THE MORXIXO OREGONIAN, SATURDAY. JULY 3, 1920
DEMOCRACY'S PLATFORM DRAFT RECITES DEMANDS OF PARTY
Varied Planks Favor Treaty With Reservations, Tariff for Revenue Only, Chase of Profiteers, Woman Suffrage, Improved Highways and American Merchant Marine.
G
SAN FRANCISCO. July 2. The fol
lowing Is the text of the platform
submitted to the democratic na
tior.al convention today:
The democratic party In its national
convention now assembled. Fends
greetings to the president of the
United States. Woodrow Wilson, and
hails with patriotic prido the great
achievements for country ani the
world, wrcught by a dcmocra so ad
ministration under his leadership.
It salutes the mighty people of this
great republic, emerging with imper
ishable honor from the severe tests
and grtevous strains of the" moat
tragic war in history, naving earned
the plaudits and the gratitude "I all
free nations.
It declares its adherence to the
fundamental progressive principles or
social, economic and industrial jus
tice and advance, and purposes to re
sume the great work of translating
lntr effective laws,
begun and carried far by the demo
cratic administration and interrupted
war and today It is the hope and In
spiration of business. Indeed, one
vital danger against which the Ameri
can people should keep constantly on
guard is the commitment of this sys
tem to partisan enemies who strug
gled against its adoption and vainly
attempted to retain in the hands of
speculative bankers a monopoly of
the currency and credits of the nation.
Already there are well-defined indica
tions of an assault upon the vital
principles of the system in the event
of republican success in the elections
in November.
Under democratic leadership the
American people successfully fi
nanced their stupendous part in the
greatest war of all time. The treas
ury wisely insisted during the war
upon meeting an adequate portion of
the war expenditure from current
taxes and the bulk of the balance
from popular loans, and during the
first full fiscal year after fighting
stopped, upon meeting current ex
penditures from current receipts, not
withstanding the new and unneces
sary burdens thrown upon the treas
only when the war claimed all the na- ' ury Dy tne delay, obstruction and ex-
tinn al energies for the single task
of victory.
League of Nations.
The democratic party favors the
league of nations as the surest, if not
the only, practicable means 'of main
taining the permanent peace of the
world and terminating the insuffer
able burden of great military and
taval establishments. It was for this
.hat America broke away from tra
litional isolation and spent her blood
tnd treasure to crush a colossal
cheme of conquest. It was upon this
iasiH that the president of the l-nited
itates, in pre-arrangement with our
lilies, consented to a suspension of
.lostilities against the imperial Ger
man government; the armistice was
granted and a treaty of peace negoti
ated upon the definite assurance to
Uermanv. as well as to the powers
pitted against Germany, that a gen
eral association of nations must be
formed, under specific covenants, for
the purpose of affording mutual
guarantees 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
ment at Paris involved in the adop
tion of a league and treaty so near
akin to previously expressed Ameri
can ideals and so intimately related
lo the aspirations of civilized peoples
everywhere. . ,
We commend the president for his
courage and his high conception of
good faith in steadfastly standing for
the covenant agreed to by all the as
sociated and allied nations at war
with Germany, and we condemn the
republican senate for its refusal to
;-atifv the treaty merely because it
was 'the product of democratic states
manship, thus interposing partisan
envv and personal hatred in the way
of the peace and renewed prosperity
of the world.
By everv accepted standard or in
ternational morality the president is
justified in asserting that the honor
of the country is involved in tins
travagance of a republican congress
The non-partisan federal reserve
authorities have been wholly free of
political 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 the country. As a result of
these sound treasury and federal re
serve policies, the inevitable war in
flation has' been held down to a mini
mum and the cost of living has been
prevented from increasing here in
proportion to the increase in other
belligerent countries and in neutral
countries which are in close contact
with the world's commerce and ex
changes. After a year and a half of fighting
in Europe and despite another year
and a half of republican obstruction
at home, the credit of the govern
ment of the United States stands un
impaired, the federal reserve note is
the unit of value throughout all 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
achievement without parallel in the
financial history of this or any other
country, in this or any other war.
And in particular we condemn the
pernicious attempt of the republican
party to create discontent among the
holders of the bonds of the govern
ment of the United States and to drag
our public finance and our banking
and currency system back Into the
arena of party politics.
Tax Revision.
We condemn the failure of the pres
ent congress to respond to the oft-
repeated demand of the president and
the secretaries of the treasury to re
vise the existing! tax laws. The con
tinuance in favor in peace times of
taxes devised under pressure of im
perative necessity to produce a reve
nue for war purposes is indefensible
ana can only result in lasting injury
Kitlr. nnrl we OOint to the aCCUS- I In tViA n .....! o TVi i-Artn hi i on n finn
ing ract tnat neiore it wa ucici himcu
to initiate political antagonism to the
treaty, the now republican chairman
of the foreign relations committee
himself publicly proclaimed that any
proposition for a separate peace with
Germany, such as he and his party as
sociates thereafter reported to the
senate, would make us "guilty of the
blackest crime."
On Slav 15 last the Knox substitute
for the Versailles treaty was passed
bv the republican senate; and this
convention can contrive no more fit
ting characterization of its obloquy
than that made in the Forum maga
zine of December, 1918, by Henry
Cabot Lodge, when he said:
"If we send our armies and young
men abroad to be killed and wounded
in northern 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 of
the president was that there could be
no peace until we couia itehj a. nn
nation where no such war as this
could recur. We cannot make peace ex
cept in company with our allies. It
would brand us with everlasting dis
honor and bring ruin to us also If we
undertook to make a separate peace."
Thus to that which Mr. Lodge, in
saner moments, considered "the black
est crime" he and his party in mad
ness sought to give the sanctity of
law. that which 18 months ago was
of "everlasting dishonor," the repub
lican party and its candidates today
accept as the essence of faith.
We endorse the president's view of
our international obligations and his
firm stand against reservations de
signed to cut to pieces the vital pro
visions of the Versailles treaty and
tie commend the democrats in con
gress for voting against the resolu
tions for separate peace which would
disgrace the nation. We advocate the
immediate ratification without reser
vations which would impair essential
Integrity;- but do not oppose the ac
ceptance of any reservations making
clearer or more specific the obliga
tions of the United States to the
league of associates. Only by doing
this may we retrieve the reputation
of this nation among the powers of
the earth and recover the moral lead
ershlo which President Wilson won
and which republican politicians at
Washington Bacririced. Only by do
inar this may we hope to aid effec
tively in the restoration of order
throughout the world and to take the
place which we should assume in the
Iront rank oi spiritual, commercial
and industrial advancement.
We reject as utterly vain. If not
vicious, the republican assumption
that ratification of the treaty and
membership in the league of nations
would in any wise impair the integ
rity or independence of our country.
The fact that the covenant 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 re
peatedly has declared, and this con
vention reaffirms, that all our duties
and obligations as a member of the
league must be fulfilled in strict con
formity with the constitution of the
United States, embodied in which is
the fundamental requirement of dec
laratory action by the congress before
this nation may become a participant
In any war.
Conduct of the "War.
During the war President Wilson
exhibited the very broadest conception
of liberal. Americanism. In his con
duct of the war. as in the eeneral ad-
mniistrat ton of his high office, there
was no semblance of partisan bias,
he invited to Washington as his coun
cillors and co-adjusters hundreds of
the most prominent and pronounced
republicans in the country. To these
he committed responsibilities of the
Bravest import and most confidential
nature. Many of them had charge of
vital activities of the government.
And yet, with the war successfully
prosecuted and gloriously ended, the
republican party in congress, far from
applauding the masterly leadership of
the president and felicitating the
country on the amazing achieve
ments of the American govern
ment, has meanly requited the
considerate course of the chief magis
trate by savagely defaming the commander-in-chief
of the army and
navv and by assailinir nearly everv
Dublic officer of everv branch of the
service intimately concerned In win
ning the war abroad and preserving
the security of the government at
- home.
We express to the soldiers, sailors
and marines of America the admira
tion of the'r fellow countrymen. Guid
ed by the genius of such commanders
as General John J. Pershinsr. the
armed forces f America constituted a
decisive factor 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
of the war. and contributed to the
brilliant a.d ministrative success
achieved under the broad visioned
leadership of the president.
A review of the record of the demo
cratic party during the administration
of Woodrow Wilson presents a chap
ter of substantial achievements un
surpassed in the history of the repub
lic. For 50 years before the advent
of this administration periodical con
vulsions had impeded the industrial
progress of the American people and
caused inestimable loss and distress.
By the enactment of the federal re
serve act the old system, which bred
panics, was replaced by a new system.
gress persistently failed. through
sheer political cowardice, to make a
single move toward a readjustment
of tax laws, which it denounced be- j J
f a ro t ti o 1 1 nluntinn onH urn afra ill i
to revise before the next election.
We advocate tax reform and a
searching revision of the war reve
nue act to fit peace conditions so that
the wealth of the nation may not be
withdrawn from productive- enter
prise and diverted to wasteful or non
productive expenditure.
We demand prompt action by the.
next congress for a complete survey
of existing taxes and their modifica
tion and simplification with a view to
securing greater equity and justice in
tax burden nad improvement in ad
ministration. Public EeonomT.
Claiming to have effected great
economies in government expendi
tures, the republican party cannot
show the reduction of one dollar In
taxation as a corollary of this false
pretense. In contrast, the last demo
cratic congress enacted legislation
reducing taxes from ?8, 000. 000, 000. de
signed 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 adversaries. Two years
alter armistice day a republican con
gress provides for expending the
stupendous sum of $5,403,390,327.30.
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
statement of expenditures omits the
pregnant fact that congress author
ized the use of $1,500,000,000 in the
hands of various departments and
bureaus, which otherwise would have
been covered into the treasury, and
which should be added to the repub
lican total or expenditures.
High Coat of Living.
The high cost of living and the de
preciation of bond values in this
country are primarily duj to war it
self, to the necessary governmental
expenditures for. the destructive pur
poses of war, to private extravagance,
to the world shortage of capital, to
the inflation of foreign currencies and
credits and in large degree to con
scienceless profiteering.
The republican party Is responsible
for the failure to restore peace and
peace conditions in Europe which is
a principal cause of prolonging armis
tice inflation the world over. It has
denied the demand of the president
for necessary legislation to deal with
secondary and local causes. The sound
policies pursued by the treasury and
the federal reserve syetem have
limited this country, though they
could not prevent the inflation which
was world-wide. .Elected upon specific
promises to curtail public expendi
tures and to bring the 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 repub
lican politicians" to cope with the
oroblems. Demanding that the nresl-
dent, from his place at the peace
table, call the congress Into extra
ordinary session for imperative pur
poses of readjustment, the congress
when convened spent 13 months in
partisan pursuits, failing to repeal a
single war statute which harassed
business or to initiate a single con
structive measure to help business.
It busied itseir making a pre-elec
tlon record of pretended thrift, hav
ing not one particle of substantial
existence in fact. It raged against
profiteers and tne nign cost of llv
ing 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
bv lncreasea production, strict gov
ernmental economy and a relentles3
pursuit of those who take advantage
of post war conditions and are de
manding and receiving outrageous
profits.
We pledge the democratic party to
a policy oi strict economy in govern
ment expenditures and to the enact
ment and enforcement of such legis
lation as may be required to bring
profiteers before the bar of criminal
justice.
We reaffirm the traditional policy
of the democratic party in favor of a
tariff for revenue only and confirm
the policy of basing tariff revisions
uDon the intelligent research of a
non-partisan commission, rather than
upon the demands or sellisn interests,
temporarily held in abeyance.
Budget.
In the interests of economy and
good administration, we favor the
creation of an effective budget sys
tem that will function In accord with
the principles of the constitution. The
reform snouia reacn Dotn tne execu
tive and legislative aspects of the
question. The supervision and prepa
ration of the budget should be vested
in the secretary of the treasury 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, however,
being free to exercise its constitu
tional privilege oi maning approprla
SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL POINTS TOUCHED UPON IN
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
The following is the platform submitted to the democratic
national convention today summarized:
League of Nations The party favors the league as the surest
if not the only practicable means of maintaining permanent world
peace. Ratification of the treaty and membership in the league
is upheld.
Conduct of the War Admiration is expressed for President
Wilson, the administration and treasury for conduct of the war
and .flotation of bond issues.
Tax Revision Tax reform and revision of the war revenue act
and prompt action by next congress demanded.
Public Economy Republican party assailed for expenditures
authorized by present congress.
High Cost of Living Party is pledged to policy of strict econ
omy in government expenditures and enactment of legislation
aimed to curb profiteers. Traditional policy on tariff is reaffirmed.
Budget Creation of an effective budget system that will
function in accord with the constitution is favored.
Agricultural Interests Right of collective bargaining, co-operative
marketing and handling of farm products recognized. '
Labor and Industry Compulsory arbitration in private indus
trial disputes opposed. Right to strike in government service not
recognized. Party pledged to survey salaries paid in government
service and to bring salaries to just level. Proposed 19th suffrage
amendment is. indorsed.
Women in Industry Protection of child life through infancy
and maternity care, prohibition of child labor, increase in teachers'
salaries, legislation insuring American women (married to aliens)
their citizenship urged.
Disabled Soldiers Party pledged to enactment of soldier settle
ment and home aid legislation.
Railroads Fair and complete test of private ownership and
operation is advocated.
Improved Highways Continuance of federal aid plan is favored.
American people congratulated on re-birth of merchant marine.
Port Facilities Party pledged to stand for equality of rates,
both import and export.
Inland Waterways Party favors liberal and comprehensive
policy for the development and utilization of harbors and interior
waterways.
Reclamation of Arid Lands Party favors ample appropriations
for continuation and extension of reclamation.
Trade Commission Party indorses creation and work of federal
trade commission.
Livestock Markets Enactment of legislation for supervision of
markets by the national government is favored.
Mexico Policy that asserts the right of the United States to
demand protection for its citizens is indorsed.
Petroleum Action to secure Americans the same rights in the
acquirement of mining rights in foreign countries as are enjoyed
by citizens of other countries is urged.
New Nations Party expresses sympathy for peoples of China,
Czecho-Slovakia, Finland andPoland.
Ireland Party repeats its sympathy in the aspirations of Ire
land for self-government.
Armenia Party expresses sympathy for Armenia and urges all
possible and proper aid be rendered.
Alaska Party declares for modification of coal land law,
changes in forestry control to permit immediate initiation of paper
pulp industry, for territorial self-government, system of road con
struction and extension of the federal farm lan act.
The Philippines Party favors granting of independence with
out unnecessary delay.
Hawaii Liberal policy of homesteading public lands with equal
rights to all citizens is favored.
Porto Rico Party favors granting traditional territorial form
. of government.
Asiatic Immigrants Party pledges support to existing policy of
the United States.
Postal Service Party favors fair and just treatment of all gov
ernment employes.
Iree Speech and Press Party reaffirms respect for free press
and free speech.
Republican Corruption Alleged lavish use of money by repub
lican aspirants to the presidency deplored.
Conclusion Party rests claims on past performance and sub
mits record to the people.
iitmtances. take action that American Deople upon the re-birth
will put In jeopardy the public wel- of our merchant marine, which once
. t i . . ..... 1 .nKA .. i ..... i r. i. I tc fnrmr nlnJA In
fare. Resort to strikes and lockouts
which endanger the health or lives of
the people is an unsatisfactory device
fop- determining disputes, and the
democratic party pledges itself to
contrive, if possible, and put into
effective operation a fair and com
prehensive method of composing dif
ferences of this nation.
In private industrial disputes we
are opposed to compulsory arbitra
tion as a method plausible in theory,
but a failure. In fact. With respect to
government 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 employ
ment and pledge the democratic party
to Instant inquiry into the pay of gov
ernment employes and equally speedy
regulations designed to bring salaries
to a just and proper level.
We endorse the proposed 19th
amendment of the constitution of the
United States granting equal suffrage
to women. We congratulate the leg
islatures of 85 states which have al
ready ratified said amendment and we
urge the democratic governors and
legislatures of Tennessee. North Caro
lina and Florida and such states as
have not yet ratified the federal suf
frage amendment to unite in an effort
to comnlete the nrocess of ratification
and secure the 36th state in time for
all the women of the United states to
nnrtii'inatft in the fall elertlon. We
commend the effective advocacy of
the measure by President Wilson
Women In Industry.
We urcre co-ODeration with the
states for the protection of child life
through lnfancv and maternity care:
In the prohibition of child labor and
by adequate appropriations for the
children's bureau and the woman's
bureau In the department of labor.
Co-operative federal assistance to the
states Is immediately required for
the removal of illiteracy, for the in
crease of teachers salaries and in
struction In citizenship for both na
tive ana toreign-Dorn, inurciibru nn
propriation for vocational training In
home economics; re-establishment of
Joint federal and state -employment
rpfvIpa i t i n-nm n'M -l pnn rt ment S Un
der the direction of technically quali
fied women. We advocate full repre
sentation of women on all commis
sions dealing with women's work or
women's interests and a reclassifica
tion of the federal civil service, free
from discrimination on the ground of
sex; a continuance of appropriations
for education in sex hygiene; federal
legislation which shall insure that
American women resident in the
United States but married to aliens
shall retain their American citizen
ship and that the same process of na
turalization shall be required for
women as for men.
Disabled Soldiers.
should
more maintains Its former place In
the world. It was under a demo
cratic administration that this was
accomplished after 70 years of in
difference 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 legislation so that American
products will be carried to all ports
of the world by vessels built In
American yards, flying the American
flag.
Port Facilities.
the existing coal land law, to promote
development without disturbing the
features Intended to prevent monop
oly. '
For such changes In the policy of
forestry control as will permit the im
mediate initiation of the paper pulp
Industry.
For relieving the territory from the
evils of long-distance government by
partment has been vindicated against
a malicious and designing assault by
the efficiency of its operation. Its
record refutes its assailants. Their
voices are silenced and their charges
have collapsed.
We commend the work of the joint
commission on the re-classification of
salaries of postal employes, recently
concluded. which commission was
arbitrary and interlocking bureau- created by a democratic administra-
cratic regulation ana to that end we tion. I tie democratic party has al
house and senate. The audit system
should be consolidated and its powers
expanded so as to pass upon the wis
dom of as well as the authority for
expenditures.
A budget bill was passed In the
closing days of the second session of
the sixty-sixth congress which, in
validated by plain constitutional de
fects and defaced by considerations of
patronage, the president was obliged
to veto. The house amended the bill
to meet the executive objection. We
condemn the republican senate, for
aajourning without passing the
and the allied nations of the war and
succoring starving populations sinca
Armistice day.
Meanwhile the republican leaders
at Washington have failed utterly to
propose one single measure to make
rural life more toleraole.
-They have signalized their 15
months of congressional power bl
unging schemes which would strip
the farms of labor; bv assailing the
principles of the fa
and seeking to impair its effic.ency;
by covertly attempting to destroy the
great nitrogen plant at Mussel shoals
amended measure, when bv devoting upon which the government has ex
an hour or two more to this urgent, pended $(0,000,000 to supply Ameri-
public business a budget system could
uuve Deen provided. ' -
We favor such alteration of the
rules of procedure of the senate of
the United States as will permit the
prompt trensaction of the nation's
legislative business.
tions through independent bills. The
Agricultural Interests.
To the great agricultural interests
of the country the democratic party
does not find it necessary to make
promises.
It already Is rich In Its record of
things actually accomplished. For
nearly half a century of republican J
rule not a sentence was written Into
the federal statutes affording one
dollar of bank credits to the farming
interests of America. In the first
term of thts democratic administra
tion the national bank act was so
altered as to authorize loans of five
years maturity on Improved farm
lands. Later was established a sys
tem of farm loan banks, from which
the borrowings already exceed $3,000,-
000 and under which the interest rate
to farmers has been so materially re
duced as to drive out of business the
farm loan sharks who formerly sub
sisted by extortion apon the great
agricultural interests of the country.
Thus it was a democratic congress
in the administration of a democratic
party which enabled the farmers of
America for the first time to obtain
credit upon reasonable terms and in-
sured their opportunity for tne future
development ot the nation s agncui-1
tural resources. Tied up in supreme
court proceedings in a suit by hostile
interests, the tederai larm loan sys
tem, originally opposed by the repub
lican candidate for the presidency,
appealed in vain to a republican con
gress for adequate financial assist
ance to tide over the Interim between
the beginning and the ending of the
current year, awaiting a final de
cision of the highest court on the
validity of the contested act. We
pledge prompt and consistent support
of sound and effective measures to
sustain, amplify and perfect the rural
credits statutes and thus to check and
reduce the growth and course of farm
tenancy.
Not only did the democratic party
nut Into effect a great farm loan sys
tem of land mortgage banks, but It
passed the Smith-Lever agricultural
extension act, carrying to every
farmer in every section of the coun
try, through the medium of trained
experts and by demonstration farms,
the practical knowledge acquired by
the federal agricultural department In
all things relating to agriculture, hor
ticulture and animal life; it estab
lished the bureau of markets, the
bureau of farm management and
passed the cotton futures act. the
grain grades bill, the co-operative
farm administration act and the fed
eral warehouse act.
The democratic party has vastly Ira-
S roved the rural mall system and has
uilt up the parcels post system to
such an extent as to render Its activi
ties and its practical service indis
pensable to the farming community.
It was this wise encouragement and
this effective concern of the demo
cratic party for the farmers of the
United States that enabled this great
can farmers with f prill izem at raa
sonable cost; by ruthlessly crippling
nearly every branch of agricultural
:iiuea.vur, nieraiiy crippling the pro
ductive medium through which 'he
people must h fed
We favor such Iee-tslatinn am n. Ill
confirm to the primary prodacers of
the nation the right of collective bar
gaining and the right of co-operative
handling and marketing of the prod
ucts of the workshop and the farm
and such legislation as will facilitate
the exportation Of Our farm nrnrlnta
We favor comprehensive studies of
xarm production costs and the uncen
sored publication of facta found in
such siuaies.
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
working man who ever held a cabi
net portfolio. Undetv this administra
tion have been estaDllshed employ
ment bureaus to bring the man and
the job together; have been peacably
determined many bitter disputes be
tween capital and labor; were passed
the child labor act, the workingman's
compensation act (the extension of
which we advocate so as to include
laborers engaged in loading and un
loading ships and in interstate com
merce); the eight-hour law, the act
for vocational training, and a code of
other wholesome laws affecting the
liberties and bettering the conditions
of the laboring classes. In the de
partment of labor the democratic ad
ministration estaDiisnea a woman s
bureau which a republican congress
aestroyea oy witnnoiaing appropria
tions. Labor is not a commodity: it is hu
man. Those who labor have rights,
and the national security and safety
depend upon a just recognition of
those rights and the conservation of
the strength of the workers and their
tamuies in tne interest oi sound
hearted and sound-headed men.
women and children. Laws regulat
ing hours of labor and conditions un
der which labor is performed, when
passed in recognition of the conditions
under which life must be lived to at
tain the highest development and
happiness, are just assertions of the
national interest in the welfare of the
DeoDle.
At the same time, the nation de
pends upon the products of labor: a
creation of production means loss and.
if long continued, disaster. The
whole people, therefore, have-a right
to insist that justice shall be done to
those who work, and in turn that
those whose labor creates the necess-i
ties upon which the life of the nation
depends, must recognize the reciprocal
obligation .between the worker and
the state. They should participate in
the formulation of sound laws and
regulations governing the conditions
under which labor is porformed.
recognize and obey the laws so form
ulated, and seek their amendment
when necessary by the processes or
dinarilv addressed to the laws and
regulations affecting the other rela
tions oi lite
Labor, as well as capital, is entitled
to adequate compensation. Each has
the indefeasible right of organiza
tion, of collective bargaining and of
speaking through representatives of
their own selection. ieitner class.
which Insured .confidence. It wn nn annrnnrlation bills should be r.on. interest to render such essential serv-
muispensaoie iucwjt in winning the eiderea oy single committees or the ice in teeains tne armies ui amn nowever, sihium m any nine, nor in
The federal government
treat wit the, utmost consideration
every disabled soldier, sailor and ma
rine of the world war, whether his
disability be due to wounds received
in line of action or to health impaired
in service; and for the dependents of
the brave who died in line of duty
the government's tenderest concern
and richest bounty should be their re
quital. The fine patriotism exhib
ited, the heroic conduct displayed by
American soldiers, sailors and ma
rines at home and abroad, constitute a
sacred heritage of posterity the worth
nf urhlr-h a n rt a V f I- llA rPl-ftnl neillP (1
from the treasury and the glory of
which must not be diminished by any
such expedients.
.The democratic aaminisiranun
tri Hoiv t n Hi i hri n war risk insur
ance bureau, giving four and one-half
millions of enlisted men insurance at
unprecedentedly low rates and through
the medium of wnicn compensation ui
men and women injured in service is
readily adjusted, anu nospnai iacm-
ties for those whose neaitn is im
paired are abundantly afforded.
J n a tederai noara or vocational euu
cation should h- made 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 r-efeive every
aid of law and appropriation neces
sary to full and elfective operation.
Wo believe that no higner or more
valued privilege can be afforded to an
American citizen than to become a
freeholder in the soil of the United
States and to that end we pledge our
Dartv to the enactment of soldiers
settlement and home aid legislation
which will afford the men who fought
for America the opportunity to te
come land and home owners under
conditions affordinir trenuine govern
ment assistance unencumbered by
needless difficulties of red tape or
advance financial investment
The Railroads.
The railroads were subjected to fed
eral control as a war measure with
out other Idea than the swift trans-
nnrl nf Irnnn-I munitions and SUP
nlies. When human life and national
hopes were at stake, profits could not
be considered and were not. Federal
operation, however, was marked by an
intelligence and efficiency that min
imized loss and resulted in many and
marked reforms. The equipment tak
en over was not only grossly inade
auate but shamefully outworn. Uni
fication practices overcame these ini
tial Handicaps ana provinea aaaitions.
betterments and improvements. Econ
omies enabled operation without th
rate raises that private control would
have found necessary and labor was
treated with an exact justice that se
cured the enthusiastic co-operation
that victory demanded. The funda
mental purpose of federal control was
achieved fully and splendidly, and
with 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 retained
these DroDertles. vastly iranroved in
every physical and executive detail. A
great task was greatly discharged.
1 he presidents recommendation or
return to private ownership gave the
republican majority a run year in
which to enact the necessary legis
lation. The house took six months
to formulate -its ideas, and another
six months was consumed by the re
publican senate In equally vague de
bate, as a consequence tne bscn-
Cummina 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 acauiescense
in the measure suDmitteo, nowever
grave may have been his objections
lo it.
There should be a fair and com
plete test of the law until careful
and mature action by congress may
cure its defects and insure a thor
oughly effective transportation sys
tem under private ownersnip with
out government subsidy at the ex
pense of the taxpayers of the country.
Improved Highways.
Improved roads are of vital im
portance not only to commerce and
industry but also to agriculture and
rural life. The federal road act of
1916, enacted by a democratic con
gress, represented the first systematic
effort of the government to Insure
the building of an adequate system
of roads in this country. The act, as
amended, has resulted in placing the
movement for improved highways on
a progressive and substantial oasis
in every state In the union and in
bringing under actual construction
more than 13,000 miles of roads suited
to the traffic needs of the communi
ties in which they are located.
We favor a continuance of the pres
ent federal aid plan under existing
federal and state agencies, amended
so as to include as one of the ele
ments in determining the ratio in
which the several states shall be en
titled to share in the fund, the area
of any public lands therein.
Inasmuch as the postal service has
been extended by the democratic
party to the door of practically every
producer and every consumer in the
country (rural free delivery alone
hav nz been provided for b. 000. 000 ad
ditional patrons within the past eight
years without materially added cost)
we declare that this instrumentality
ran and will be used to the maxi
mum of its capacity to Improve the
efficiency of distribution and reduce
the cost of living to consumers while
increasing the profitable operations
of producers.
We strongly favor the increased use
of the motor vehicle in the transpor
tation of the mails and urge the re
moval of the restrictions imposed by
the republican congress on the use
of motor devices in maintaining
transportation in rural territories.
We desire to congratulate the
The urgent demands of the war
for adequate transportation of war
material as well as for domestic need
revealed the fact that our port facili
ties and rate adjustments were such
as to seriously affect the whole coun
try in times or peace as well as war.
We pledge our party to stand for
equality of rates, both import and
export, for the ports of the country,
to the end that there may be ade
quate and fair facilities and rates for
the mobilization 'of the products of
Lthe country offered for shipment.
Inland 'Waterway.
We call attention to the failure
of the republican national conven
tion to recognize In any way the
rapid development of barge transpor
tation on our inland waterways,
which development is the result of
constructive policy of the democratic
administration. And we pledge our
selves to the further development of
adequate transportation facilities on
our rivers and to the further im
provement of our inland waterways,
and we recognize the importance of
connecting the Great Lakes with the
sea by way of the Mississippi river
and its tributaries, as well as'by the
St. Lawrence river. We favor an en
terprising foreign trade policy with
all nations and in this connection we
favor the full utilization of all At
lantic, gulf and Pacific ports, and an
equitable distribution of shipping
facilities between the various ports.
Transportation remains an increas
ingly vital problem in the continued
development and prosperity of the nation.
Our present facilities for distribu
tion by rail are inadequate and the
promotion of transportation by wa
ter is imperative.
We therefore favor a liberal and
comprehensive policy for the develop
ment and utilization of our harbors
and interior highways.
we commend tne democratic con
gress for the redemption ot the
pledge contained in our last plat
form by the passage of the flood con
trol 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
policy of that law. for its complete
lustlf ication. We favor the extension
of this policy to other flood control
problems wherever the federal Inter
est involved justifies the expenditure
required.
Rrlamation of Arid Lands.
By wise legislation and progressive
administration, we have transformed
the government reclamation projects,
representing an Investment of $100,-
000,000, from a condition of Impending
failure and loss of confidence in the
ability of the government to carry
through such large enterprises, to a
condition of demonstrated success.
whereby formerly arid and wholly
unproductive lands now sustain 40,000
prosperous families and have an an
nual crop production of over $70.ooo,
000. not including the croDS crrown
on a million acres outside the proj
ects supplied witn storage water irom
government works.
We favor ample appropriations for
the continuation and extension of this
great work -of home-building and In
ternal Improvement along the same
general lines, to tne end that all
practical projects shall be built and
vaters now running to wate shail
be made to provide homes and add
to the food sup-ply, power resources,
and taxable property, with the gov
ernment ultimately reimbursed for
the entire outlay.
The Trade CommittNton.
The democratic party heartily en
dorses the creation and work of the
federal trade commission in estab
lishing a fair field for competitive
business, free from restraints of trade
and monopoly and recommends ampli
fication of the statutes governing its
activities so as to grant .t authority
to prevent the unfair use of patents
in restraint of trade.
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 natural resources under
one department to be administered by
a non-partisan board permanently
resident in the territory.
For the fullest measure of territo
rial self government with the view to
Ultimate statehood, witn jurisdiction
over all matters not of purely federal
concern. Including fisheries and game,
and for an intelligent administration
of federal control. We believe that
all officials appointed should be qual
ified by previous bonafide residence
In the territory.
For a comprehensive system of road
construction with increased appro
priations and the full extension of the
federal road act to Alaska.
For the extension to Alaska of the
federal farm loan act.
The Philippines.
We favor the granting of independ
ence without unnecessary delay to the
10,500.000 inhabitants of the Philip
pine 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 lmDortantM of Hawaii as an
outpost on the western frontier of the
United States demands adequate ap
propriations by congress for the de;
velopment of our harbor and high
ways there.
Porto Rico.
We favor granting to the people
of Porto Rico the traditional terri
torial form of eovernment. with a
view to ultimate statehood, accorded
to all territories of the United States
since the beginning of our govern
ment and we believe that tne o i -ficials
appointed to administer the
government of such territories should
be qualified by previous bonafide
residence therein.
Asiatic Immigrants.
The policy of the United States
with reference to the non-admission
of Asiatic immigrants is a true ex
pression of the Judgment of our
people and to the several states,
whose geographical situation or in
ternal conditions make this policy
and the enforcement of the laws en
acted pursuant thereto, of particular
concern., we pledge our support.
The Postal Service.
The efficiency of the postofflce d-
ways favored and will continue to
favor the fair and just treatment of
all government employes.
Free Speech and Press.
We resent the unfounded re
proaches directed against the demo
cratic administration for alleged in
terference with the freedom of the
press and freedom of speech.
No utterance from any quarter has
been assailed and no publication has
been repressed 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 as an indis
putably proposition 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 republican nomination for the
highest office in the gift of the people
has created a painful impression
throughout the country. Viewed in
connection with the recent conviction
of a republican senator from the state
of Michigan for the criminal trans
gression of the law limiting expen
ditures on behalf of a candidate fcr
the United States senate. It indi
cates the re-entry, under republican
auspices, of money as an influential
factor in elections, thus nullifying
the letter and flaunting the spirit nf
numerous laws, enacted by the people,
to protect the ballot from the con
tamination of corrupt practices. We
deplore these delinquencies and in
voke their stern popular rebuke,
pledging our earnest efforts to a
strengthening of the present statutes
against corrupt practices and their
rigorous enforcement.
We remind the people that it was
only by the return of a republican
senator in Michigan who is now under
conviction ar.d sentence for the crimi
nal misuse, of money in his election,
that the present organization of the
senate, with a republican majority,
was made possible.
Conclusion.
Believing that we have Vept the
democratic faith and resting our
claims to the confidence of the people,
not upon grandiose promises, but
upon the solid performances of our
party, we submit our record to the
nation's consideration" and ask that
the pledges of this platform be ap
praised in the, light of that record.
Livestock Markets.
For the purpose of insuring Just
and fair treatment In the great inter
state livestock market, and thus in
stilling confidence in growers
through which production will be
stimulated and the price of meats to
consumers be ultimately reduced, we
favor the enactment of legislation for
the supervision of such markets by
the national government.
Mexico.
The United States is the neighbor
and friend of the nations of the three
Americas. In a very specta sense,
our international relations in this
hemisphere should be characterized
by good will and free from any pos
sible suspicion as to our national pur
pose. The administration. remembering
that Mexico is an independent nation,
and that permanent stability in her
government and her institutions could
come only from the consent of her
own people to a government of their
own making, has been unwilling
either to profit by the misfortunes of
the people of Mexico or to enfeeble
their future by Imposing from tht
outside a rule upon their temporarily
distracted councils. As a conse
quence order is gradually reappearing
in Mexico, at no time in many years
have American lives and interests
been so safe as they now are; peace
reigns along the borders 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 willing
ness to meet its international obliga
tions and written upon its statute
books just laws, under which foreign
investors shall have rights as well as
duties, that government should re
ceive our recognition and sympathetic
assistance. until "tnese proper ex
pectations have been met. Mexico
must realize the propriety of a policy
that asserts the right of the tnited
States to demand full protection for
Its citizens.
Petroleum.
The democratic party recognizes the
importance of the acquisition by
Americans of additional sources of
supply of petroleum and other miner
als and declares that such acquisition,
both at home and abroad, should be
fostered and encouragd. We urge such
action, legislative and executive, as
may secure to American citizens the
same rights in the acquirement of
mining rights in foreign countries as
are enjoyed by the citizens or sub
jects of any other nation.
New Nations.
The democratic party expresses Its
active sympathy with the people ot
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
reiteration 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 the dem
ocratic party of the United States In
the aspirations of Ireland for self
We express our deep and earnest
sympathy for the unfortunate people
of Armenia and we believe that our
c-overnment. consistent with its con
stitution and principles, should ren
der every possible and proper aid to
them in their efforts to establish and
maintain a government or tneir own.
Alanka.
We commend the democratic admin
istration for inaugurating a new pol
icy as to Alaska as evidenced by the
construction of the Alaska railroad
and opening of the coal and oil fields.
We declare for the modification of
mmr yillard macks
ij jjSj Great Northland Stoi
TODAY
for one week
Where ia Primitive Mea and
Women test the Law j Mi&ht-
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Ghirardelli's Chocolate, 1-pound tins, each 44
Ghirardelli's Chocolate, 3-pound tins, each SI. 24
Ghirardelli's Chocolate, 5-pound tins, each S2.08
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