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Show PLATFORM IKES SIRjyPPEAL Country's' Advance Under Wise and Able Democratic Statesmanship. TARIFF BODY IS INDORSED Underwood Measure Upheld Unqualified Unquali-fied Stand on Americanism Would Keep Army In Mexico Labor Plank Is Emphatic For National Defense. St. Louis. Following Is the Democratic Demo-cratic national platform : The Democratic party, in national convention assembled, adopts the following fol-lowing declaration to the end that the people of the United States may both realize the achievements wrought by four years of Democratic administration administra-tion and be apprised of the policies to which the party is committed for the further conduct of national affairs. We indorse the administration of Woodrow Wilson. It speaks for Itself. It is the best exposition of sound Democratic policy at home and abroad. We challenge comparison of our record, our keeping of pledges, and our constructive legislation, with those of any party of any time. We found our country hampered by speelul privilege, a vicious tariff, obsolete ob-solete banking laws, and inelastic currency. Our foreign affairs were dominated by commercial interests for their selfish ends. The Republican party, par-ty, despite repented pledges, was impotent impo-tent to correct abuses which it had fostered. Under our administration, under a leadership which has never faltered, these abuses have been corrected, cor-rected, and our people have been freed therefrom. Lauds Banking Reform. Our archaic banking and currency system, prolific of panic and disaster under Republican administrations long the refuge of the money trust has been supplanted by the federal reserve re-serve act, a true Democracy of credit under government control, already proved a financial bulwark In a world crisis, mobilizing our resources, placing plac-ing abundant credit at the disposal of legitimate industry and making a currency cur-rency panic impossible. We have created a federal trade commission to accommodate the perplexing per-plexing questions arising under the antitrust laws so that monopoly mjny be strangled at Its birth and legitimate industry encouraged. Fair competition in business is now assured. We have effected an adjustment of the tariff, adequate for revenue under peace conditions, and fair to the consumer con-sumer and to the producer. We have adjusted the burdens of taxation so that swollen incomes bear their equitable equit-able share. Our revenues have been sufficient In times of world stress and will largely exceed the expenditures for the current fiscal year. Claims Aid to Labor. "We have lifted human labor from the category of commodities and have secured to the workingman the right of voluntary association for his protection protec-tion and welfare. We have protected the rights of the laborer against the unwarranted issuance of writs of injunction, in-junction, and have guaranteed to him the right of trial by jury in cases of alleged contempt outside the presence of the court. We have advanced the parcel post to genuine efficiency, enlarged the postal savings system, added 10,000 rural delivery de-livery routes and extensions, thus renching 2,o00,000 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 actual surplus In 1913, 1014 and 1915. TARIFF. We reaffirm our belief In the doctrine doc-trine of a tariff for the purpose of providing sufficient revenue for the operation op-eration of the government economically economical-ly administered, and unreservedly indorse in-dorse the Underwood tariff law as truly exemplifying that doctrine. We recognize that tariff rates are necessarily neces-sarily subject to change to meet changing chang-ing conditions in the world's production produc-tion and trade. Two years of a war which has directly di-rectly involved most of the chief industrial in-dustrial nations of the world, and which has indirectly affected the life and Industry of all nations, are bringing bring-ing about economic changes more varied va-ried and far-reaching than the world has ever before experienced. In order to ascertain just what these changes may be, the Democratic congress is providing pro-viding for n nonpartisan tariff commission commis-sion to make an impartial and thorough thor-ough study of every economic fact that may throw light either upon our past or upou our future fiscal policy with regard to the imposition of tuxes on Imports or with regard to the changed and changing condition under which our trade is carried on. We cordially indorse this timely proposal pro-posal and declare ourselves in sympathy sym-pathy with the principle and purpose of shaping legislation within that field In accordance with clearly established facts rather than In accordance with the demands of selfish interests or upon information provided largely, If not exclusively, by them. SHIPPING BILL. Immedlnte provision should be made for the development of the carrying fc-ade of the United States. Our for-tlgn for-tlgn commerce has in the past been object to tut nj unnecessary and vex atious obstacles In the way of legislation legisla-tion of Republican congresses. Until the recent Democratic tariff legislation, legisla-tion, it was hampered by unreasonable burdens of taxation. We heartily indorse the purposes and policy of the pending shipping bill and favor all such additional measures meas-ures of constructive or remedial legislation legis-lation as may be necessary to restore our flag to the seas. AMERICANISM. The part that the United States will play In the new duy of International relationships which Is now upon us will depend upon our preparation and our character. The Democratic party therefore recognizes the assertion and triumphant demonstration of the indivisibility in-divisibility and coherent strength of the nation as the supreme issue of this day in which the whole world faces the crisis of manifold change. It summons all men, of whatever origin or creed, who would count themselves them-selves Americans, to join In making clear to all the world the unity and consequent power of America. This is an issue of patriotism. To taint it with partisanship woulf be to defile it. In this day of test America Amer-ica must show Itself not a nation of partisans, but a nation of patriots. There is gathered here in America the best of the blood, the industry and the genius of the whole world, the elements of a great life and a magnificent magnifi-cent society, to be melted into a mighty and splendid nation. Plea for Unity. Whoever, actuated by the purpose to promote the interest of a foreign power, in disregard to our own country's coun-try's welfare or to injure this government govern-ment in its foreign relations or cripple or destroy its industries at home, and whoever, by srousing prejudices of a racial, religious or other nature, creates cre-ates discord and strife among our people peo-ple so as to obstruct the wholesome process of unification, is faithless to the trust which the privileges of citizenship citi-zenship repose in him and disloyal to the country. We, therefore, condemn as subversive subver-sive of this nation's unity and Integrity, Integ-rity, and as destructive of its welfare, the activities and designs of every group or organization, political or otherwise, oth-erwise, that has for its object the advancement ad-vancement of a foreign power, whether such object is promoted by intimidating intimidat-ing the government, a political party, or representatives of the people, or which is calculated and tends to divide our people into antagonistic groups and thus to destroy that complete agreement and solidarity of the people. Bans Alien Alliances. We condemn all alliances and combinations com-binations of individuals in this country coun-try of whatever nationality or descent, who agree and conspire together for the purpose of embarrassing or weakening weak-ening our government or of improperly Influencing or coercing our public representatives rep-resentatives in dealing or negotiating with any foreign power. We charge that such conspiracies among a limited number exist and have been instigated for the purpose of advancing the Interests Inter-ests of foreign countries to the prejudice preju-dice and detriment of our own country. coun-try. We condemn any political party which, In view of the activity of such conspirators, surrenders its integrity or modifies Its policy. PREPAREDNESS. Along with the proof of our character charac-ter as a nation must go the proof of our power to play the part that legitimately legiti-mately belongs to us. The people of the United States love peace. They respect re-spect the rights and covet the friendship friend-ship of all other nations. They desire neither any additional territory nor any advantage wMch cannot be peacefully peace-fully gained by their skill, their Industry Indus-try or their enterprise; but they insist upon having absolute freedom of national na-tional life and policy, and feel that they owe It to themselves and to the role of spirited Independence 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 protect their rights upon the seas or In any part of the world. We therefore favor the maintenance of an army fully adequate to the requirements re-quirements or order, safety and of the protection of the nation's rights, the fullest development of modern methods meth-ods of seacoast defensejjmd the maintenance main-tenance of an adequate reserve of citizens citi-zens trained to arms and prepared to safeguard the people and territory of the United States against any danger of hostile action which may unexpectedly unexpect-edly arise; and a fixed policy for the continuous development of a navy worthy wor-thy to support the great naval traditions tradi-tions of the United States and fully equal to the International tasks which the United States hopes and expects to take a part in performing. SAFETY OF SEA. The Democratic administration has throughout the present war scrupulously scrupu-lously and successfully held to the peaceful paths of neutrality and of the peaceful pursuit of the legitimate objects ob-jects of our national life which statesmen states-men of all parties and creeds have prescribed for themselves in America since the beginning of our history. But the circumstances of the last two years have revealed necessities of international in-ternational action which no former generation could have foreseen. We believe that every people has the right to choose the sovereignty under un-der which It shall live ; that the small states of the world have a right to enjoy from other nations the same respect re-spect for their sovereignty and for their territorial Integrity thnt great and powerful nations expect and Insist upon ; and that the world Iiup a right to be free from every disturbance of Us peace that has its origUi in aggression aggres-sion or disregard of the rights of peoples and nations ; and we believe that the time has come when It is the duty of the United States to Join with the other nations of the world In aay feasible association that will effectively effective-ly serve these principles, to maintain inviolate the complete security of the highway of the seas for the common and unhindered use of all nations. PAN-AM ER ICA. We fuvor the establishment and maintenance of the closest relations of amity aud mutual helpfulness between be-tween the United States and the other republics of the American continents con-tinents for the support of peace and the promotion of a common prosperity. The Monroe doctrine u reasserted as a principle of Democratic faith. MEXICO. The want of a stuble, responsible government in Mexico, capable of repressing and punishing marauders and bandit bands, who have not only taken the lives and seized and destroyed de-stroyed the property of American citizens citi-zens in that country, but have Insolently Insolent-ly Invaded our soil, made war upon and murdered our people thereon, has rendered ren-dered it necessary temporarily to occupy, occu-py, by our armed forces, a portion of the territory of that friendly state. Until, by the restoration of law and order therein, a repetition of such incursions in-cursions is improbable the necessltj for their remaining will continue. Intervention, implying, as it does, military subjugation, is revolting to the people of the United States, notwithstanding not-withstanding the provocation to that course has been great and should be resorted to, if at all, only as a lust resort. The stubborn resistance of the president and his advisers to every demand de-mand and suggestion to enter upon it, is creditable alike to them and to the people in whose name he speaks. THE FARMER. We favor the vigorous prosecution of Investigations and plans to render agriculture more profitable and country coun-try life more healthful, comfortable and retractive, and we believe that this should be a dominant aim of the nation as well as of the states. 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 available to the farmer constantly con-stantly and readily, and he has at last been put upon a footing of equality with the merchant and the manufacturer manufact-urer in securing the capital necessary to carry on his enterprises. We favor continued liberal provision not only for the benefit of production, but also for the study and solution of problems of farm merketing and finance, and for the extension of existing ex-isting agencies for improving country life. GOOD ROADS. The happiness, comfort and prosperity pros-perity of rural life, and the development develop-ment of the city, are alike conserved by the construction of public highways. high-ways. We, therefore, favor national aid in the construction of postroads and roads for military purposes. EMPLOYMENT. We hold that the life, health and strength of the men, women and children chil-dren of the nation are its greatest asset, as-set, and that in the conservation of these the federal government, where-ever where-ever it acts as the employer of labor, should both on its own account and as an example, put into effect the following fol-lowing principles of just employment: A living wage for all employees. A working day not to exceed eight hours, one day of rest in seven. Adequate compensation for Industrial Indus-trial accidents. The standards of the "uniform cild-labor cild-labor law" wherever minors are em-ploy-d. An equitable retirement law providing pro-viding for the retirement of superannuated superan-nuated and disabled employees of the civil service, to the end that a higher standard of efficiency may be maintained. main-tained. LABOR. We declare our faith in the seamen's sea-men's act, passed by the Democratic congress, and we promi'se our earnest continuance of Its enforcement. We favor the speedy enactment of an effective federal child labor law and the regulation of the shipment of prison-made goods In interstate commerce. We heartily commend our newly-established department of labor for its excellent record in settling industrial strikes by personal advice and through conciliating agents. PUBLIC HEALTH. We favor the thorough reconsideration, reconsider-ation, of the means and methods by which the federal government handles questions of public health, to the end that human life may be conserved by the elimination of loathsome disease, the Improvement of sanitation and the diffusion of a knowledge of disease prevention. We favor establishment by the federal fed-eral government of tuberculosis sanitariums sani-tariums for needy tubuculnr patients. BUDGET SYSTEM. We demand careful economy In all expenditures for the support of the government, and to that end favor a return by the house of representatives representa-tives to its former practice of initiating initiat-ing and preparing all appropriation bills through i single committee chosen chos-en from Its membership. We favor this as a practicable step toward a budget system. PHILIPPINES. We heartily Indorse the provisions of the bill, recently passed by the house of representatives, further promoting pro-moting self-government In the Philippine Philip-pine islands, and we reiterate our Indorsement In-dorsement of the purpose of ultimate independence for the Philippine islands, is-lands, expressed In the preamble of that measure. SUFFRAGE. We recommend the extension of franchise to the women of the couq try by the states upon tie wia Isrms a to men. |