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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1916)
11 world away from its false philosophy and help it to build Its hope of permanent peace on the foundation of love and brotherhood and co-operation. If this is to be the task of this nation, what party Is more (It to perform the task than the party that preaches the brother hood of man as next in importance to the fatherhood of Uod ? 1 as a lover of my country, want my country to win this greatest of all prlies. As a Democrat, I want my party to have the honor that will come with the accom plishment of such a task. As a lover of my country and as a Democrat I Join you In the endeavor to give to Woodrow Wil son the opportunity to perform this task for the nation and the world. strument In protecting thcilr rffchts and guardinK thoir Interests. When the day comes fur the world's peace to hn restored and for the treaties to be written that will Euuil against future wars, what adminis tration is more worthy of the honor than the administration that has given to three quarters of the world a treaty plan that makes war a remote possibility between us and nearly all the principal nations of the earth ? I believe that there Is now before this country an opportunity such as no other country has ever had since the beginning of time. I believe that God, In His provi dence, has reserved for the United Stales tiie honor and the task of lifting the moral codo that governs individuals up to the level of nations and making it a part of the code of all governments. There is a picture that has attracted at tention wherever it has been exhibited the picture of Christ before I'ilate. I'ilata rep resented the power of the Koman govern ment, and back of him were the legions of Koine. Before Pilate, helpless, unarmed, stood the Apostle of Love. Force tri umphed; they naiiod him to the tree, and those who stood around mocked and Jeered and said, "He Is dead!" But that, instead of being the end, was only the beginning. In a few centuries the power of Caesar was gone and his legions forgotten; but the power of Clfrlat, Increased until hun dreds, yes, thousands of millions have taken His name with reverence upon their lips; millions have been ready to die rather than surrender the faith He put into their heart. He has become tho great fact of history, iho-irrowinir flKiire of all time. Today Christ Land I'ilate again stand face to face Korce and lAve are again striving mi , and dominion. The old world represents force. It built its hope of peace on fear and threats of violence. Each nation at tempted to terrorise other nations into peace, and in their offoru they engendered hatreds that ended in war. If lhe nations now at war had spent one tenth as much trying to cultivate friend ship as they have spent in cultivating hat red, there would be no war In Europe today. If 1 understand this nation's opportunity and this nation's task, it is to lead the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLATFORM Full Text of tte Declaration of Principles Adopted ly tke Democratic National Convention at St. Louis, June 16.1916 Following la tlie tost of tho platform adopted by tho Democratic National Con vention, St. I mills, on Juno JOlli: Tho Democratic party, in national con vention assembled, adopts tho following dec laration to the end that the people of the United States may both realize the achieve ments wrought hy four years of Democratic administration and be apprised of the pol icies to which the party is committed for the further conduct of national affairs. KKCORD OF ACHIKVK.MKNT. Wo rn dorse the administration of Presi de!?! Woodrow Wilson. It speaks for itself. It Is the best exposition of sound D-'mo-cnilic policy at home and abroad. We challenge comparison of our rec ord, our keeping of pledges and our con structive legislation with those of any party of any time. Wo found our country hampered by spe cial privilege, a vicious tarifT, obsolete banking laws, and an inelastic currency. Our foreign sffairs ware dominated by com mercial Interests for their selfish ends. vThe Kepuhlican party, despite repeated pledges, was Impotent to correct abuses whiah it had fosterrd. Under our administration, under a leadership which has nevor faltered, these abuses have been corrected, and our pocple have been freed therefrom. Our archaic banking and currency sys tem, prolific of panic and disasl?r under Keptfhlicau administration long the refuge of the money trust has been supplanted by the federal reserve act, a truo democritcy of credit under government control, already proved a financial bulwark In a world crisis, mobilizing our resources, placing abundant credit at tho disposal of legitimate industry, and milking a currency pnnlc impossible. We havo cren t ed a federal t ra d e com -mission to , accommodate the perplexing question arising under the anti-trust laws so that monopoly may be strangled at its birth and legitimate industry encouraged. Fair competition In business is now assured. We have effected an adjustment of th? tariff, adPouate for revenue under peace conditions, and fair to tho consumer and to the producer. We have adjusted the bur dens of taxation so that swollen Ineomos bear their equitable share. Our . revenues have been sufficient in times of world stress ant; will largely exceed the expenditures for he current tisoal year. We have lifted human labor from the cntegotof commodities and have secured to tho working man the right of volun ' tary association for lds protection and wel fare. Wo have protected tho rights of the laborer against the unwarranted issuance of writs of injunction, and have guaranteed to him the right of trial by Jury in cases of alleged contempt -committed outside the presence of the court. Wo have advanced the parcel post to genuine efficiency, enlarged the postal sav ings system, added 10.000 rural delivery routes and extensions, thus reaching 2.500. 000 additional people. Improved the postal service in every branch, and for the first time In our history, placed the post office system on a self-supporting basis, with act ual surplus in 1913. 1914 and 1916. KCONOMIC nti:i;i)OM. The reforms which were most obviously needed to clear away privilege, prevent un fair discrimination, and release the energies of men of all ranks and advantages, have been effected by recent legislation. We must now remove, so far as possible, every remaining element of unrest and uncertainly from the path of the business men of Am- eriea, nd secure for them a continued per iod of quiet, assured and confident pros perity. TARII'V. We reaffirm our belief In the dool rim Of a tariff for the purpose of providing sufficient revenue for the operation of the gov eminent economically administered and unreservedly indorse the Underwood tariff law as truly exemp'ifving that doctrine. "We recognise that tariff rates nre necesss : ilv subject to change to meet rhjigi-cg condi tions in the world' producing i, id trade. The events of the last I wo yeirs have brought about many momentous changes. In some respects their effects are yet con jectural and wait to be disclosed, particular ly In regard to our foreign trade. Two years of a war which ha directly Involved most oL the chief industrial n.t-tl-irs of the world, and which has indi rectly affected the life and industry of all nations, arc bringing about economic chang es more varied and far-reaching (than the world has ever before experienced. In or der to ascertain Just what to J.e changes may be, the lenm!ratic Congress 1h pro viding for a non-imrtUun tariff commission to make impartial and thorough study of every economic fact that may throw light either upon our past or upon our future fiscal policy with regard to the imposition of taxes on Imports or with regard to the chinged and changing conditions under which our trade is carried on. We cordially Indowe this timely pro posal and declare ourselves In sympathy with the principle and purpose of shaping legislation within that Held In accordance with the demands of selfish interest or upon information provided largely, if . not ex clusively, by them. , , AMKRICANISM. The part that the United States will play In the new day of International relation ships which Is now upon us will depend upon our preparation and our character. The Democratic party, therefore, recog nizes the assertion and triumphant demon stration of the indivisibility and ' coherent strength of the nation as the supreme issue of this day in which the whole world faoes the crisis of manifold change, it sum mons ail men, of whatever origin or creed, who" "would count themselves Americans to join in making clear to all the world tho unity -and consequent power of America. This is an issue of patriotism. To taint It with partisanship would be to defile it. In this day of test America must show itself, not a nation of partisans, but a na tion of patriots. There is gathered here in America the best of the blood, the in dustiy and the genius of the whole world, the elements of a great race and a mag nificent society to be melted Into a mighty anil splendid nation. Whoever, actuated by the purpose to promote the Interests of a foreign power, in disregard of our own country's welfare. ir to injure Huh government in its for len relations or cripple or destroy Its in dustries at home, and whoever, by arousing prejudices of a racial, religious .W .other nature, creates discord uml strife among our fcuplo so as to obstruct the wholesome process of iiniflriitlon. is fuit bless to the trust which the privileges of citizenship- re pose In him and disloyal to his country. t Wo t her 'fore condemn as subversive of tills nation's unity and integrity and as des tructive of Its welfare the activities uml do signs of every group or organisation, poli tical or otherwlse.-thut has for its object the advancement of the interests of a lor oJgii power, whether such object is prompt ed by Intimidating the government, a ihiIh Ical party or representatives of the people, or which Is calculated and tends to divide our people into antagonistic, groups, and thus fo destroy that complete agreement and solidarity of the people, and that unity of sentiment and national purpose so essen tial to the pcriH'tufty of the tuition and its free Institutions. We condemn nil alliances and combl nnitons of Individ tints In 11 1 is country of whatever nationality or dejweut, who agree to conspire logetlier for tlie purpose of em barrassing or weakening our Rovcnimcnt or of improperly iutluci icing or coercing our public rcprcsctittitiPrt in dealing or, negoti ating with any foreign ower. We charge that such conspiracies among a limited nunilMY exist and havo Ih-cu Instigated for I Ik purpose of advancing ttio interests of I eign countries, to the prejudice and det riment of our own country. Wc condemn any itolltic.nl party whicli, in view of the activity of such ionspirators, surrenders its Integrity or modifies its policy. iui:rAiti:iNKsa. Along with the proof of our character as a nation must go the proof of our power to. play the part that legitimately belongs to us. -The people of the United States love peace. They respect the rights and covet the friendship of all other nations. They desire neither nny additional territory nor any advantage which cannot be peace fully gained by their skill, their industry, or their enterprise; but they insist' upon hav Imr absolute freedom of national llfp and policy, and feel that they, nwo it to them selves and to the role of spirited inde pendence which it is their sole ambition to play that they should render themselves secure against the hazard of interference from any quarter, and should be able to pro tei their nlit s upon the seas or in any part of the world. We. therefore, favor th? maintenance of ,m army fully adequate to the requirements of order, of i:if"'.y. and of the protection "of the- nation's rights, the fullest development of mod.-rn methods of sea coast defense and the maintenance of an adequate reserve of citirens Cr.iine t to arms and prepared to safeguard the people and territory of the United State against any danger of hOHtile action which may unexpectedly arise; and a fixed policy for the continuous develop ment of a navy worthy to support the great naval traditions of the United States and fully equal to the international tasks which the United States hopes and expects to take a part in performing. The plans and enactments of the present Congress afford substantial proof of our purpose in this exigent matter. INTKRNATIONAli UKIjATIONS. Th nn.ocratle administration throughout the present war scrupulously and successfully h?ld to the old paths of the leeitlmate oblec's of our national life wihich statesmen or ail parties ana creeua have prescribed for themselves in America since the beginning of our history. Hut the circumstances of the last two years nave revealed necessities of international action which no former generation can havo fore seen. We hold that It is the duty of the United States to use Its power, not only to make itself safe at home, but also to make secure its just interests throughout the world, and, both for this end and in the Interest of humanity, tb assist the world In securing settlod peace and justice. We believe that every people has the right to choose the sovereignty under which it shall live, that tho small Stales of the world have a right to enjoy from othor nations the same respect for their sovereign ty and for their territorial integrity that great and powerful nations expect and in sist upon: and that the world has a right to be free from every disturbance of its peace that has its origin in aggression or disregard of the rights of peoples and na tions; and we' believe that the time has come when it is the miiy or me imuu-u States to join with tihe other nations of the world In any feasible association that will , effectively serve these principles, to main- i tain inviolate the complete security of the highway of the seas for the common and unhindered use of all nations. The present administration has consistent ly sought to act upon and realize in Us conduct of the foreign affairs of the nation the principle that should be the object of any association of the nations formed to secure the peace of the world and the main tenance of national and individual rights. It has followed the highest American tradi tions. It has preferred respect for the fundamental rights of smaller States even to property interests, and has secured the triendsnip or ine people oi uiese niaies ir the United States by refusing to make a more material interest an excuse for the assertion of our superior power against the dignity of their sovereign independence. It has regarded the lives of its citizens and the claims of humanity -as of greater moment than material rights, and peace as the best basis for" the just settlement of commercial claims. It has made t.he honor and ideals of the United States its stand ard alike in negotiation and action marauders and bandit bands, who have not only takeo the lives and seized and de stroyed the property of American citizens In that country, out have insoienuy invaoeu our soil, made war upon and murdered our people thereon, has rendered it necessary temporarily to occupy, oy our armeu irrn, a portion of the territory of that friendly Stte. Until by the restoration of law and ' order therein, a repetition of such Incur sions is Improbable, the necessity for their. remaining will continue. Intervention, implying as It does, mill tnrv sublimation, is. revolting to the people hasL-nf the United Slates, notwithstanding the provocation to that course has been great, and should be resorted to, if at all. only as a last Hesort. .. The stubborn resistance of the Presldent-and his advisers to every demand and uggestion to enter upon it. i3 creditable alike to them and to the peoplo in whose name he speaks. IWV-AMKRlCAPi tONCOltD. Wo recognize now, as we have always rec ognized, a definite and common interest be tween the United States with the other peoples and republics of the Western Hem isphere in all matters of national independ ence and free political development. We favor the 'establishment and maintenance of the closest relations of amity and mutual helpfulness between the united States and the other re pi. lies of the American conti nent for the shpport of peace and the pro motion of a common prosperity. To that end we favor all measures which are necessary to facilitate Intimato in tercourse and promote commerce between the United States and her neighbors to the South of us, and such international under standings as may be practicable and suitable to accomplish these ends. We commend the action of the Demo-! eratlc administration In holding the pan-1 American financial conference at Washing-, ton In May,' 1915, and organizing the Inter national high commlslon which represented the United States In the recent meeting of representatives of the Latin-American re publics at Huenos Aires. April, 1916, which have so greatly promoted the friendiv re lations between the people of the Western Hemisphere, mi: xi CO. The Monroedoctrine Is reasserted as a principle of Democratic faith. That doctrine guarantees the Independent republics of the two Americas against aggression from an other continent. It Imolies. as well, t.h most scrupulous regard upon our part for the sovereignty of each of them. The want of a stable, responsible government In Mex ico, capable of repressing and punishing MERCHANT MARINE. Immediate provision should be mado rot tho development of the carrying trade of the United States. Our foreign commerce has In t-he past been subject to many un necessary and vexatious obstacles In Con gress. Until the recent. Democratic tariff legislation It was hampered by unreason able burdens of taxation. Until the recent banking legislation It had at its disposal few of the necessary instrumentalities of international credit and exchange. Until tho formulation of the pending act to promote the construction of a merchant marine, it lacked even the prospect of adequate carriage by sea. We heartily indorse the purposes and pol- Icy of the pending shipping bill, and favor all such additional measures of constructive or remedial legislation as may be neces sary to restore our tlag to the seas ami then provide further facilities for our ior eign commerce, particularly; such laws as may be made to remove unfair conditions of competition In the dealings of American merchants and producers with competitions in foreign markets. CONSKKVATIOV. For the safeguarding, and quickening of the life of our own people, we favor the conservation and development of the natural resources of the country through a policy which shall he positive rather than negative a policy which shall not withhold such resources from development, but which, while permitting and encouraging their use, shall prevent both waste and monopoly in their exp.oitatton, and we earnestly favor the passage of ctH which will accomplish these objects, nnd we reaffirm the declara-, tion of the platform of 1912 on this subject. The policy of reclaiming! our arid lands should be steadily adhered to. THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS FARMKR. We favor tho vigorous prosecution of in vestigations and plans to render agricul ture more profitable and country life more healthful, comfortable and attractive, and we believe that this should be a domin ant aim of the nation as well as of the States. With all its recent improvements, farming still lags behind other occupations In develonment as a business, and the ad vantages of an advancing civilization have not accrued to rural communities In a fair proportion. Much has been accomplished in this field under tho present administration far more than under any previous administra tion. In the federal reserve act of the last Congress and the rural credits act of the present Congress the machinery has been created which will make credit availablo to the farmer constantly and readily, and he has at last been put upon a footing of equal;ty with the merchant nnd the manu facturer In secuning the capital necessary to carry on his enterprises. tirades and standards necessary to mo intelligent and successful conduct of lhe business of agriculture have also been es tablished, or ar? in the course of being es tablished by law. The long-needed cotton futures act, passed by the Sixty-Third Con gress, has now been In successful operation for nearly two years., A grain grades bill, long needed, and a permissive warehouse bill, intended to provide better storage facilities nnd to enable the farmer to ob tain certificates upon which he may secure advances of money, have been passed by the House of Kepresentatives, have been fa vorably reported to the Senate, and will probably become law during the present session of Con geeks'" lloth Houses have passed a good roaf measure which will be of far-reaching ben efit to all agricultural communities.