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Show pppa xv " H THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM j ' " ' LLLH ' The following is the platform aclopt- H ed by the Progreashe party at its na- H tional convention held nt Chicago Au- pppH ' gust 6, 1912, and Ooloncl Roosevelt LLH 3aid it was a binding contract with ppppV the ooplc to be observed If the Pro- IH graivcE were elected to oiTice. PPH J Compare this straight, clean-cut plat- j form without any lfs with the old V party promisos PHj J Declaration of Principles of the Pro- pppHj gressfve Party. pK The confidence of the people in a pplj time of grave national problems, has ppH , called into being a now party, born l nf tie nation's awakened sense of jus-pplj jus-pplj S , . Wo of the Progressive part' dcdl- ppppV i cate ourselves to the fulfillment of ppppV , the duty laid upon ua by our fathers ppppfl 1 to maintain that government of tho pS people, by the people and for tho peo- H 'pie whose foundations they laid. Wo pppH hold with Thomas Jefferson and Abra- pppH hrrm Lincoln that the people aro tho H masters of their constitution to fulfill pppH Jts purposes and to safoguard it from H those who, by perversion of its in- H tent, would convert It into an Inatru- pppH ment of Injustice. In accordance with ppH the needs of each generation tho peo- B i pie tnuBt use their sovereign powers Ml to establish and maintain equal op- pw portunlty and Industrial justice, to s- pppVj cure wbich this government v,rs 1 founded and without which no rcpub- pppfl lie ca- endure. pppH This country belongs to the people H who inhabit It. Its resources, its bus- pppSj Iness, its institutions and its laws H should be utilized, maintained or al- H tered In. whatever manner will b&stj H promote the general Interest. It Ib H time to sot the public welfare in the H first pppH The Old Parties. pppflj ..Political pnrtlep exist to secure re- H apouslble government and to xocuto H tho will of the people. Prom these pppVI frwit tasks both of tho old parties H have turned aside. Inetend of instru- j , merits to promote the general welfare H j they have become the tools of cor-1 J rupL Interests which use them lmpar- Hl tlally to servo their Bnlflah purposes, j Sl Bhind the ostensible government sits H enthroned an Invisible government, ppHj knowing no allegiance and acknowl- V edging no responsibility to tho pco- ppH pie, To destroy this invisible gov- S ernment, to dissolve the unholy al- S llance between corrupt business and ppH! corrupt politics Is the first task of tho H I statesmanship of the day. ppH The deliberate betrayal of Its trust i Hl by the Republican part', the fatal In- I H ' capacity of the Democratic party toj ppH deal with the new Issues of the now i H time have compelled the people toj H through which to give effect to their H Mill in laws and Institutions Vn- H hampered by tradition, uncorrupted ppH I, by power, undismayed by the magnl- H tude of the task, the new partr of- Hl fen Itself as the Instrument of the H I people to swrep away old abuses, to ppH I build a new and nobler commonwealth. H A Qovernment With the People. H I This declaration is our covenant pppjl J with the people and we hereby bind H the party and it? candidates In state pH and nation to the pledges made here- ppfl The Rule of the People. ppV The. National Progressive party Hl committed to the people of th5 gov- j ernraent by a self-controlled democ- ppV! racy, e.vpre86lng Its will through rep-1 H resentatlves of the people, pledges ppW itself to -secure such alterations In the pHI . fundamental law of the several state H and of the United States as shall in- H sure the representative charactoc of H the government. In particular the H party decrees for direct primaries for H the nomination of state and national H officers, for natlon-wWc preferential , primaries for candidates for the pres-1 M Idency, for the direct olectlon of Unit-1 M t ed States senators by the people, and, H i we -urge on the states the policy of fl i the short ballot with responsibility to B ," the people secured by the initiative, H referendum and recall H I Amendment of Constitution. H The ProgreBBive party believing H , that a free people should have the H power to amend their fundamental M ' taff bo aa to adapt it progressively to H :he changing needs of the people M . pledgeB itself to provide a more easy M md expeditious method of amending M r I the federal constitution. H i Nation and State. H I Up to the limit of the constitution H led later by amendment of the con- Hl j ititution, if found necessary, H are advocate bringing under effective H latlonal jurisdiction those problems H H rnich have expanded beyond reach M tl )f the individual states. M l It is as grotesque as it is intoler- H U ible that ths several states should by H 3 mequal laws in matter f common H , ioncern become competing comroer- 1 :lal agencies, barter the lives of their f I children, the health of their women Iind the safety and well being of their vorkine; people for the profit of their Inanclal interests. j T.be extreme insistance on states H i ighta by the Democratic party In the H I , 3altlmoro platform demonotrates H mew its inabllltv to understand the H B vorld Into which it has survived, or 'to H R idminlster the affairs of a union of B J " itates which have In all essential je- H j ipects become one people. H j Equal Suffrage. 1 j The Progressive party, believing 1 j -hat no people can Justly claim to H j c a tme democracy, which denies M I olltical rights on account of sex, M ledges itself to the task of securing H "lual suffrage to men and women H illke. H Corrupt Practices. H "We pledge our party to logrslation Hj hat will compel strict limitation of m i ill campaign contributions and ex- m i lenditurea and detailed publicity of Hj j lofJi, before aa well as after primar- H es and elections 1 I Publicity and Public Service. ' We pledge our party to legislation j iompelllng the registration of lobbv- 1 Bts; publicity of committee hearings H ixcopt on foreign affairs and record- H ng of all votc-B In committee, and j orbiddlng federal appointees from H . wlding office in state or national H wlltical organizations or taking part B ui officors or delegates in polltcal H onventiona for the jiomlnatiou of A Jectlve stato or national officials. H The Courts. H) The Progressive party demands ' iJch restriction of power of the V. ourtH ae shall leave to the peoplo Hk' ne ultimate authority to dotormine Hjf' undamental queatlons of social wol- H' -re and public policy. To secure H hlB ond R pledges Itself to provide. i 1 That when an act, passed under ho police powor of the state is hold constitutional under the state con- hh titution by the courta, the people, H fter an ample lnterral for dellbera- Hl I ' Ion, shall have an opportunity to vote on tho question whether they desire the act to become law notwithstanding not-withstanding such decision. 2 That cvorv decision of tho highest high-est appelate court of a stale declaring declar-ing an act of the legislature tuicon-stltutional tuicon-stltutional on the ground of Its violation vio-lation of tho federal constitution shall be subject to the came review by tho supreme court of the United States as is now accorded to decisions sustaining sus-taining such legislation. Administration of Justice. .The Progressive party In ordor to secure to the people a better administration admin-istration of justice and by that means to bring about a more general respect for the law and tho courts, pledgoa itself to work unceaslnglj for the reform re-form of legal procedure and Judicial methods Wo believe that tho Issuance of injunctions in-junctions In cases arising out of labor la-bor disputes should bo prohibited when such Injunctions would not apply ap-ply when no labor disputes oxlsted Wo also believe that a person cited for contempt In lnbor disputes, except when such contempt was committed In the actual presence of thy court or so near thoro as to lntorfore with the proper administration of Justice should have a right to trial by jury. Social And Industrial Justice. The supreme duty of the nation la tho conservation of human resources through an enlarged measure of social so-cial and industrial justice. We pledge ourselves to work unceasingly in state and nation for: Effective legislation looking to the prevention of Industrial accidents, occupational oc-cupational diseases, orerwork, Involuntary In-voluntary unemployment and other Injurious effects Incident to modorn industry. The fixing of minimum safely and health standards for the various occupations oc-cupations aud the exercise of tho public authority on state and nation including the federal control over interstate in-terstate commerce and the taxing power, to maintain Buch standards. The prohibition of child labor. .Minimum wage standards, for working women, to provide a "living I wago" In all Industrial occupations. The general prohibition of night i work for women and the establishment establish-ment of an olght-hour day for women and young peoplo. One days rest in seven for all wage workers. The eight-hour day In continuous twenty-four-hour Industiles. The abolition of the convict contract con-tract labor system, substituting a system of prison production for governmental gov-ernmental consumption only: and I 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 public inspection of all tallies, weights, measures and check systems on labor pioducts. Department of Labor. We pledge our party to cstabllah a department of labor with A neat In the cabinet and with wide Jurisdiction Jurisdic-tion over matters affecting the conditions condi-tions of labor and living. Country Life. The development and prosperity of country life are as Important to the peoplo who live in the cities as they tare to the farmers. Increase of the prosperity on the farm will favorably favor-ably affect the cost of living, and promote the Interests of all who dwell In tho country, and all who depend upon Its products for clothing, cloth-ing, shelter and food. We pledge our party to foster the development of agricultural credit and co-operation, the teaching of agriculture ag-riculture in schools, agriculture college col-lege extension, the use of mechanical power on the farm and to re-establish the Country Life Commission, thus directly promoting the welfare of the farmers, and bringing the benefits bene-fits of better fatmlng, better business busi-ness and better living within their reach. High Cost of Uvlng. The high cost of living Is due partly part-ly to world-wide and partly to local lo-cal causeB, partly to natural and partly to artificial causeB. The measures meas-ures proposed In this platform on various subjects Btich as the tariff, tho trusts and conservation, will of themselves remove the artificial causes. Tihere will remain other elements ele-ments such ap. the tendency to leave the country for the city, waste, extravagance, ex-travagance, system of taxation, poor methods of raising crops and bad business methods in marketing crops. To remedy these conditions requires tho fullest Information and based on this Information, effective government govern-ment aupervlBlon and control to remove re-move all the artificial causes. We pledge ourselves to Huch full and Immediate Im-mediate inquiry and to Immediate action ac-tion to deal with every need such nquiry discloses. Health. We favor tho union of all the existing ex-isting agenclcB of tho federal government gov-ernment dealing with tho public health into a single national health service without discrimination against or for any one set of therapeutic methods, achool of medicine, or school of healing, with such additional powers pow-ers as may bo necessary to enable It to perfform efficiently such duties In the protection of tho public from preventable pre-ventable disease as may bo properlv undertaken by the federal authorities; authori-ties; Including the execution of existing exist-ing laws regarding pure food: quarantine quar-antine and cognate subjects; the pronation pro-nation of appropriate action for the Improvement of vital statistics and the extension of the registration area of such statistics, and cooperation with the health activities of the various va-rious states and cities of tho nation. Buslnots. "We believe that true popular government, gov-ernment, justice and prosperity go hand in hand, and so believing It ic our purpose to secure that large measure of prosperity which Is the fruit of legitimate and honest business, busi-ness, fortified by equal Justice and by sound progressive laws. We demand that the test of true prosperity shall bo tho benefits conferred con-ferred thereby on all citizens not confined to Individuals or classes and that tho test of corpdrato efficiency shall he the ability bettor to servo the public, that thoso who profit by the control of the business affairs shall Justify that profit and that control con-trol by sharing with the public the fruits thereof Wo therefore demand a Btron- national na-tional regulation of interstate corporations. cor-porations. Tho corporation is an essential part of modern business. The concentration concentra-tion of modern business, in somo degree, de-gree, la both Inevitable and nocosary for national and International busl- noss efflclencv. But the existing concentration con-centration of vast wealth under a corporate system unguarded and uncontrolled un-controlled by tho nation, has placed In tho hands of a fow men, cnormouB, Becrel. Irresponsible power over the dally Ilfo of tho cltl7.cn a power un-BufTorable un-BufTorable In a (roe government anil certain of abuse. This power has been abnBed In monopoly of national rosourcoB, In stock watering, in unfair competition and In unfair privileges nnd finally, in sinister influences on the pubic influences of state and nation. We do not fear commercial power, but we Insist thftt It shall be operated with publicity, supervision and regulation of the most efficient sort, which will preserve Its good while eradicating and preventing its oviIb. To thnt end, wo urge the establishment establish-ment of a strong federal administrative administra-tive commission of high standing, which shall maintain permanent active ac-tive supervision over Industrial corporations cor-porations engaged in interstate commerce, com-merce, or such of them as are of public Importance, doing for them what the government now docs for tho national banks, and what is -now done for the railroads by the Intor-stato Intor-stato commorcc commission. Such a commission must onforce tho complete com-plete publicity of those corporatlvo transactions which are of public interest, in-terest, must attack unfair competition, competi-tion, false capitalization and by continuous con-tinuous tralnod watchfulness, guard and keep open equally, all tho highways high-ways of American commerce. Thus the business mnn will havo certain knowledge of the law, and will bo able to conduct hte business tvially In conformity therewith; tho Investor Inves-tor will find security for his capital; dividends will bo rendered more certain; cer-tain; and tho savings of the people will be drawn naturally and safely into tho channels of trade Under such a system of constructive construc-tive legislation, legitimate business freed from confusion, uncertainty and fruitless litigation, will develop normally nor-mally In response to the cnorgy and enterprise of thr Amorican business man. Patents. We pledgo oursolvos to the enactment enact-ment of a patent law which will raako It impossible for patents to be suppressed sup-pressed or used against tho public welfare in the Interests of injurious monopolies. Interstate Commerce. Wo pledge our party to secure to the Interstate commerce commission the power to value the phynlcal properlv prop-erlv of railroads. In order that the power of the commission to protect the people may not be impaired or destroyed we demand the abolition of 'the commerce court. Currency. We believe there exists a need for prompt legislation for tho improvement improve-ment of our national currency system. sys-tem. We beliee the present method of Issuing notes through private agencies is harmful and unscientific. I The issue of currency Is fundamentally fundament-ally a government function and the i system should have as ba3ic principles prin-ciples soundness and elasticity The control should be lodged with tbe government and should be protected from domination or manipulation by Wall street or any special Intoreat. We aro opposed to the so-called Aldrlch currency hill because its provisions pro-visions would place our currency and credit system In private hands, not subject to public control. Commercial Development, The tlmo has come when J the federal fed-eral government should co-operate with manufacturers and producers In extending our foreign commerce. To this end we demand ndequale appropriations appro-priations by congress and tnc appoint ment of diplomats and consular officers offi-cers sololj with a view to their special spe-cial fitness and worth, .md not in consideration of political expediency. It Is Imperative to the welfare or our people that we enlarge and ex-tend ex-tend our foreign commerce. .We aro pre-eminently fitted to do this bo-cause, bo-cause, as a people, w have developed high skill in the art of manufacturing, our business men are strong executives, execu-tives, strong organizers In every way possible our federal government should co-oporatc In this Important matter. Any one who has had opportunity oppor-tunity to atudy and obsorvo first hand Germany's course in this reBpect must reallzo that their policy of co-opora-tlon between government nnd business has In comparatively few years made them a leading competitor for tho commorcc of tho world. It should be remembered that they are doing this on a national scale and wllh largo units of business, while the Democrats Demo-crats w.ould have ub bcllevo that we should do it with small units of buul-ncss, buul-ncss, which woulc1 be controlled not by the national government but by forty-nine conflicting state sovereignties sovereign-ties Such a policy is utterly out of keeping with tho progress of tho times and gives our great commercial rivals ri-vals in Europe hungry for international interna-tional markets goidcn opportunities of which they arc rapidly taking ad- The natural resources of the nation must be promptly doveloped nnd generously gen-erously used to supply the people's need, but wc cannot Hafoly allow them to be wasted, exploited, monopolized or controlled against the general good. Wo .heartily favor the policy of conservation con-servation and we pledge our party to protect the national rorests without hindering their legitlmato use for the benefit of all the people. Agricultural landB In the national forests are and should remain open to the genuine settler. Conservation will not rotard legitimate development. Tho honest vettler must rccelvo his patent promptly without hindrance, rules or delay. We believe that the remaining forests, for-ests, coal and oil landd. water powor and other natural resources still in stato or national control (exoepi agricultural ag-ricultural lands) are more likely 10 be wisely conserved and utilized for toh general welfare If held in the public pub-lic hands. In order that consumors and producers, managers and workmen work-men now and hereafter need not pay toll to private monopolies of power and raw material, we demand thai such resources shall be retained b the atato or nation 'and opoued to immediate im-mediate use undor laws which will encourage development and raako to the peoplo a moderato return for benefits ben-efits conforred. In particular we pledge our party to require reasonable compensation to tho public for wator powor rights horeafliir granted by the public. We pledge legislation to leaBe the public grazing lauds under equitable provl-skinti provl-skinti now peudlng whlck will increase in-crease the production of food for tho peoplo and thoroughly safeguard tho rights of the natural homemaker Natural resources whose conservation Is necessary for the national welfaro should bo owned or controlled by the nation. Good Roads. We recognize the vital Importance of good roads and we pledge our party to foster their extension In every proper pro-per way and we favor tho early construction con-struction of national highways. Wo also favor the extension of the rural free delivery Borvlce. Alaska. Tho coal and other natural resources re-sources of Alaska should bo opened to development at once. Thoy are owned by the people of the United States and are safo from monopoly, waste or destruction only while po owned. We demand that they shall neither bo sold nor given away cx-copt cx-copt undor the homestead law, but while hold in government ownership nhall bo openod to use promptly upon liberal terms requiring Immediate de-volopmenL de-volopmenL Thus tho benofit of cheap fuel will accrue to tho government of the United Uni-ted States and to the peoplo of Alaska and tho Pacific coast, tho nettlemont of extensive agricultural lands will bo hastened; the extermination of the salmon will be proyontod, and tho junt and wise development of Alaskan resources will take the place of prl- i vate extortion or monopoly Wo do-mand do-mand also that extortion or monopoly . In trancportatlon shall be prevented j by tho prompt acquisition, construe- j tlon or Improvement by tie govern- I mont of Buoh railroads, harbor or oth- ' or facilities for troJiaportation as the welfaro of the peoplo demand Wo promise tho people of tho ter- rltory of Alaska the same meaBuro of local self-government that was given I to other American territories, and that ' federal officials appointed there shall bo qualified by previous bonailde res-ldonco res-ldonco In the territory j i Watorways. I The rivers of the United States are the natural arteries of this continent. conti-nent. We demand that the.) 3holl be i opened to traffic as Indespenslble parts of a great nation-wide Bystcm of transportation In which the Panama Pana-ma canal will be tho central line, thus enabling the whole interior of I the United States to share with the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards in the benefit derived from the canals It I l Is the national obligation to develop ' our rivers, and especially the Mis- I slsaippl and IU tributaries, without ' ' delay, under a comprehensive genera , limn entering eacu riTer system irons Us source to its mouth, designed to i secure Its highest usefulness for navigation, nav-igation, irrigation.' domestic supply and the prevention of floods. We pledge our party to the Immediate Imme-diate preparation of such a plan which should be made and earrled out In close and friendly co-operation between be-tween tho nation, the Btates. and the cities affected. Upder such a plan, the destructive floyds of the Mississippi Missis-sippi and other streams which represent rep-resent a great and needless loss to tho nation, would bo controlled b forest ccnsenatlon and water storage stor-age at tho headwaters, and by levees .below, land sufficient to support mll-lious mll-lious of people would be reclaimed I from tbe deserts and the swamps, water wa-ter power enough to transform the Industrial standings of whole states would be developed, adequate water terminals would be provided, transportation trans-portation bv ri)orwwould revive and Itbo railroads would be compelled to co-operate as freely with the boat lines as with epch other. The equipment equip-ment organi7atlon and experience acquired In constructing (he Panama canal soon will be available for tho lakes-to-the-gulf deepwaterwnv and other portions of this great work and should be utilized by the nation in co-operation vith the arious states, at the lowest, cost to the people. The Panama canal, built and paid for bv tho American people must be used for their benefit. We demand that the canal shall be so operated as to brcat the transportation monopoly mo-nopoly now- held and misused by the transcontinental railroads. Ships owned or controlled by transcontinental transconti-nental rail loads must net be allowed to use the canal, and American ships shall pay no tolls. Tho Progressive party shall, favor legislation hn ing for Its aim the development of friendship and commerce between the United States and latin American nations. na-tions. ' ' Tariff. Wc belleie in a protective tariff which shall' equalize conditions of" competition between tho United States and foreign countries both for the farmer end tho manufacturer and which shall maintain for labor an adequate ad-equate standard of IMng. Primarily the benefit of any tariff should bo disclosed In the pay envelope en-velope of tie laborer. We declare that no Industry deserves protection which Is unfair to labor or which Is operating in1 violation of federal law. We believe lhat the presumption Ib always In favor of tho consuming public. We demand tariff revision because the present tariff is unjust to the peoplo of the United States. Fair dealing toward ihc people requires an immediato downward revision of these schedules wherein duties are shown to be unjust or excessive. We pledgo ourselves to the establishment estab-lishment of a non-partisan scientific tariff commission reporting both to the president and to either branches of congress, which shall report first the cost of production, efficiency of labor, capitalization, industrial organization organi-zation nnd efficiency, and the general competitive position' In the country and abroad of industries seeking protection protec-tion ironi congress; second, as to the revenue producing power of the tariff and its relation to the resources of government: and thirdly, as to the effect of the tariff on the prices, operations oper-ations of middlemen and on the pur-chasinz pur-chasinz power of the consumer. Wo believe that this commission should have plenary powers to elicit Information and to prescribe a uniform uni-form system of accounting for the grcRt protected Industries. Tho work of the commission phould not prevent the immediate adoption of acts reducing reduc-ing tho schedules generally repognized as excessive. We condemn the Payno-Aldrlch bill as- unjust to the people. The Republican Repub-lican organization Is in the hands of thoso who have broken, and cannot again be trustod to keep the promise of necessary downward revision. The Democratic party is committed to the destruction or the protective system through n tariff for revenue only, a policy which woJd lnevitablv pioduce widespread industrial and commercial disaster. We demand the Immediate repeal of the Canadian reciprocity act. Inheritance and Income Tax. We believe In a graduated Inheritance Inherit-ance tax as a national means ot equalizing equal-izing the obligation of holders of property prop-erty to government and we hereby pledge our party to enact such a federal fed-eral law. as will tax large Inheritance, returning to the states an equitable percentage of all amounts collected. Wo faor the ratification of the pend-I pend-I Ing amendments to tlie constitlutlon ' plvlnc the government power to levy j an income tax. |
