a Democratic
administration under ins leadership.
It salutes the mighty people of this
great republic, emerging with imperish¬
able honor from the severe tests and
grievous strains of the most tragic war
in history, having earned the plaudits
and gratitude of all free nations.
It declares its adherence to the funda¬
mental progressive principles of social,
economic and industrial justice and ad¬
vance, and purposes to resume the great
work of translating these principles into
effective laws, begun and carried far by
the Democratic administration and inter¬
rupted only when the war claimed all the
national energies for the single task of
victory.
League of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
League of Nations as the surest, if not
tile only’, practicable means of maintain¬
ing the permanent peace of the world
and terminating the insufferable burden
of great military and naval establish¬
ments. It was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to crush a
colossal scheme of conquest.
it was upon this basis that the presi¬
dent of the United Stales, in prearrange¬
ment with our allies, consented to a sus¬
pension of hostilities against the imperial
German government; the armistice was
granted and a treaty' of peace negotiated
upon the definite assurance to Germany, as
well as to the powers pitted against Ger¬
many’, that "a general association of na¬
tions must be formed, under specific cov¬
enants, for file purpose of affording mu¬
tual guaranties of political independence
and territorial integrity to great and
small states alike.”
Hence we not only congratulate the
president on the vision manifested and
the vigor exhibited in the prosecution of
the war, but we felicitate him and his
associates on the exceptional 'achieve¬
ments at Paris involved in the adoption
of a league and treaty so near akin to
previously expressed American ideals and
so intimately related to the aspirations
of civilized peoples everywhere.
We commend the president for his cour¬
age and liis high conception of good faith
in steadfastly standing for the covenant
agreed to by all the associated and allied
nations at war with Germany, and we
condemn the Hepublican senate for. its
refusal to ratify the treaty merely be¬
cause it was the product of Democratic
statesmanship, and thus interposing partisan
envy personal hatred in the way of
the peace and renewed prosperity of the
world.
By every accepted standard of inter¬
national morality tiie president is justi¬
fied in asserting that the honor ot the
country is involved in this business; and
we point to tiie accusing fact that, before
it was determined to initiate political an¬
tagonism to the treaty tiie now Repub¬
lican chairman of the senate foreign re¬
lations committee himself publicly pro¬
claimed that any proposition for a sepa¬
rate peace with Germany, such as he
and his party associates thereafter re¬
ported to the senate, would make us
‘■guilty of tiie blackest crime.”
On May 16 last the Knox substitute for
the Versailles treaty was passed by the
Republican senate; and this convention
can contrive no more litting characteriza¬
tion of its obloquy than that made in the
Forum Magazine of December, jam, by
Henry Cabot Lodge when lie said:
“If we send our armies and young men
abroad to be killed and wounded in north¬
ern France and Flanders with no result
but this, our entrance into war with such
an intention was a crime which nothing
can Justify.”
The intent of congress and the intent
ot the president way that there could be
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war as this could recur.
We cannot make peace except in com¬
pany witli our allies, it would brand us
with everlasting dishonor aiffl bring ruin
to us also it we undertook to make a sep¬
arate peace.”
Lodge’s Proposals Condemned.
Thus to that which Mr. Lodge, in saner
moments considered “the blackest crime"
he and nis party in madness sought to
give the sanctity of law; that which eigh¬
teen months ago was of “everlasting dis¬
honor” the Republican party and its can¬
didates today accept as tiie essence of
faith.
We indorse the president's view of our
international obligations and his firm
stand against reservations designed to
cut to pieces tiie vital provisions in con¬
gress for voting against resolutions for
separate peace which would disgrace tiie
nation. We advocate the immediate rat
iiication of the treaty without reserva¬
tions which would impair its essential in¬
tegrity; but do not oxipose the acceptance
of any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations of the United
States to the League of Nations. Only
by doing tills may vve retrieve tiie repu¬
tation of this nation among the powers
of the earth and recover the moral lead¬
ership which President Wilson won and
which Republican politicians at Washing¬
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this may
we hope to aid effectively in the resto¬
ration of order throughout the world and
to take tiie place which we should as¬
sume in the front rank of spiritual, com¬
mercial and industrial advancement.
We reject as utterly vain, if not vicious,
the Republican assumption that ratifica¬
tion of the treaty and membership in tiie
League of Nations would in any wise
Impair- the integrity or independence of
our country. The fact that the cove¬
nant has been entered into by 29 nations
all as jealous of their independence as
we are of ours, is a sufficient refutation
of such charge. The president repeatedly
has declared, and this convention reaf¬
firms, that all our duties and obligations
as a member of the league must be ful¬
filled in strict conformity with tiie Con¬
stitution of the United States, embodied
in which is the fundamental requirement
of declaratory action by the congress be¬
fore this nation may become a partici¬
pant in any war.
Conduct of the War.
During the war President Wilson exhib¬
ited the very broadest conception of lib¬
eral Americanism. In his conduct of the
war, as in the general administration of
his high office, there was no semblance
of partisan bias. He invited to Washing¬
ton as his councilors and coadjutors hun¬
dreds of the most prominent and pro¬
nounced Republicans in the country. To
these he committed responsibilities of the
gravest import and most confidential na¬
ture. Many of them had charge of vital
activities of the government.
And yet, with the war successfully pros¬
ecuted and- gloriously ended, the Repub¬
lican party in congress, far from ap¬
plauding the masterly leadership of the
president -and felicitating the country on
the amazing achievements of the Ameri¬
can government, has xneanlv requited the
considerate course of the chief magistrate
by savagely defaming the commander in
chief of the army and navy, by assailing
nearly, branch every public officer of every
of the service intimately con¬
cerned in winning the war abroad and
conserving the security of the govern¬
ment at home.
We express to the soldiers and the
Bailors of America the admiration of
their fellow countrymen. Guided by
the genius of such commanders as
Gen John J. Pershing the armed force
of America constituted a decisive fac
tor in the victory and brought new
luster to the flag.
We commend the patriotic men and
women who sustained the efforts of
their government in the crucial hours
£ f i^ he war and contributed to the
brilliant » administrative success
achieved under the broad-ylsloned lead¬
ership of the president.
Financial Achievements.
By the enactment of the federal re¬
serve act the old system, which bred
panics, was replaced by a new system,
which insured confidence. It was an
indispensable factor in winning tiie
war and today it is the hope and
inspiration of business. Indeed, one
vital danger against wiiich the Ameri¬
can 'people should keep constantly on
guard is tiie commitment of this sys¬
tem against its partisan enemies who struggled
its adoption and vainly at¬ of
tempted to retain in tiie hands
speculative bankers a monopoly of the
currency and credits of tiie nation.
Under Democratic leadership the
American people successfully financed
their stupendous part in tiie greatest
war of ail time. The treasury wisely
insisted during the war upon meeting
an adequate portion of the war ex¬
penditure from current taxes and tiie
bulk of the balance from popular
loans, and, during the first full fiscal
year after fighting stopped, upon meet¬
ing current expenditures from current
receipts notwithstanding the new and the
unnecessary burdens thrown upon
treasury by the delay, obstruction and
extravagance of a Republican “ con¬
gress.
The nonpartisan federal reserve au¬
thorities have been wholly free of po¬
litical interference or motive; and in
their own time and their own way,
have used courageously, though cau¬
tiously, the instruments at their dis¬
posal to prevent undue expansion of
credit in tiie country.
As a result of these sound treasury
and federal reserve policies, the inevi¬
table war inflation has been held down
to a minimum, and the cost of living
has been prevented front increasing
here in proportion to the increase in
other belligerent countries and in neu¬
tral countries which are in close con¬
tact with tiie world’s commerce and
exchanges.
After a year and a half of fighting
in Europe and despite another year
and a half of Republican obstruction
at of home, the credit of the government
the United States stands unim¬
paired. the federal reserve note is the
unit of value throughout the world
and the United States is the one great
country in the world which maintains
a free gold market.
We condemn the attempt of the Re¬
publican party to deprive the Ameri¬
can people of their legitimate pride in
the financing of the war—an achieve¬
ment without parallel in the financial
history of this or any other country,
jn this or any other war. And, in par¬
ticular, we condemn the pernicious at¬
tempt of the Republican party to cre¬
ate discontent among the holders of
tiie bonds of tbe government of the
United States and to drag our public
finance and our banking and currency
system back into tiie arena of party
politics.
Tax Revision.
The Republican congress persistently
failed, through sheer political coward¬
ice, to make a single move toward a
readjustment of tax laws which it
denounced before the last election and
was afraid to revise before the next
election.
We advocate tax reform and a
searching revision of the war revenue
acts to fit peace conditions so that the
wealth of the nation may not be with¬
drawn from productive enterprise and
diverted to wasteful or nonproductive,
enterprise.
\V»* demand prompt action by the
next congress for a complete survey
of existing taxes and their modifica¬
tions and simplification with a view to
secure greater equity and justice in
tax burden and improvement in ad¬
ministration.
Public Economy.
Claiming to have effected great econ¬
omies in government expenditures, the
Republican party cannot show the re¬
duction of one dollar in taxation as a
corollary of this false pretense. In
contrast, tiie last Democratic congress
enacted legislation reducing taxes from
$8,000,000,000, designed to be raised, to
$6,000,000,000 for the first year after
the armistice, and to $4,000,000,000
thereafter; and there the total is left
undiminished by our political adver¬
saries. Two years after armistice day
a Republican congress provides tor ex¬
pending the stupendous sum of $5,403,-
3S0.327.30.
Affecting great paper economies by
reducing departmental estimates of
sums which would not have been spent
in any event, and by reducing formal
appropriations, the Republican state¬
ment of expenditures omits the prog
nant fact that congress authorized the
use of $1,500,000,000 in the hands ot
various departments and bureaus
w’hich otherwise would have been cov¬
ered into the treasury, and which
should be added to the Republican to¬
tal of expenditures.
High Cost of Living.
The high cost of living and the de¬
preciation of bond values in this coun¬
try are primarily due to war itself, to
the necessary governmental expendi¬
tures for the destructive purposes of
war, to private extravagance, to the
world shortage of capital, to the in¬
flation of foreign currencies and cred¬
its and, in large degree, to conscience¬
less profiteering. is
The Republican party responsible
for the failure to restore peace and
peace conditions in Europe, which is
a principal cause of post-armistice
inflation the world over. It has de¬
nied the demand of the president for
necessary legislation to deal with sec¬
ondary and local causes. The sound
policies pursued by the treasury and
the federal reserve system have lim¬
ited in this country, though they could
not prevent, the inflation which was
world-wide. Elected upon specific
promises to curtail public expendi¬
tures and to being tiie country back
to a status of effective economy, the
Republican party in congress wasted
time and energy for more than a year
in vain and extravagant investiga¬
tions, costing the taxpayers great
sums of money while revealing noth¬
ing beyond the incapacity of Republi¬
can politicians to cope with the prob¬
lems.
Demanding that the president, from
his place at the peace table, call tiie
congress into extraordinary session
for imperative purposes when of readjust¬
ment, the congress convened
spent thirteen months in partisan pur¬
suits. failing to repeal a single war
statute which harassed business or to
initiate a single constructive measure
to help business.
It busied itself making a pre-elec¬
tion record of pretended thrift, having
not one particle of substantial exist¬
ence in fact. It raged against profit¬
eers and tiie high cost of living without
enacting a single statute to make the
former afraid or doing a single act to
bring the latter within limitations.
The simple truth is that the high cost
of living can only be remedied by in¬
creased production, strict governmental
economy and a relentless pursuit of those
taking advantage of post-war conditions
and are demanding and receiving outra¬
geous “ pledge profits. the Democratic
We party to a
policy of strict economy in governmental
expenditures and to the enactment and
enforcement of such legislation as may
be required to bring profiteers before the
bar of criminal Justice.
The Tariff.
We affirm the traditional policy of the
Democratic party in favor of a tariff for
revenue oniy and confirm the policy ot
basing tariff revisions upon tiie intelli¬
gent research of a nonpartisan commis¬
sion, rather than upon the demands of
selfish interests, temporarily held in abey¬
ance.
Budget.
In the interest of economy and good
administration we favor the creation of
an effective bulget system that will func¬
tion in accord with the principles of the
constitution. The reform should r^ach
both the executive and legislative aspects
of the question. The supervision and prep¬
aration of tiie budget should be vested in
the secretary as the representative of the
president. The budget, as such, should
not be increased by the congress, except
by a two-thirds vote, each house, how¬
ever, being free to exercise its constitu¬
tional privilege of making appropriations
through independent bills. Tiie appropri¬
ation bills should be considered by single
committees of the house and senate.
Senate Rules.
We favor such alteration of the rules
of procedure of the senate of the United
States as will permit the prompt trans¬
action of the nation’s legislative business.
Agricultural Interests.
For nearly half a century of Republican
THE COVINGTON NEWS, COVINGTON, GEORGIA
rule not a sentence was written into the
federal statutes affording one dollar of
bank credits to tiie farming interests of
America. In tiie first term of this Demo¬
cratic administration the national bank
act was so altered as to authorize loans
of five years’ maturity on improved farm
lands. Later was established a system of
farm loan banks, from which the borrow¬
ings already exceed three hundred mil¬
lions of dollars, and under which the in¬
terest rate to farmers has been so mate¬
rially reduced as to drive out of business
the farm loan sharks who formerly sub¬
sisted by extortion upon the great agri¬
cultural interests of the country.
Thus it was a Democratic congress in
the administration of a Democratic presi¬
dent which enabled the farmers of Amer¬
ica for the first time to obtain credit upon
reasonable terms and insured tiieir oppor¬
tunity for the future development of tiie
nation's agricultural resources.
Smith Lever Act Praised.
Not only did the Democratic party put
into effect a great farm-loan system of
land mortgage banks, but it passed the
Smith-Lever agricultural extension act,
carrying to every farmer In every section
of the country, through the medium of
(rained experts and by demonstration
farms, the practical knowledge acquired
by the federal agricultural to'agriculture, department in
all things relating horti¬
culture and animal life; it established the
bureau of markets, the bureau of farm
management and passed the cotton fu¬
tures act, tiie grain grades bill, the co¬
operative farm administration act, and
the federal warehouse act.
The Democratic party has vastly im¬
proved the rural mail system and has
built up tiie parcel post system to such
an practical extent as to render its activities and
its service indispensable to tiie
farming community. It was this wise en¬
couragement and this effective concern of
the Democratic party for the farmers of
the United States that enabled this great
interest to fender such essential service
in feeding the armies of America and the
allied nations of the war and succoring
staving populations since armistice day.
G. O. P. .Condemned.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders at
Washington have failed utterly to propose
one single measure to make rural life
more tolerable. They have signalized
their fifteen months ot congressional
power by urging schemes which would
strip the farms of labor; by assailing the
principles of the farm-loan system and
seeking to impair its efficiency; covertly
attempting to destroy the great nitrogen
plant at Mussel Shoals upon which the
government has expended $70,000,000 to sup¬
ply American farmers with fertilizers at
reasonable cost; by ruthlessly crippling
nearly every branch of agricultural en¬
deavor, literally crippling the productive
mediums through which the people must
be fed.
We favor such legislation as will con¬
firm to the primary producers of the na¬
tion the right of collective bargaining and
the right of co-operative handling and
marketing ot the products of tiie work¬
shop and the farm and such legislation as
will facilitate the exportation of our farm
products.
We favor comprehensive studies of farm
production costs and the uncensored pub¬
lication of facts found in such studies.
Labor and Industry,
The Democratic party is now, as
ever, the firm friend of honest labor
and the promoter of progressive in¬
dustry. It established the department
of labor at Washington and a Demo¬
cratic president called to his official
council board the first practical work¬
ingman who ever held a cabinet port¬
folio. Under this administration have
been established employment bureaus
to bring the man and the job together:
have been peaceably determined many
bitter disputes between capital and
labor; were passed the child labor
act, the workingman’s compensation,
act (the extension of which we advo¬
cate so as to include laborers engaged
in loading and unloading ships and in
interstate commerce), the eight-hour
law, the act for vocational training and
a code of other wholesome laws affect¬
ing the liberties and bettering the con¬
ditions of the laboring classes.
In the department of labor the Dem¬
ocratic administration established a
woman’s bureau, which a Republican
congress destroyed by withholding ap¬
propriations.
Labor is not a commodity; it is hu¬
man. Those who labor have rights
and the national security and safety
depend upon a just the conservation recognition of of
those rights and
the strength of the workers and their
families in the interest , of sound
hearted and sound-headed men, wom¬
en and children. Laws regulating
hours of labor and conditions under
which labor is performed, when passed
in recognition of the conditions under
which life must be lived to attain the
highest development and happiness, are
just assertions of the national interest
in the welfare of the people.
At the same time the nation de¬
pends upon the products of labor; a
cessation of production means loss and.
if long continued, disaster. The whole
people, therefore, have a right to in¬
sist that justice shall be done to those
who work, and in turn that those
whose labor creates the necessities
upon which the life of the nation de¬
pends must recognize the reciprocal
obligation between the worker and the
state.
They should participate in the form¬
ulation of sound laws and regulations
governing the conditions under which
labor is performed, formulated recognize and obey
the laws so and seek their
amendment when necessary by the
processes ordinarily regulations addressed to the
laws and affecting the
other relations of life.
Labor, as well as capital, is entitled
to adequate compensation. Each has
the indefeasible right of organization,
of collective bargaining and of speak¬
ing through representatives of their
own selection.
Neither class, however, should at
any time nor in ill any circumstances
take action that w r put in jeopardy
the public welfare. Resort to strikes
and lockouts which endanger the
health or lives of the people is an
unsatisfactory device for determining
disputes, and the Democratic party
pledges itself to contrive, if possible,
and put into effective operation a fair
and comprehensive method of compos¬
ing differences of this nature.
In private industrial disputes welre
opposed to compulsory arbitration as
a method plausible in the theory but
a failure in fact. With respect to gov¬
ernment service, we hold distinctly
that the rights of the people are para¬
mount to the right to strike. How¬
ever. we profess scrupulous regard for
the conditions of public employment
and pledge the Democratic party to
instant inquiry into the pay of gov¬
ernment employees and equally speedy
regulations designed to bring salaries
to a just and proper level.
Woman's Suffrage.
We indorse the proposed nineteenth
amendment of the Constitution of the
United States granting equal suffrage
to women. We congratulate the legis¬
latures of thirty-five states which have
already ratified said amendment, and
we urge the Democratic governors and
legislatures of Tennessee. North Caro¬
lina and Florida, and such states as
have not Vet ratified the federal suf¬
frage amendment, to unite in an effort
to complete the process of ratification
and secure the thirty-sixth state in
time for all the women of the United
States to participate in the fall elec*
tion. We commend the effective ad¬
vocacy of the measure by President
Wilson. Women Industry.
in
We urge co-operation with the states
for the protection of child life through
infancy and maternity care; in the pro¬
hibition of child labor and bv adequate
appropriations and tiie woman’s for the bureau children’s bu¬
department reau of labor. in the
Disabled Soldiers.
The federal government should treat
with the utmost sailor consideration every
disabled soldier, and marine of
the world war. whether his disability
be due to wounds received in tine of
action or to health Impaired in serv¬
ice; and for the dependents of the
brave men who died in line of duty
the government's tenderest concern
and richest bounty should be their re¬
quital. The fine patriotism exhibited
tiie heroic conduct displayed by
American soldiers, sailors and ma¬
rines at home and abroad constitute a
sacred heritage ot posterity. the
worth of which can never be recom¬
pensed from the treasury and the glory
of which must not be diminished by
any such expedients.
The federal board for vocational
education should be made a part of the
war-risk insurance bureau, in order
that the task may be treated as a
whole, and this machinery of protec¬
tion and assistance must receive every
aid of iaw and appropriation operation. neces¬
sary to full and effective
We believe that no higher or to more
valued privilege can be afforded an
American citizen than to become a
freeholder in the soil of the United
States, and to that end we pledge our
party to the enactment of soldier set¬
tlements and home aid legislation
which will afford to the men who
fought for America the opportunity under to
become jand and home owners
conditions affording’ unincumbered genuine govern¬ by
ment assistance ad¬
needless difficulties of red tape or
vance financial investment.
The Railroads.
The railroads were subjected to fed¬
eral control as a war measure without
other idea than the swift transport or
troops, munitions and supplies. When
human life and national hopes were at
stake, profits could not be considered,
and were not. Federal operation, how¬
ever, was marked by an intelligence
and efficiency that minimized loss and
resulted in many and marked reforms.
The equipment taken over was not
only grossly inadequate, but shame¬
fully outworn. Unification practices and
overcame these initial handicaps
provided additions, betterments and
improvements. Economies enabled op¬
eration without tiie rate raises that
private control would have found
necessary, and labor was treated
with an exact justice that secured the
enthusiastic co-operatiqn that victory
demanded. The fundamental purpose
of federal control was achieved fully
and splendidly, and at far less cost
to the taxpayer than would have
been the case under private operation.
Investments in railroad properties were
not only saved by government operation,
but government management returned
these properties vastly improved in ev¬
ery physical and executive detail. A great
task was greatly discharged.
The president’s recommendation of re¬
turn to private ownership gave the Re¬
publican majority a full year in which
to enact the necessary legislation. Tiie
iiouse took six months to formulate its
ideas and another six monttis was con¬
sumed by the Republican senate in equal¬
ly vague debate. As a consequence, the
Esch-Cummins bill went to the president
in the closing hours of congress, and he
was forced to a choice between the chaos
of a veto and acquiescence in the meas¬
ure submitted, however grave may have
been his objections to it.
There should be a fair and complete
test of the law until careful and mature
action by congress may cure its defects
and insure a thoroughly effective trans¬
portation system under private owner¬
ship without government subsidy at the
expense of the taxpayers of the country.
Improved Highways.
Improved roads are of vital importance
not only to commerce and industry but
also to agricultural life. The federal road
act of 1916, enacted by a Democratic con¬
gress, represented the first systematic ef¬
fort of the government to insure the
building of an adequate system ot roads
in this country. The act, as amended, has
resulted in placing the movement for im¬
proved highways in a progressive and
substantial basis in every state in-* the
Union and in bringing under actual con¬
struction more than 13,000 miles of roads
suited to the traffic needs of the com¬
munities in which they are located.
We favor a continuance of the present
federal aid plan under existing federal
and state agencies, amended so as to in¬
clude as one of the elements in deter
ining the ratio in which the several states
shall be entitled to share in the fund,
the area ot public lands therein.
Rural Free Delivery.
Inasmuch as the postal service has been
extended by the Democratic party to the
door of practically every producer and
every consumer iti the country (rural free
6,000,000’ delivery alone having been provided for
additional patrons within the past
eight years without material added cost),
we declare that this instrumentality can
and will be used to the maximum of its
capacity to improve the efficiency of dis¬
tribution and reduce the cost of living to
consumers and increasing the profitable
operations of producers
Merchant Marine.
We desire to congratulate the American
people upon the rebirth of Our merchant
marine, which once more maintains its
former place in the world. It was under
a Democratic administration that this
was accomplished after seventy years of
Indifference and neglect, 13,000,000 tons
having been constructed since the act
was passed in 1916. We pledge the policy -
of our party to the continued growth of
our merchant marine under proper legis¬
lation so that American products will he
carried to all ports of the world by ves¬
sels built in American yards, flying the
American flag.
Inland Waterways.
We call attention to the failure of the
Republican national convention to recog¬
nize in any way the rapid development of
barge transportation on our inland wa¬
terways, which development is the result
of tiie constructive policies of the Demo¬
cratic administration. And we pledge our¬
selves to the further development of ade¬
quate transportation facilities on our riv¬
ers and to the further improvement of
our inland waterways, and we recognize
the importance of connecting the Great
Lakes with the sea by way of the Mis¬
sissippi river and its tributaries, as well
as by the St. Lawrence river.
Transportation remains an increasingly
vital problem in the continued develop¬
ment and prosperity of the nation. Our
present facilities for distribution by rail
are inadequate and the promotion of
transportation by water is imperative.
We therefore favor a libera! and compre¬
hensive policy for the development and
utilization of our harbors and interior
waterways.
Flood Control.
We commend the Democratic congress
for the redemption of the pledge contained
in dur last platform by the passage of
the flood contol act of March 1, 1917. and
point to the successful control of the
floods of the Mississippi river and the Sac¬
ramento river. California, under the pol¬
icy of that law, for its complete justifica¬
tion. We favor the extension of this pol¬
icy to other flood control problems wher¬
ever the federal interest involved justi¬
fies the expenditure required.
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
By wise legislation and progressive ad¬
ministration, we have transformed the
government reclamation projects, repre¬
senting an Investment of $100,000,000, from
a condition of impending failure and loss
of confidence in the ability of the govern¬
ment to carry through such large enter¬
prises to a condition of demonstrated suc¬
cess, whereby formerly arid and wholly
unproductive lands now sustain 40,000 pros¬
perous families and have an annual crop
production of over $70,000,000, not including
the crops grown on a million acres out¬
side the projects supplied with storage
water from government works.
We favor ample appropriations for the
continuation and extension of this great
work of home building and internal im¬
provement along the same steneral lines,
to the end that all practical projects shall
be shaft built, and made waters provide now running to waste
be to homes and add
to the food supply, power resources and
taxable property, with the government ul¬
timately reimbursed for the entire out¬
lay. Trade Commission.
The
The Democratic party heartily indorses
the creation and work of the federal trade
commission In establishing a fair field for
competitive business, free from restraints
of trade and monopoly, and recommends
amplification activities of the to grant statutes it governing its
prevent the so unfair as of patents authority to
use in re¬
straint of trade.
Live Stock Markets.
For the purpose of insuring just and
fair tratment in the great interstate live
stock market, and thus instilling eonfl
dence in growers through which produc
tion will be stimulated and the
price of meats to consumers be ulti¬
mately reduced, we favor the enact
ment of legislation for the supervision
of such markets by the national gov¬
ernment.
Mexico.
The United States is the neighbor
and friend of the nations of the three
Americas. In a very special sense our
international relations in this hemi¬
sphere should be characterized bv
good will and free from any possible
suspicion The as to our national purpose
administration, remembering al¬
ways that Mexico is an Independent
nation, and that permanent stabllltv
in her government and her institu¬
tions could only come from the con¬
sent of her own people to a govern¬
ment of their own making, has been
unwilling either to profit by the mis¬
fortunes of the people of Mexico or
to enfeeble their future by imposing
from the outside any rule upon their
temporarily distracted councils. As a
consequence, appearing order is gradually re¬ in
in Mexico; at no time
many years have American lives and
interests been so safe as they now -
are; peace reigns along the horde™
and industry is resuming.
When the new government of Mex¬
ico shall have given ample proof of its
ability permanently to maintain law
and order, signified its willingness to
meet its international obligations and’
written upon its. statute books just
laws, under which foreign investors
shall have rights as well as duties,
that government should receive our
recognition and systematic assistance.
Until these proper expectations have
been met Mexico must realize the
propriety of a policy that asserts the
right of the United States to demand
full protection for its citizens.
Petroleum.
The Democratic party recognizes the
importance of the acquisition, by Amer¬
icans of additional sources of supply
of petroleum and other minerals and
declares that such acquisition, both at
home and abroad, should be fostered
and encouraged. We urge such action,
legislative and executive, as may se¬
cure to American citizens the same
rights in the acquirement of mining
rights in foreign countries as are en¬
joyed by the- citizens or subjects of any
other nation.
New Nations.
The Democratic party expresses its
active sympathy with the people of
China, Czecho-Slovakia, Finland, Po¬
land. Persia and others who have re¬
cently established representative gov¬
ernment and who are striving to de¬
velop the institutions of true democ¬
racy.
Ireland.
The great principle of national self
determination has received constant re¬
iteration as one of the chief objec¬
tives for which this country entered
the war, and victory established this
principle.
Within the limitations of interna¬
tional comity and usage this conven¬
tion repeats the several previous ex¬
pressions of the sympathy of ihe
Democratic party of the United States
for the aspirations of Ireland for self
government.
Armenia.
We express our deep and earnest
sympathy for the unfeortunate people
of Armenia, and we believe that our
government, consistent with its consti¬
tution and principles, should render
every possible and proper aid to them
in their efforts to establish and main¬
tain a government of their own.
The Philippines.
We favor the granting of independ¬
ence without unnecessary delay to the
10.500,000 inhabitants of the Philippine
islands.
Hawaii.
We favor a liberal policy of home¬
steading public lands in Hawaii to
promote a larger middle-class citizen
population, with equal rights to all
citizens.
The importance of Hawaii as an out¬
post on the western frontier of the
United States demands adequate ap¬
propriations by congress for the de¬
velopment of our harbors and high¬
ways there.
Porto Rico.
We favor granting to the people of
Porto Rico the traditional territorial
form of government, -with a view to
ultimate statehood, accorded to all ter¬
ritories of the United, States since the
beginning of our government, and we
believe that the officials appointed to
administer the government of such ter¬
bona ritories should be qualified by previous
fide residence therein.
Alaska.
We commend the Democratic ad¬
ministration for inaugurating a new
policy as to Alaska as evidenced by
the construction of the Alaska rail¬
road and opening of the coal and oil
fields.
We declare for the modification of
the existing cofi.1 land law, to tiro
mote development without disturb¬
ing the features intended to prevent
monopoly. changes in the policy of
For such -
forestry control as will permit the
immediate initiation of the paper pulp
industry. the territory from the
For relieving
evils of long-distance government by
aribtrary and interlocking bureau¬
cratic regulation, and to that end we
urge the speedy passage of a law con¬
taining the essential features of the Lane
Curry bill, now pending, co-ordinating and
consolidating all federal control of na¬
tural resources under one department to
be administered by a nonpartisan hoard
permanently resident in the territory.
For the fullest measure of territorial self
government with the view to ultimate
statehood, with jurisdiction over all mat¬
ters not of purely federal concern, includ¬
ing fisheries and game, and for an intel¬
ligent administration of federal control
we believe that all officials appointed
should be qualified by previous bona-fide
residence in the territory.
For the extension to Alaska of the fed¬
eral farm loan act.
Asiatic Immigrants.
The policy of the United States with
reference to the nonadmission of Asiatic
immigrants is a true expression of the
judgment of our geographical people and to the sever¬
al states, whose situation or
internal conditions make this policy and
the enforcement of the laws enacted pur¬
suant thereto, support. of particular concern, we
pledge our
Postal Service.
The efficiency of the post office de¬
partment has been vindicated against a
malicious and designing assault by tiie
efficiency of its operation. Its record re¬
futes its assailants. Their voices are si¬
lenced and their charges have collapsed.
We commend the work of the joint com¬
mission on the reclassification of salaries
of postal employees, recently concluded,
which commission was created by a Dem¬
ocratic administration. The Democratic
party has always favored and will con¬
tinue to favor just treatment of all gov¬
ernment employees.
Free Speech and Press.
We resent the unfounded reproaches di¬
rected against the Democratic adminis¬
tration for alleged interference with the
freedom of the press and freedom of
speech.
No utterance from any quarter has been
assailed and no publication has been re¬
pressed which has not been animated by
treasonable purpose, and directed against
the nation’s peace, order and security in
time of war.
We reaffirm our respect for the great
principles of free speech and a free
press, but assert a s|n indisputable propo¬
sition that they afford no toleration of
enemy propaganda or the advocacy of
the overthrow of the government of the
state or nation by force or violence.
“Republican Corruption."
The shocking disclosure of the lavish
use of money by aspirants for the Re¬
publican nomination for the highest of¬
fice in the gift of the people has created
a painful impression throughout the coun¬
try. Viewed in connection with the re¬
cent conviction of a Republican senator
from the state of Michigan for the crim¬
inal transgression of the law limiting ex¬
penditures on behalf of a candidate for
the United States senate, it indicates the
re-entry, under Republican auspices, of
money as an influential factor in elections
thus nullifying the letter and flaunting
the spirit of numerous laws, enacted by
the people, to protect the ballot from the
contamination of corrupt practices. We
deplore those delinquencies and invoke
their stem rebuke, pledging our earnesF
efforts to a strengthening of the present
corrupt practices and their rigorous en¬
forcement.
We remind the people that it was only
by the return of a Republican senator in
Michigan, who Is now under conviction
and sentence for the criminal misuse of
money In his election, that the present
organization of the senate with a Repub¬
lican majority was made possible.
Conclusion.
Believing that we have kept the Demo¬
cratic faith, and the resting our claims to the
confidence of people not upon grandi¬
ose promise, but upon the solid perform¬
ances of our party, we submit our rec¬
ord to the nation’s consideration and ask
that the pledges of this platform be ap¬
praised in the light ot that record.
Cannot Praise this
Remedy too HinhN
THE
fcf4t been r D^n r, one.’Stofe ?- p «H
terrible. No I"
lettcr > can continue
doubt the great healing troK to
of FE-RU-NA for P °£
to catarrh or catarrhal corditX es
J” letter any. part inspiration of the body T
is an to
sick anywhere. and suffering Here it man is: “I or W uff«2 orr2
two years with catarrh S
stomach and bowels. of the head
the best doctors, Tried mA 0 .
f who gave a5'2
truthfully ‘iS 1 ,, 10011 say P T I E am - EU well. -NA wWi
began to use PE-RU-NA, I weighed weiZ
one hundred pounds. My
now is one hundred and fifty X
cannot praise PE-RU-NA
highly, I got relief for it was from a Godsend the first toX
bottle and twelve bottles half
I advise all sufferers cured *2
PE-RU-NA.” to tak9
As an emergency remedy in the
home, there is nothing quite tkl
equal of this reliable, time-tried
medicine, PE-RU-NA. Thousands
place their _ sole dependence on it
for coughs, colds, stomach and
bowel trouble, constipation, rheu¬
matism, pains in the back, side and
loins and to prevent the grip and
Spanish Flu. To keep the blood
pure and maintain bodily strength
and robustness, take PE-RU-NA
You can buy PE-RU-NA any.
where in either tablet or liquid
form.
BIG ULCER
ALL HEALED
‘Here is another letter that makes m
happy,” that says Peterson, of Buffalo. “One
I would rather have than a thousand
dollars.
“Money isn’t everything in this world.
There is many a big hearted, rich man
who would give all he has on earth to be
able to produce a remedy with such
mighty healing power as Peterson's Oint¬
ment, to sell at all druggists for 60 cents
a large box.”
Dear Sirs:—
“I was an untold sufferer from old run¬
ning sore and ulcers. I had tried most
everything without any relief from pain.
A friend told me of your wonderful oint¬
ment and the first box took away the
pain that had not left me before in years,
and after using just nine dollars' worth
of the salve I am cured. The ulcer was
9 Inches by 6% inches, is all healed and I
can walk. Never, never will I be without
Peterson’s again.
“You may use this to recommend your
ointment, if you wish. I cannot say enough
to praise-it.” Yours truly, Mrs. Albert
Routhcott, Medina, N. Y. Mail orders
filled by Peterson Ointment Co., Inc., Buf¬
falo, N. Y.
PARKER’S
HAIR BALSAM
iRemovMDandruff-Stnpsflairfallijij } Restores
Color and
■Beauty I to Gray and Faded Hair
50c. and $ 1.00 at drumrista
aHiscoiChem. Wts. Ratchofue, N.Y.
louses, HiNDERCORN£ all Removes Cfirns, Cal¬
etc., stops pam, ensures comfort to tbs
feet, makes walking easy. 15c. by mail or at brag
Cists, iiiscoz Cbtmicai Works, Patcbojrae, N. I. ’
rnrnt/i H I I §■ ro V FrackI* p°*mveLY Ointment—Your removed d druggist ? dt,B imi or b»
I i r. LU r 1 » MlO
After you eat—always use
ATONIC
K'FOB YOUR STOMACH’S SAKE)
—one or two tablets—eat like candy.
Instantly relieves Heartburn, Bloated
Gassy Feeling. Stops indigestion,
food souring, repeating, headache
and the many miseries caused by
Acid-Stomach
EATONIC is the best remedy, it takes
the harmful acids and gases right out
of the body and, of course, you get
well. Tens of thousands wonderfully
benefited. Guaranteed to satisfy or
money refunded by your own drug
gist. Cost a trifle. Please try it!
' No Objection to That.
“Jims was held up the other night—”
“By a bandit?”
“No; as a shining example.”
‘California Syrup of Figs*
Child’s Best Laxative
fc
Accept “California” Syrup of L l 6
only-—look for the name California on
the package, then you are sure jour
child Is having the best and most har
less physic for the little stomach.
and bowels. Children love -its f rU1 ■
taste. Full directions on each botti .
You must say “California.”— Adv.
He who occasional -T‘ td
goes on an
is better off.
Self-control does more for a niaa
than government control. ^
mmr MM Morning
**
hteep Vo u r
