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Show THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM I The following is tha platform adopt- i id by the ProgressUe party at Ub na-'lonal na-'lonal convention held at Chicago Au-;ust Au-;ust 6, 1912, and Colonel .Roosevelt ild It wan a binding contract with '.ho people to be observed if the Pro-v 'jrcBBlves wcro elected to office, 'ompard 'this straight, clean-cut platform plat-form without any ifs with the old arty promises: Declaration of Principles of the Progressive Pro-gressive Party. The conscience of the people in a time of grave national problems, haB called Into being a new party, born of the nation's awakened sense of justice. jus-tice. We of the Progressive party dedl-tnto dedl-tnto ourselves to the fulfillment of the duty laid upon us by our fathers (o maintain that covernment of tho people, by the people and for iho people peo-ple whose foundations they laid. We hold with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Abra-ham Lincoln that the people aro tho masters of their constitution to fuirill Its purposes and to safeguard It from th03c who, by perversion of its in-lent, in-lent, would convert it Into an Instrument Instru-ment of injustice. In accordance with tho needs of each generation tho peo-lilo peo-lilo must use their sovereign powers to establish and maintain equal opportunity op-portunity and Industrial Justice, to sc-rure sc-rure which this government was founded and without which no republic repub-lic car endure, ThlB country belongs to tho people who Inhabit li. Its resourcos, its business, bus-iness, its Institutions and Its laws should be utilized, maintained or altered al-tered In whatever manner will best promote the general Interest. It Is time to sot the public welfaro In the first place. Tha Old Parties. .Polltlcnl parties exist to securo responsible re-sponsible government and to execute the will of the people From these great tasks both of tho old parlies have turned aside. Instead of Instruments Instru-ments to promote the general welfare thov have become the tools of corrupt cor-rupt interests which Use them impartially impar-tially to serve their selfish purposee. Behind tho ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government, knowing no allegiance and acknowledging acknowl-edging no responsibility to the people. peo-ple. To destroy this Invisible government, gov-ernment, to dlssolvo the unholy al-llanco al-llanco between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of tho statesmanship of the day. The deliberate betrayal of Its trust by the Republican party, the fatal Incapacity In-capacity of the Democratic party to deal with the new Issues of tho now time have compelled the pooplc to forge a new Instrument of government through which to give effect to their will in laws and Institutions. Unhampered Un-hampered by tradition, uncorruptod by power, undismayed by tho magni-: magni-: tude of tho task, the new party of-I of-I fers Itself as tho instrument of the I people to swcop away old abuses, to build a new and nobler commonwealth. A Government With the People. TMb declaration Is our covenant with the people and wo hereby bind the party and Its candidates in state and nation to the pledgos mado herein. here-in. The Rule of the People. Tho National Progressive party committed to the poople of the g3v-orriment g3v-orriment by a self-controlled democracy, democ-racy, expressing Its will through representatives rep-resentatives of the people, pledges JtBclf to securo such alterations in the fundamental Inw of the several states nnd of tho United States as shall Insure In-sure tho representative character of tho government. In particular the party decrees for direct primaries for tho nomination of state and national officers, for nation-wide preferential primaries for candidates for the presidency, pres-idency, for tho direct election of United Unit-ed States senators hy the people, and wo crre on the states the policy of, the short ballot with responsibility to the peoplo socured by the initiative, referendum and recall Amendment of Constitution. The Progressive party hellevlng that a freo people should have the power to amend their fundamental law so as to adapt it progressively to , the changing needs of tho people pledges Itself to provide a more easy and expeditious method of amending tho federal constitution-Nation constitution-Nation and State. Up to tho limit of the constitution and later by amendment of tho constitution, con-stitution, if found necessary, wo ndvocatc bringing under offeotlvo national Jurisdiction thoso problems which liavo expanded beyond reach of the individual states. It is as grotesque as It is intolerable intoler-able that tho several states should by unequal laws In matter f common concorn become competing commercial commer-cial agencies, barter tho lhes of their children, the health of their women and the safety and well being of their working people for the profit of their financial interests The extremo Inslstancc ori etatos rights by the Democratic party in the Baltimore platform demonstrates anew Its Inability to understand tho world into which it has survived, or to administer the affairs of a union of states which have In all essential ie-specta ie-specta becomo ono peoplo. Equal Suffrage. Tho Progressive party, hellevlng that no people can justly claim to bo a true democracy, whloh denies political rights on account of sex, pledges Itself to the task of socurlng equal suffrage to men and women alike Corrupt Practices. Wo pledge our parly to legislation thut will compel strict limitation of nil campaign contributions and expenditures ex-penditures and detailed publicity of both, before as well as alter primaries primar-ies and eloctlons Publicity and Public Service. AVo pledge our party to legislation compelling the registration of lobbyists; lobby-ists; publicity of committee hearings except on foreign affairs and recording record-ing of all votes In committee, and forbidding fodoral appointees fm holding office in state or national political organizations or taking part as offlcois or delegates lu polltcal conventions for the nomination of elective stato or national officials. The Courts, Tho Progressive parly demands such restriction of jtower of tho courts as shall leae to the peoplo the ultimate authority to dotormlno fundamental questions or social welfaro wel-faro and public policy. To securo this end it pledges Itself to provide: 1 That when an net, passed under tho police power of the state Ib hold unconstitutional under the state constitution con-stitution by the courts, the people, after an ample interval for dcllbera-iion, dcllbera-iion, shall bavo an opportunity to vote on the question whether they ueslre the act to become law not- i withstanding such decision. 2 That every decision of tho high- i est appelate court of a stato declaring declar-ing an act of the legislature unconstitutional uncon-stitutional on the ground of Its violation vio-lation of the federal constitution shall be subject to thecoma review by tho supreme court of tho United States as is nov accorded to decisions sustaining sus-taining such legislation. Administration of Justice. The Progressive party In order to securo to the people a better administration admin-istration of Justice and by that means ( to bring about a more general respect i for the law and the courts, pledges itself to work Unceasinglv for the ro-form ro-form of legal procedure and Judicial methods. Wo believe that the Issuance of injunctions in-junctions in cases arising out of labor la-bor disputes should be prohibited when such Injunctions would not apply ap-ply when no labor disputes oxistcd. We also believe that a person cltod for contempt In labor disputes, except when such contempt was committed In the actual piesence of the cpurt or so near there as to Interfero with tho proper administration of Justice duoulil have n right to trial by Jury. Social And Industrial Justice. Tho supremo duty of the nation Is the conservation of human resourcos through an Enlarged measure of social so-cial nnd industrial justice We pledge ourselves to work unceasingly In stato and nation for: . Effective legislation, looking to the prevention of Industrial accidents, occupational oc-cupational diseases, overwork, Involuntary In-voluntary unemployment and other Injurious effects Incident to modern Industry. The fixing of minimum safety and health standards ' for tho various oc-oupnUons oc-oupnUons end tho cxerclso of the public authority on state nnd nation including tho federal control over Interstate In-terstate commerce and the taxing power, to maintnln such standards. The prohibition of child labor. Minimum wage standards, for working women, to provide a 'living wage" in all Industrial occupations. Tho general prohibition of night work for women and the establishment establish-ment of an cight-l'-ouT day for women and young people One days rest iu seven for all wage workers. The eight-hour day in continuous twenty-four-hour industries. The abolition -of the convict contract con-tract labor system, substituting a system of prison production for governmental gov-ernmental consumption only; and the application of prisoners earnings to the support of their dependent families. Publicity as to wages, hours and conditions of labor; full reports upon up-on industrial accidents and diseases and the opening of pnbllc Inspection of all jallies, weights, measures and check systems on labor products. Department of Labor. Wo pledge our party to establish a department of labor with a seat in tho cabinet and with wide Jurisdiction Jurisdic-tion over matters affecting tho conditions condi-tions of labor and living. Country Life. Tho development and prosperity of country life arc as important to the people who live in the cities as they are to the farmors. Increasb of the prosperity on the farm will favorably favor-ably affect the cost of living, and promote the Interests of all who dwell In thj country, and all who depend upon its products for clothing cloth-ing shelter and food. Wo pledgo our party to foster tho development of agricultural credit and co-operation, the teaching of ag-riculturo ag-riculturo in schools, agriculture col-lego col-lego extension, tho use of mechanical power on tho farm and to re-establish tho Country Life Commission, thus directly promoting tho welfare of the farmers, and bringing tho benefits bene-fits of better faimlng. better business busi-ness and better living within their reach. High Cost of Living. The high cost of living Is duo partly part-ly to world-wide and partly to local lo-cal causes; partly to nnturnl and partly to artificial causes. The measures meas-ures proposed in this platform on various subjects such as the tariff, the trusts and conservation, will of themselves remove the artificial causes. There will remain other elements ele-ments such as the tendency to leave tho country for the city, waste, extravagance, ex-travagance, system of taxation, poor mothods of raising crops and bad business methods in marketing crops. To remedy theso conditions requires tho fullest information and based on this Information, effective government govern-ment supervision and control to re-movo re-movo all tho artificial causes. We pledge ourselves to such full and Immediate Im-mediate inquiry and to immediate action ac-tion to deal with every need such Inquiry discloses. Health. We favor the union of all the existing ex-isting agencies of tho federal government gov-ernment dealing with the public health Into a single national health servico without discrimination against or for any one set of therapeutic methods, school of medicine, or school of healing, with such additional powers pow-ers us may be necessary to enable It to perfform efficiently such duties In tho protection of the public from preventable pre-ventable disease as may be proporly undertaken by tho federal authorities; authori-ties; Including the execution of existing exist-ing laws regarding pure food, quarantine quar-antine and cognate aubjocts; tho promotion pro-motion of approprlato action for the Improvement o vital statistics and the extension of the registration area Of such statlBtlcs, and cooperation with the health activities of the va- rious states and cities of tho nation. Builr.csG. We bellcvo that true popular government, gov-ernment, justice and prosperity go hand In hand, nnd so believing it is our purpose to secure that largo menaui'o of prosperity which Is tho fruit of legitimate and honest business, busi-ness, fortified by equal justice and by sound progressive laws. We demand Hint the test of truo prosperity shall be the benefits conferred con-ferred thcroby on all citl.ena, not confined to individuals or classes and that tho test of corpornto efficiency t shall be the ability better to serve , the public, that -those who profit by1 the control of tho Dusiness affairs, j shall Justify that pioflt and that control con-trol by aharlDg with the public the j fruits thereof. " We therefore dcniand strong national na-tional regulation of interstate corporations. cor-porations. The corporation la an essential part of mo'lern business. Tho concentration concentra-tion of modern business, In some Ue-ffrec, Ue-ffrec, Js both inevitable and necessary for national and International busl- f ness efficiency But the existing con- JJ ccntratlon of vast wealth under a j H corporate system unguarded and un- B controlled by tho nation, has placed H in the hands of a few men, enormous. I secret Irresponsible power over the IH dally life of the citizen a power un- H sufTcrablc in a free government and H certain of nbuce. I This power lies been abused In H monopoly of national resources, In H stocl: watering. In unfair competition l nnd in unfair privileges and finally, H In sinister Influences on the pubic influences of stato and nation. Wo " H do not fear commercial power, but we H Insist that it shall be operated with H publicity, supervision and regulation ',u H of iho most efficient sort, which will "' H preserve Its good while eradicating and preventing its evils. ' H To that end, we nrgo the establish- ment of a strong federal admlnlstra- t, H tivo commission of high standing. which Bhall maintain permanent ac- live Supervision over industrial cor- porntions engaged In interstate com- H mcrco, or such of them as aro of public importance, doing for them what the government now does for the national banks, and what is now ' dono for the railroads by the inter- state commerce commission. Such a H commission must enforce the com- plete publicity of those corporative H transactions which are of public In- H tcrest; must attack unfair competl- tlon, falEe capitalization and by con- H tlnuous trained watchfulness, piard jH and keep open equally, all the high- H ways of American commerce. Thus tho business mac will have certain H knowledge of the lav, and will be H ablo to conduct his business easily H In conformity therewith; the inves- H tor will find security for his capital, H I dividends will be rendered more ccr- H tain; and the savings of the people H will be drawn naturally and safely H Into the channels of trade. H Under suoh a system of construe- H tlve legislation, legitimate business H freed from confusion, uncertainty and H fruitless litigation, will develop nor- H mally in response to the energy and H enterprise of the American business H Patents. H We pledge ourselves to the enact- H mcht of a patent law which will make H It impossible for patents to be sup- H pressed or used against the public H welfare in the interests of injurious H monopolies. H Interstate Commerce. H Wo pledge our party to secure to H the .interstate commerce commission H the power to value the physical prop- H erty of railroads. In order that the H power of the commission to protect H the people may not be impaired or jB destroyed we demand, the abolition of HBV the commerce court H Currency. H We believe there exists a noed for m prompt legislation for the improve- H ment of our national currency sys- H , tern We bellcvo the present method H of Issuing notes through prlvato B agencies Is harmful and unscientific. HBb The issue of currency Is fundament- HBh ally a government function and the flBa system should have as basic prin- HBh c'lples soundness and elasticity. The 'VJ control should be lodged with the jHBa government and should bo protected HBb from domination or manipulation by HVJ Wall street or any special Interest. 'HBa I Wo are opposed to the so-called iH Aldrich currency bill because Its pro- H visions would place our currency and il credit system in prlvato hands, not IH subject to public control. Il Commercial Development. 1 The time has come when the fed- .,- ,H oral government should co-operate ., B with manufacturers and producers lu BJ extending our foreign commerce. To this end we demand adequate appro- prlations by cougress nnd the appoint- JBYJ ment of diplomats and consular oftl- ' i cers solely with a view to their spe- !hVJ 1 Hal fitness nnd worth, and not in consideration of political expediency. J It is Imperative to the welfare of jHBV our people that we enlarge and ex- jPJ tend our foreign commerce. We aio jHBV prc-ominenlly fitted to do this be- ,H cause, as a people, we have developed Ll high skill In the art of manufacturing. 'IH our business men arc strong execu- tH Jves, strong organizers. In every H way possible our federal government ,H should co-oporato in this important H matter. Any one who has had oppor- H tUnlty to study and observe first hand H Germany's course in this respect must H tleulize that their policy of co-opera- il tlon between government and business H has In comparatively few years made H them a lending competitor for the N 'H commerce of the world. It should bo H remembered that they nre doing this IH on a national scale nnd with largo 'IH unlt of business, whllo the Demo- , crats would havp us belle vo that we B should do it with small units of bust- '1 ncBS, which would be controlled not iVJ by the national govornment but by HBh forty-nine conflicting state sovereign- ll ties. Such a policy Is utterly out of Bh keeping with the progress of the times ;HVJ und gives our great commercial rl- ' vals In Europe hungry for interna- HBh tional markets golden opportunities HBa of which thoy are rapidly taking ad- vantage. . 'J The natural resources of the nation m must be promptly developed and gen- '1 erouBly used to supply the people's need, but we caunot safely allow thorn HBb to bo wasted, exploited, monopolized ,hVJ or controlled against the general good. Il We heartily faVor tho poucy of con- ( sorvatlon nnd we pledge our party to ll protect the national forests without BVJ hindering their legitimate use for tbo ! beneU't of all the people. Agricultural H lauds in tho national forests aic an 1 HHJ should remain open to the genuine ipj settler Conservation will not retard legltlmato development. The hor.es, Bh settlor must receive hts patent BBa promptly without hindrance, rules or BV IB Wc believe that the remaining foi - JBBV csts, coal and oil lands, water pone ' and other natural resources still in BBB state or national control (except as ,BBB ricujtural lands) are more likely m BBB be wisely conserved nnd utilized for 'BBB telt general welfare If l-.chl iu the pint- BB lie hands. In order that conjtimcis and producers, managers and work- 'BVJ I men now and hereafter noc.l not pev Sl ' toll to private monopolies of power IbBJ and raw inatorlal, wo demand Ibat BBB Mich resources 8h;li bo lOtalned bv H ' the stat-p of imu'on and opened 46 im- , BBB I mediate use under laws whbh w!U i'BBB I encourage development nud make t iflBB tho people a moderate return for ben- 3BBB I cflts conferred. jl In particular we pledge our party to El require reasonable compencatiou Ui IBBJ the public for water powor right BBB hereafter grautod by the public. Wc 'BBB pledgo legislation to lease tho public BBB grazing lands under equitable provi- BH slcii3 now pending whlcl will In- ,BI crease tho production of food for tho BBB peoplo and thoroughly safeguard the iBI "U BBB t - BBB M rights of tlto natural iiomemakor. H Natural resources whoso conservation 1b necessary for tho national welfare should bo owned or controlled by the "We recognize the vital importanco of good roads and we pledge our party H to foster thoir extension lu every pro- H per way and we favor the early con- H Btructlon of national highways. Wo H also favor tho oxtcusiou of the rural H free delivery H Tho coa ana other naisral ro- sources of Alaska should he opened H to development at once. Thoy aro Hl owned by the people of tho United States and are safe from monopoly, H waste or destruction only while so H owned. Wo demand that they s'.iall Hl neither be sold nor given away ex- H copt under the homestead law, but Hl while hold In government ownership H shnll be opened to use promptly upon H liberal terms requiring Immedlato do- H volopmont B Thus tho benefit of cheap fuel will H accrue to tho government of tho Unl- H ted States and to the people of Alaska H and the Pacific coast; tho settlement H of extensive agricultural lands will be H hastened; tho extermination of the H salmon will be prcvontod; and tho H just and wise development of Alaskan 1 resources will take tho placo of prl- vale extortion or monopoly. We de- H mand also that extortion or monoaolv H in transportation shall be prevented B by the prompt acquisition, constmc- H tion or improvement by the govern- J ment of suoh railroads, harbor or oth- J er facilities for transportation as the H welfare of the people demand. H "We promise the people of the ter- H ritory of Alaska tho same measure of 1 local self-government that was glvon H to other American territories, and that H federal officials appointed there shall H be qualified- by previous bonafldc res- H idence In the territory. H Waterways. The rivers of tho United States aro H the natural artorles of this conti- H nent We demnnd that they shall be 1 opened to traffic aa indespensiblo H parts of a great nation-wide system H of transportation in which tho Pana- 1 sr.a canal will be tho central line, H thus enabling tho whole interior of 1 the United States to share with tho 1 Atlantic and Pacific seaboards in the H benefit derived from the canals. It H is the national obligation to develop 1 our rivers, and especially the Mis- 1 sisslppi and Its tributaries, without H delay, under a comprehensive general 1 plan covering- each river system from 1 lt3 source to its mouth, design od to H secure its highest usefulness for nav- H igation, irrigation, domestic supply H and the prevention of floods. We pledge our party to the immo- H dlatc preparation of such, a plan B which should bo made and carried out H in close and friendly co-operation be- tweon the nation, the states, and the H cities affected. Under such a plan, Hl the destructive floods of the Missis- H sippi and other streams which rcp- resent a great and needless loss to 1 the nation, would be controlled by H forest conservation and water stor- j age at the headwaters, and by levees H below, land sufficient to support mil- H lions of people would be reclaimed H from the deserts and the swamps, wa- H ter power enough to transform the H industrial standings of whole states would he developed, adequate water H terminals would be provided, trans - H portation by river would revive and H the railroads would be compelled to M co-operate as freely with the boat H lines as with each other. The equlp- H ment. organization and experience H acquired in constructing the Panama H canal noon will be available for the j lakes-to-the-gulf deepwaterway and 1 other portions of this great work and H should be utilized by the nation in H co-operation with the various states, H at tho lowest cost to the people. 1 The Panama canal, built and paid j for by tile American people must be M used for their benefit. "We demand H that the canal shall he so operated H as to break the transportation mo- H nopoly now held and misused by the 1 transcontinental railroads. Ships 1 owned or controlled by transcontl- 1 nental rallroadB must not bo allowed H to use the canal, and American ships 1 shall pay no tolls. The Progressive 1 party shall favor legislation .having H for Its aim the development of j friendship and commerce between the HJ United States and latin American na- wM Tariff. H Wo believe In a protective tariff Wl which phall equalize conditions of M competition between the United M States and foreign countries both for 1 tho farmer and the manufacturer and M which, shall maintain for labor an ad- 1 equate standard of living. H Primarily the benefit of any tariff 1 should be discloeod in the yay en- H velope of the laboror. We declare 1 that no Industry deserves protection. H Which is unfair to labor or which is 1 operating In violation of federal law. H We believe that the presumption is 1 always In favor o tho consuming 1 public. H We demand tariff revision because Hj the present tariff is unjust to the H people of the United States. Fair 1 dealing toward xhe people requires an H immedlato downward revision of these 1 schedules wherein duties are Bhown H to bo unjust or excessive. H We pledge ourselves to the estah- 1 lishment of a non-partisan scientific 1 tariff commission reporting both to H the president and to either branches 1 of congress, which shall report first 1 the cost of production, efficiency of H labor, capitalization, industrial organl- 1 zatlon and efficiency, and tho general j competitive position In the country and 1 abroad of Industries seeking protec- 1 tion from congress; second, as to the M revenue producing power of the tariff n and its relation to tho resources of 1 government; and thirdly, as to the j effect of the tariff on the priceB, opcr- 1 atlons of middlemen uiid on the pur- 1 chasing power of the consumer. Hl Wo believe that this commission j should have plenary powers to elicit H information and to prescribe a unl- j form system of accounting for the 1 great protected industries. The work 1 of the commission should not prevent H the Immediate adoption of acts reduc- H Ing the schedules generally recognized H as excessive. m We condemn the Payne-Aldrlch bill H as unjust to tho people. The Ropub- M Mean organization is in the hands of 1 Ihoso who have broken, and cannot 1 again be trusted to keep the promise 1 of necessary downward revision. B The Democratic party is cc emitted M to the destruction of tho protective M system through a tariff for revenue H only, a policy which wonld inovltably j yroduco widespread industrial and Hj - commercial disaster. We demand tho H immediate repeal of tho Canadian M reciprocity act. H ' Inheritance and Income Tax. Hj We believe in a graduated Inherit - j nncc tax as a national means of cqual- B Izing the obligation of holders of prop. H L6rtJL t0 Government and wo hereby pledge our partj' to enact such n fed-oral fed-oral law, as will tax large inheritance, returning to the statos an equitable percentago of all amounts collected. Wo favor tho ratification of tho pending pend-ing amendments to the constitiution giving the government power to levy on Income tax. Peace "ind National Defenae. Tho Progressive party deplores the survival in our civilization of the barbaric bar-baric system of warfare among nations, na-tions, with its enormous waste of resources re-sources even in time of peace and the consequent impoverishment of tho life of tho toiling masses. We pledge tho partv to use Its best endeavors to substitute sub-stitute judicial and other peaceful means of settling International differences. dif-ferences. We favor an international agreement agree-ment for the limitation of naval forces. Pending such an agreement, and as the best means of preserving peace, we pledge ourselves to maintain for-the for-the present the policy of building two battleships a year. Treaty Rights. We pledge our party to protect thf rights of American citizenship at home and abroad. No treaty Bhould recoivc the sanction of our government govern-ment which discriminates betweer American citizens because of birthplace, birth-place, raco or religion, or that does not recognize the absolute right of expatriation. The Immigrant. Through tho establishment of industrial in-dustrial standards wo propose to so-cure so-cure to tho able-bodied immigrants and to his able native fellow workers a larger sharo of American opportunity. opportun-ity. Wo denounco the fatal policy of indifference in-difference and neglect which has left our enormous Immigration population to become the preys of chance and cupidity. Wo favor governmental action ac-tion to oncourage the distribution of immigrants away from the congested cities, to supervise rigidly all private agencies dealing with them and to promote their assimilation, education and advancement. Pensions. Wo pledge our service to n wise and just policy of pensioning American Ameri-can soldiers, and the widows and children chil-dren by the federal government, and we approve tho policy of the southern states in granting pensions to the ex-confederate ex-confederate soldiers aud sailors and their widows and children. Civil Service. We condemn the violation of the civil service law by the president, Including In-cluding the correction and assessment of subordinate employes and the refusal re-fusal to punish euch violations after a finding of guilty by his own commission, com-mission, hie distribution of patronage among subservient congressmen, while withholding it from those who refuse support of administration members, his withdrawal of nominations from the senato until political support for himsolf was secured, and his appointments appoint-ments to office to reward those who voted for bis renomination. To eradicate eradi-cate those abuses we demand not only tho enforcement of the civil service act in letter and spirit, but also legislation legis-lation which will bring under the competitive com-petitive svatem postmasters, collectors, collec-tors, marshals, and all other non-political officers, as well as the enactment enact-ment of a civil service law, and we also insist upon continuous service during good behavior and efficiency. Buslnes3 Organization. We pledge our party to readjusts ment of the business methods of tin national government and a proper coordination co-ordination of the federal bureaus which will increase the economy and efficiency of the government sen ice, prevent duplications and secure better results to the taxpayers for every dollar dol-lar expended. Supervision of Investment. The people of tno United Statos are swindled out of many millions of dollars dol-lars every year through worthless investments. in-vestments. The plain people, the wage earners and the men and womon with small savings, have no way of knowing the merit of concerns sending send-ing out highly colored prospectuses offering of-fering stock for sale, prospectuses that make big returns seem certain and fortunes easily within grasp. Wo hold it to "be the duty of the government to protect its people from this kind of piracy. We therefore demand de-mand wise, careful, thought-out legislation legis-lation that will give us such governmental govern-mental supervision over this matter aa will furnish to the people of the United States this much-needed protection, pro-tection, and wo pledge ourselves thereto. Conclusion, On these principles and on tho recognized rec-ognized desirability of uniting the progressive pro-gressive forces of the nation into an organization which shall unequivocally represent the progressive spirit r.nd policy, we appeal for the support of all American citizens without regard to previous political affiliations. |