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Show 1 1 liTHE PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM iTho following 1b the platform adopted adopt-ed by the Progressive party at Its national na-tional convention held at Ghicago August Au-gust 6, 1912, and Colonel Roosevelt ;sald It was a binding contract with "the people to be observed If the Progressives Pro-gressives were elected to office. Compare this straight, clean-cut platform plat-form without any ifs with the old 'party promises: Declaration of Principles of the Progressive Pro-gressive Party. The conscience of the peoplo In a time of grave national problems, has called into being a now party, born of the nation's awakened sense of Justice. Jus-tice. Wo of the Progressive party dedicate dedi-cate ourselves to the fulfillment of the duty laid upon us by our fathers to maintain that government of the people, by the people and for the people peo-ple whoso foundations they laid. We hold with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Abra-ham Lincoln that the peoplo are the masters of their constitution to fulfill Its purposes and to safeguard it from those who, by perversion of Its intent, in-tent, would convert it into an Instrument Instru-ment of injustice. In accordance with tho needs of each generation tho peoplo peo-plo must use their sovereign powers to establish and maintain equal op-. op-. portunity and Industrial justice, to se- Mr.fi euro which this government was fVj ' founded and without which no rcpub-Tf rcpub-Tf lie ca- endure. 3lfJ This country belongs to tho people i who inhabit It. Its resources, its bus-4K bus-4K IneES, its institutions and its laws ijim should be utilized, maintained or al-i$jt al-i$jt tered in whatever manner will best u! Promte tho general Interest. Tt Is sf IK time to Bet the public welfare in the 5Jw first place. OT The Old Parties. jjj Political parties exist to secure rc- gB sponsible government and to execute m the will of the people. From these (5 great tasks both of the old parties (I have turned aside. Instead of instru- Uf ments to promote the general welfare Li they have- become the tools of cor- JM rupt Interests which use them impar- W tlally to serve their selfish purposes IB Behind tho ostensible government sits K enthroned an Invisible government, tm knowing no allegiance and acknowl- H edging no responsibility to the peo- S plo. To destroy this Invisible gov- Hi ernment, to dissolve tho unholy al- HE llanco between corrupt businoss and S corrupt politics is the first task of tho 73 Is statesmanship of the day. , ! The deliberate betrayal of its trust ,"S ' by the Republican party, the fatal in- jS r capacity of the Democratic party to deal with the new Issues of tho new jj time have compelled the people to j forge a new Instrument of government jS through which to give effect to their M '. will in laws and institutions. Un- '. hampered by tradition, uncorruptcd i-7 by power, undismayed by the magni- f tudo of the task, the new party of- PK. fors Itself as tho instrument of the 2m people to sweep away old abuses, to V build a new and nobler commonwealth. Wt A Government With the People. Hl This declaration is our covenant nl ' ne neon'e ant we hereby bind jji the party and Its candidates In state yjm and nation to the pledges made here- Ld In. I The Rule of the People. Tho National , Progressive party committed to the people of tho government gov-ernment by a self-controlled democracy, democ-racy, expressing Its will through representatives rep-resentatives of the people, pledges Itself to secure such alteration? In the fundamental law of the several states and of the United States as shall insure in-sure the representative character of the 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 the direct election of United Unit-ed States senators by the people; and we urgo on the states the policy of tho short ballot with responsibility to the people secured by the initiative, referendum and recall Amendment of Constitution. The Progressive party believing that a free people should have the power to amend their fundamental law so as to adapt it progressively to the changing needs of the people pledges itself to provide a more easy and expeditious method of amending the federal constitution. Nation and State. jj TJp to tho limit of the constitution 5J and later by amendment of the con-g! con-g! stitutlon, If found necessary, If we advocato bringing under effective i.j national jurisdiction those problems i ? which have expanded beyond reach 5t of the Individual states. ft " It is as grotesque as It Is intoler-Sl intoler-Sl able that tho several states should by R unequal laws In matter A common concern becomo competing commer-gpj commer-gpj cial agencies, barter the lives of their & children, the health of their women ft ' and the safety and well being of their JJ : working people for the profit of their gjj financial interests. ' : The extreme lnsistance on states dl rights by the Democratic party In tho jy : Baltimore platform demonstrates j anew its inabilltv to understand the .u : world Into which It has survived, or to i r administer tho affairs of a union of B states which have In all essential rc-wjk rc-wjk spects become one people, f Equal Suffrage. L Tho Progressive party, believing B that no people can justly claim to W be a truo democracy, which denies 1 political rights on account of sex, pledges Itself to the task of scouring ; equal suffrage to men and women alike. Corrupt Practices. : ' We pledge our party to legislation ! that will compel strict limitation of all campaign contributions and ox-, ox-, pendjtures and detailed publicity of both, before as well as after prlmar-, prlmar-, les and elections. ': Publicity and Public Service. We pledge our party to legislation compelling the registration of lobbv- lsts; publicity of committee hearings except on foreign affairs and rccord- , ing of all votes in committee and : forbidding federal appointees from holding office In state or national I political organizations or taking part ; as officers or delegates in politcal conventions for the nomination of ; elective state or national officials. t The Courts. The Progressive party demands' 3 such restriction of power of tho ' ' courts as shall leave to tho peoplo . the ultlmato authority to determine i fundamental queatlona of social wel- H faro and public policy. To sccuro I this end It pledges itself to provide: 1 That when an act, passed under the police power of the state is held unconstitutional under tho state constitution con-stitution by the courts, the people, after an ample interval for deliberation, delibera-tion, shall have an opportunity to 2 .vote on the question, whether they desire the act to become law notwithstanding not-withstanding such decision. 2 That every decision of the highest high-est appelate court of a state declaring declar-ing an act of the legislature unconstitutional uncon-stitutional on tho ground of Its violation vio-lation of the federal constitution shall be subjeot to the same review by the supreme court of the United States as Is now accorded to decisions sustaining sus-taining such legislation. Administration of Justice. Tho Progressive party In order to secure to tho people a better administration admin-istration of justice and by that means to bring about a more general respect for tho law and the courts, pledges Itself to work unceasingly for the reform re-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 bo prohibited when such injunctions would not apply ap-ply when no labor disputes existed. We also believe that a person cited for contempt In labor disputes, except when such contempt was committed in the actual presence of the court or so near there as to Interfere with the proper administration of justice should have a right to trial by Jury. Socla'l And Industrial Justice. The supreme duty of the nation Is tho conservation of human resources through an enlarged measure of social so-cial and Industrial justice. Wo pledge ourselves to work unceasingly In state and nation for: Effective legislation, looking to the prevention of Industrial accidents, occupational oc-cupational diseases, overwork, involuntary in-voluntary unemployment aud other Injurious effects Incident to modern Industry. The fixing of minimum safety and health standards for the various occupations oc-cupations and the exercise of the public authority on state and nation including the federal control over interstate in-terstate commerce and the taxing power, to maintain 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 eight-hour day for women and young people. One days rest in seven for all wago 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 tho 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 part' to establish a department of labor with a seat in the cabinet and with wide jurisdiction jurisdic-tion over matters affecting the conditions condi-tions of labor and Ihing. Country Life. The development and prosperity of country life are as important to tho people who live in the cities as they are to tbo farmers Increase of the prosperity on the farm will favorably favor-ably affect the cost of living, and promote the Interests cf all who dwell In tho country, and all who depend upon Its products for clothing, cloth-ing, shelter and food. Wo pledge our party to foster the deelopment of agricultural credit and co-operation, the teaching of agriculture ag-riculture in schools, agriculture college col-lege extension, tho 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 faiming, better business busi-ness and better living within their reach. High Cost of Living. The high cost of living is due partly part-ly to world-wide and partly to local lo-cal causes; partly to natural 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 the country for tho city, waste, ox-travaganco, ox-travaganco, system of taxation, poor methods of raising cropB and bad business methods in marketing crops. To remedy these conditions requires the fullest information and based on this information, effective government govern-ment supervision and control to remove re-move all tho artificial causes. Wc pledgo ourselves to such full and Immediate Im-mediate Inquiry and to lmraedlato action ac-tion to deal with every need such Inquiry discloses. Health. We favor the union of all the existing ex-isting agencies of the 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, Bchool 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 the public from preventable pre-ventable disease as may be properly undertaken by the federal authorities; authori-ties; Including the oxecution of existing exist-ing laws regarding pure food; quarantine quar-antine and. cognate subjects; the promotion pro-motion 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 the nation. Business. We believe that true popular government, gov-ernment, Justlco and prosperity go hand in hand, and so believing it is our purpose to securo that large measuro of prosperity which is the fruit of legitimate and honest business, busi-ness, fortified by oqual justice and by sound progressive laws. We demand that the test of true prosperity shall be the benefits conferred con-ferred thereby on .all citizens, not confined to Individuals or classes and that the test of corporate efficiency shall be the ability bettor to servo the public, that those who profit by tho control of the business affairs, shall Justify that profit and that control con-trol by sharing with the public tho fruits thereof. Wo therefore demand a strong national na-tional regulation of interstate corporations. cor-porations. Tho corporation Ib an essential part of modern business. The concentration concentra-tion of modern business, in some de-greo, de-greo, is both inevitable and necessary Tor national and International business busi-ness efficiency. But tho existing concentration con-centration of vast wealth under a corporate system unguarded and uncontrolled un-controlled by the nation, has placed In the hands of a few men, enormous, secret, Irresponsible power ovor the daily life of tho citizen a power un-suffcrablo un-suffcrablo in a free government and certain of abuse. This power has been abused in monopoly of national lesources, In stock watering, In unfair competition and In unfair privileges and finally, In sinister influences ,on the pubic Influences of state and nation. We do not fear commercial power, but we insist that It shall be operated with publicity, supervision and regulation of the most efficient sort, which wUl preserve its good whilo eradicating and preventing its evils. To that end, we 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 Importanco, doing for them what the government now does for the national banks, "and what Is now done for the railroads by the Interstate Inter-state commerce commission. Such a commission must enforce the complete com-plete publicity of those corporative transactions which are of public Interest, In-terest, must attack unfair competition, competi-tion, false capitalization and by continuous con-tinuous trained watchfulness, guard and keep open equally, all the highways high-ways of American commerce. Thus the business man will have certain knowledge of the law, and will be able to conduct his businoss easily in conformity therewith; tho investor inves-tor will find security for his capital; dividends will be rendered more cer tain; and the savings of the people will bo drawn naturally and safely Into the 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 tho energy and enterprise of the American business man. Patents. We pledge ourselves to the enactment enact-ment of a patent law which will make It impossible for patents to be suppressed sup-pressed or "used against the public welfare In the interests of injurious monopolies. Interstate Commerce. We pledge our party to secure to the Interstate commerce commission the power to value tho physical property prop-erty 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. Wo believe there exists a need for prompt legislation for the improvement improve-ment of our national currency system. sys-tem. We believe the present method of issuing notes through private agencies is harmful and unscientific. The issue of currency Is fundamentally fundament-ally a government function and the system should have as basic principles prin-ciples soundness and elasticity. Tho contiol should oo louged wun mo government and should be protected from domination or manipulation by Wall street or any special "interest. We are opposed to the so-called Aldrlch currency bill because its provisions pro-visions would place our currency and credit system in prlvato hands, not subject to public control. Commercial Development. The time has come when the fed-erul fed-erul government should co-operate with manufacturers and producers in extending our foreign commerce. T6 this end we demand adequate appropriations appro-priations by congress and the appointment appoint-ment of diplomats and consular officers offi-cers solely with a view to their special spe-cial fitness and worth, and not in consideration of political expediency. It is imperative to tho welfare or our people that we enlarge and ox-tend ox-tend our foreign commerce. We are pro-omlncnlly fitted to do this bo-causo, bo-causo, as a people, we have developed high skill in the art of manufacturing, our business men aie strong executives, execu-tives, strong organizers. In evory way possiblo our federal government should co-operate in this important matter. Any one who has had opportunity oppor-tunity to study and observe first hand Germany's course in this respect must realize that their policy of co-operation between government and business has In comparatively few years made them a leading competitor for the commerce of the world. It should be remembered that they are doing this on a national scale and with largo units of business, while the Democrats Demo-crats would have us believe that we should do it with small units of business, busi-ness, which woulc1 be controlled not by tho national government but by forty-nine conflicting state sovereignties. sovereign-ties. Such a policy is utterly out of keoping with tho progress of the times and gives our great commercial rivals ri-vals in Europe hungry for International Interna-tional markets golden opportunities of which thoy are rapidly taking advantage. ad-vantage. The natural resources of the nation must be promptly developed and generously gen-erously used to supply tho people's neod, but we cannot safely allow them to bo wasted, exploited, monopolized or controlled against tho general good, Wc heartily favor the poilcy of conservation con-servation and wo pledge our party to protect the national forests without hindering their legitimate use for the benefit of all tho people Agricultural lauds in the national forests are and should remain open to tho genuine settler. Conservation will not retard legltlmato development. Tho honest settler must receive his patent promptly without hindrance, rules or delay. We believe that tho remaining forests, for-ests, coal and oil lands, water power and other natural resources still in state or national control (except agricultural ag-ricultural lands) are more likely to be wisely conserved and utilized for teh general welfare If held in the pub. lie hands. In order that consumers and producers, managers and workmen work-men now and hereafter need not pay toll to private monopollos of power and raw material, wo demand that Biich resources shall be retained by the Btate or nation and opened to immediate im-mediate use under laws which will encourugo development and make to tho people a moderate return for benefits ben-efits conferred. In particular we pledge our party to rcqulro reasonable compensation to tho public for water power rights horeafter graulod Y the public. Wo pledge legislation to lease tho public grazing lands under equitable provisions provi-sions - now pending which will increase in-crease the production of food for the peoplo and thoroughly safeguard the rights of the natural homemaker, Natural resources whose conservation is necessary for the national welfare should be owned or controlled by the nutlon. Good Roads. "We recognize the vital Importance of good roads and wo pledge our party to foster their extension In every proper pro-per way and we favor the early construction con-struction of national highways. We also favor the oxtension of the rural free delivery service. Alaska. Tho coal ana other natural resources re-sources of Alaska should be opened to development at once. They are owned by the people of tho Unfieu State's and are safe from monopoly, waste or destruction only while ho owned. We demand that they shall neither be sold nor given away except ex-cept under the homestead law, but while held in government ownership shall be opened to use promptly upon liberal terms lequiring immediate development Thus the benefit of cheap fuel will accrue to the government of tho United Uni-ted States and to the peoplo of Ala3ka and the Pacific coast, the settlemen; of extensive agricultural 'lands will Le hastened; the extermination of the salmon will bo prcTented. and tho just and wise development of Alaskan resources will take the place of private pri-vate extortion or monopoly. We demand de-mand also that extortion or monopoly in transportation shall be prevented by the prompt acquisition, construction construc-tion or improvement by the government govern-ment of such railroads, harbor or other oth-er facilities for transportation as tho welfare of the people demand. Wc promise the people of the territory ter-ritory of Alaska the sarao measure of local self-government that was given to other American territories, nnd thai federal officials appointed there shall be qualified by previous bonafide residence res-idence in the territory. Waterways. The rivers of tho United States arc the natural arteries of this continent. conti-nent. We demand that thev shall be opened to traffic as indespensiblo parts of a great nation-wido svstem of transportation in which the Panama Pana-ma canal will be tho central line, thus enabling tho whole interior of the United Slates to share with the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards in tho benefit derived from the canals. It Is the national obligation to develop our rivers, and especially the Mississippi Mis-sissippi and its tributaries, without delay, under a comprehensive general plan covering each river system from its source to its mouth, designed to sccuro its highest usefulness for navigation, nav-igation, Irrigation, domestic supply and tho prevention of floods. We pledge our party to the immediate imme-diate preparation pf such a plan which should bo made and carried out in close and friendly co-operation between be-tween the nation, the states, and tho cities affected Under such a plan, the destructive floods of the Mississippi Missis-sippi and other streams which represent rep-resent a great and needless loss to the nation, would be controlled by forest conservation and water storage stor-age at the headwaters, and by levees below, land sufficient to support millions mil-lions of people would be reclaimed from tbo deserts and tho swamps, water wa-ter powor enough to transform the Industrial standings of whole states would be developed, adequate water terminals would be provided, transportation trans-portation by river would revive and the railroads would be compelled to co-operate as freely with the boat lines as with each other. The equipment, equip-ment, organization and experience acquired in constructing tho Panama f;in?il onnn -mill Vln nVRilfthlo fnr iin lakes-to-the-gulf deepwaterway and other portions of this great work and should be utilized by tho nation in co-operation with the various states, at the lowest cost to the people. The Panama canal, built and paid for br the American people must bo used "for their benefit. Wo demand that the canal shall, be so operated as to break the transportation monopoly mo-nopoly now held and misused by the transcontinental railroads. Ships owned or controlled by transcontinental transconti-nental railroads must not bo allowed to uso tho canal, and American ships shall pav no" tolls. Tbo Progressive party shall favor legislation .having for' its aim the development of friendship and commerce between the United States and latin American nations. na-tions. Tariff. Wo bellovo In a4l'rlectlve tariff which shall equalize conditions of competition between the United Stales and foreign cduntrios both for tho farmer and the Manufacturer and which shall maintain for labor an adequate ad-equate standard or living. Primarily the benefit of any tariff should be disclosed in the pay envelope en-velope of the laborer We declare that no industry deserves protection which is unfair to labor or which is operating in violation of federal law. We believe that the presumption is always in favor of the consuming public. We demand tariff revision because the present tariff is unjust to tho people of the United States. Fair dealing toward the people requires an immediate downward revision of these schedules wherein duties are shown to be unjust or excessive. We pledge 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 and efficiency, and the general oorapetltivo position" In the country and abroad of Industries seeking protection protec-tion from 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 tho prices, operations oper-ations of middlemen and on th purchasing pur-chasing power of the eonsumer. We believe that this commission should have plenary powers to elicit Information and to prescribe a uniform uni-form systom of accounting for the great protected Industries. The work of the commission should not provent the Immediate adoption of acts reducing reduc-ing the schedules generally recognized as excessive. We condemn the Paync-Aldrlch bill as unjust to the people. The Republican Repub-lican organization is in the hands of those who have broken, and cannot again be trusted to keop the promise of necessary downward revision. The Democratic party Is commlttod to the destruction of the protective system through a tariff for revenue only, a policy which would Inevitably produce 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 of equalizing equal-izing the obligation of holders of property prop-erty to government and wc hereby pledge our party to ennct such a federal fed-eral law, as will tax large Inheritance, returning to the states an equitable percentage of all amounts collected We favor the ratification of the pending pend-ing amendments to the constitiution giving the government power to levy an income tax. Poace and National Defense. The Progressive party deplores the survival in our civilization of che barbaric bar-baric system of warfare among nations, na-tions, with its enormous waste of resources re-sources even in time cf peace and the consequent impoverishment of the life of the tolling masses. We pledge tho party to uso 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-tbe for-tbe present the policy of building two battleships a year. Treaty Rights. We pledge our party to protect thi rights of American citizenship at home and abroad. No treaty should receive the sanction of our government govern-ment which discriminates between American citizens because of birthplace, birth-place, race or religion, or that does not recognize tho absolute right of exnatriatlon. The Immigrant. Through the establishment of industrial in-dustrial standards we propose to secure se-cure to the able-bodloiS Immigrants and to his able nativo fellow workers a larger share of American opportun- We denounce the fatal policy of Indifference In-difference and negloct which has left our enormous Immigration population to become the preys of chance and cupidity We favor governmental action ac-tion to encourage the distribution of Immigrants away from the congested cities, to supervise rigidly all private agencies dealing with thorn and to promote their aBslmilatlou, education iand advancement. Pensions. Wo pledge our service to a wise and juBt policy of pensioning American Ameri-can soldiors, and tho widows aud children chil-dren by tho federal government, and we approve the policy of the southern states In granting pensions to tho ox-confederate ox-confederate soldiers and sailors and their widows and children. Civil Service. We condemn the violation of tho civil service law by tho president, including in-cluding the correction and assessment of subordinate employes and the ro-fusal ro-fusal to punlBh such violations after a finding of guilty by his own commission, com-mission, his distribution of patronage among subservient congressmen, while withholding It from those who refuse support of administration members, his withdrawal of nominations from the senate until political support for himself was secured, and his appointments appoint-ments to office to reward those who voted for his renomlnation. To eradicate eradi-cate those abuses we demand not only the enforcement of the civil service act in letter and spirit, but also legislation legis-lation which will bring under the competitive com-petitive system postmasters, collectors, collec-tors, marshals, and all other non-po-Utlcal 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. Business Organization. We pledge our party to readjustment readjust-ment of the business methods of the national government aud a proper coordination co-ordination of the federal bureaus, which will increase the economy and efficiency of the. government service, prevent duplications and secure better results to the taxpayers for every dollar dol-lar expended. Supervision of Investment. The people of the United States are swindled out of many millions of dollars dol-lars every year through worthless Investments. In-vestments. Tho plain people, the wage earners and the men and women 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. We hold it to bo the duty of the government to protect its pooplc from this kind of piracy. Wo therefore demand de-mand wise, careful, thought-out legislation legis-lation that will give us such governmental govern-mental supervision over this matter as will furnish to the peoplo of tho United States this much-needed protection, pro-tection, and we pledge ourselves thereto. Conclusion, On these principles and on the 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 poilcy, we appeal for tho support of all American citizens without regard to previous political affiliations. |