OCR Text |
Show THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM The following la the platform adopted adopt-ed by the Progressive pany at its national na-tional convention held at Chicago August Au-gust 6, 1912, and Colonel Roosevelt said It Tran a binding' contract with the people to bo observed If the Pro-gresclves Pro-gresclves "were elected to office. Compare this straight, cloau-cut platform plat-form -without any ifs with the old party promlBes: Declaration of Principles of the Progressive Pro-gressive Party. Tho conscience of the people in a time of grave national problems, has called into being a new party, born of the nation's awakened sense of Jus-tico. Jus-tico. We 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 ihe people peo-ple whose foundations they laid. "Wo hold with Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Abra-ham Lincoln that the people are the masters of their constitution to fuirill Its purposes and to safpguard It from those who, by perversion of Its Intent, In-tent, would convert It Into an instrument instru-ment of Injustice. In accordance with the needs of each generation the people peo-ple nust use their Rovorclgn powers to establish and malntnin equal opportunity op-portunity and Industrial justice, to secure se-cure which thiB government was founded and without which no republic repub-lic car1 endure. This country bolontfs to the people who Inhabit It, Its resources, Its business, bus-iness, Its institutions and Its laws should bo utilized, maintained or altered al-tered In whatever manner will best promote the general InteresL It Is time to set tho public welfare in the first place. The Old Parties. ..Political parties exist to secure responsible re-sponsible government and to execute the will of the people. From these great taslcs both of the old parties have turned aside. Instead of Instruments Instru-ments to promote the general welfaro they have become the tools of corrupt cor-rupt Interests which use them impartially impar-tially to serve their selfish purposes Behind tho ostensible government sits enthroned an invislblo government, knowing no allegiance and acknowledging acknowl-edging no responsibility to the people. peo-ple. To destroy this invisible government, gov-ernment, to dissolve the unholy alliance al-liance between corrupt business and corrupt politics Is the first task of the statesmanship of tho day. The deliberate betrayal or Its trust by the Republican partj', the fatal incapacity in-capacity of the Democratic party to deal with the new issues of the new time have compelled the people to forge a now Instrument of government through which to lve effect to their will in laws and Institutions. Unhampered Un-hampered by tradition, uncorrupted by power, undismayed by the magnitude magni-tude of the task, the new party offers of-fers itself as the instrument of the people to sweep away old abuses, to build a new and nobler commonwealth. I A Government With the People. This declaration Is our covenant with the people and we hereby bind the party and Its candidates in state and nation to the pledges made herein. here-in. The Rule of the People. Tho National Progressive party committeJ to the people of the government gov-ernment bv a self-controlled democrat, democ-rat, expressing Its will through representatives rep-resentatives of the people, pledges Itself to secure such alterations in tho fundamental law of the several states and of the Vnlted Statc3 as shall Insure In-sure the representathe character of the government. In particular the partv decrees for direct primaries for the nomination of state and natlona officers, for nation-wide preferential primaries for candidates for tho presidency, pres-idency, for the direct election of United Unit-ed States senators by the people; and we urge on the states the policy of the short ballot with responsibility to the people secured by the Inltiathe, referendum and recall. Amendment of Constitution. "I The Progressive party believing that a free people should have the power to amend their fundamental law so aB to adapt it progressively to the changing needs of tho people pledges Itself to provide a more easy and expeditious method of amending the federal constitution. Nation and State. Up to the limit of the constitution and later by amendment of tho constitution, con-stitution, if found necessary, we advocate bringing under effective uatlonal jurisdiction those problem1? which have expanded beyond reach of tho individual states. It Is as grotesque as It is intolerable intoler-able that the several states should by unequal laws in matter A common concern become competing commercial commer-cial agencies, bartor the lives of their children, the health of their women and the safety and well being of their working people for the profit of thplr financial Interests. The oxtreme lnsistanco on states rights by the Democratic party in the Baltimore platform demonstrates anew its Inability to understand the world Into which it has survived, or to administer the affairs of a unlpn of states which have In all essential respects re-spects become one people Equal Suffrage. The Progressive party, believing " that no people can Justly claim to be a true democracy, w-hlch denies political rights on account of sex, pledges Itself to tho task of securing equal suffrage to men and women amce. Corrupt Practices. AVo pledge our party to legislation that will compel 6trict limitation of all campaign contributions and expenditures ex-penditures and dotailed publicity of both, before as well as after primaries primar-ies and elections. Publicity and Public Service. Wo pledge our party to legislation compelling the registration of lobbyists' lobby-ists' publicity of committee ncarln3 excopt on foreign affairs and recording record-ing of all votes In committee; and forbidding federal appointees from folding office In state or national political organizations or taking part as officers or delegates In polltcal couventjons for the nomination of elective state or national officials. I The Courts. Tho Progressive party demands such restriction of power of the courts as shall leae to the poople the ultimate authority to determine fundamental questions of social welfaro wel-faro and public policy. To secure this end it pledges Itself to provide: 1 That Trhen an act, passed under the police power of tho stato Is held unconstitutional under the state constitution con-stitution by the courts, tho people, after an amplo Interval for deliberation, delibera-tion, shall .have an opportunity to 'voU on the aueoOon -whether ttvoy 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 .in net of the legislature unconstitutional uncon-stitutional on the ground or Its violation vio-lation of tho federal constitution shall be subject to the sr.me review by the supreme court of the United States as Is now accorded to decisions sustaining sus-taining such legislation. Administration of Justice. The Progressive party In order to secure to the people a better administration admin-istration of justlco and by that means , to bring about a more general respect for the law and the courts, pledges Itself to work unceasingly for the reform re-form of legal procedure and judicial methods. We believe that the issuance of Injunctions In-junctions In case3 arising out of labor la-bor disputes should be prohibited when such Injunctions would not apply ap-ply when no labor disputes existed. We also believe that a perflon cited for contempt In labor disputes, except when Buch 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. 8oclal And Industrial Justice. Tho supreme duty of the nation Is tho conservation of human resources through an enlarged measure of bo-clal bo-clal and 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 the various occupations oc-cupations and the exercise of tho public authority on Btate and .nation including the federal control over Interstate In-terstate commerco 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 voung people. Ono days rest In 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 ob 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 products Department of Labor. Wo pledge our party to establish a department of labor with a scat In tho 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 sb Important to the people" who live in the cities as they are to the farmers. Increase of the prosperity on the farm will favorably favor-ably affect the cost of living, and promote t'Je interests of all who I dwell in the country, and all who depend upon Its products for clothing, cloth-ing, Bheltcr and food. We pledge our party to foster tho development of agricultural credit and co-operation, the teaching of agriculture ag-riculture In BCbools, agriculture col-lego col-lego extension, tho uso 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 farming, hotter 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 partlv to artificial causes. The measures meas-ures proposed In this platform on various subjects such as the tariff, tho trusts and conservation, will of themselves remove the artificial causes. Thero will remain other dements de-ments such as tho 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 the fullest Information and based on this information, effective govern ment supervision and control to ro-move ro-move all the 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. W favor tho union of all the existing ex-isting agencies of the federal government gov-ernment dealing with the puhlio health into a single national health service without discrimination against or for any ono set of therapeutic methods, school of medicine, or school of healing, with such additional pow-crB pow-crB as may bo necessary to enable It tto perffoim efficiently such duties In the protection of the public from pre-ventable pre-ventable disease as may be properly undertaken by the federal authorities; authori-ties; including the execution of existing exist-ing laws regarding pure food, quarantine quar-antine and cognate subjects: tho 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 tho health activities of the various va-rious states and cities of the nation. Business. Wo believe that true popular government, gov-ernment, Justice and prosperity go hand in hand, and so believing It Is our purpose to secure that large measure of prosperity which Is the fruit of legitimate and honest business, busi-ness, fortified by onual Justice and by sound progressive laws. We demand that the test of truo prosperity shall be the benefits conferred con-ferred theroby on all citizens, not confined to individuals or classes and that the tost of corporate efficiency shall be the ability better to serve the public, that those who profit by tho control of the business affalrB, shall Justify that profit and that control con-trol bv sharing with the public the fruits 'thereof Wo therefore demand a strong national na-tional regulation of Interstate corporations. cor-porations. xl , The corporation Is an essential part of modern business. The concentration concentra-tion of. modern business, in some de-Tee de-Tee la both inevitable nnd necessary for national and International business busi-ness efficiency. But the existing concentration con-centration ol TMt 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 powor over the dally life of tho citizen a power un-suffcrable un-suffcrable In a free government and certain of abuse. This power hns been abused In monopoly of national resources, in stock watering, In unfair competition and in unfair privileges and finally, In slnlBter influences on the pubic Influences of state and nation. We do not fear commercial power, but wo Insist that It shall be operated with publicity supervision and regulation of the most efficient sort, which will preserve Us good whilo eradicating and ureventlng Its evils. To that end. we urge the establishment' establish-ment' of a strong federal administrative administra-tive commlssjon of high standing, which shall maintain permanent active ac-tive supervision over industrial corporations cor-porations cngagod In Interstate commerce, com-merce, or such of them as aro of public importance, doing for them what the government now docs for tho national hanks, and what is now done fpr the railroads by tho 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, falso 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 knowlodge of the law, and will be able to conduct his business easily In conformity therewith, the Investor Inves-tor will find security for his capital; dividends will bo rendered more certain; cer-tain; and the savings of tho people will be drawn naturally and safely Into the channels of trade. Under suoh 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 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 bo suppressed sup-pressed or used against the public welfare In the Interests of injurious monopolies. Interstate Commerce. We plQd&e our party to secure to I the Interstate commerce commission the power to value the physical property prop-erty of railroads In order that tho power of the commission to protect the people may not be Impaired or destroyed we demand the abolition of the commerce courL Currency. We believe there exists a need for prbmpt legislation for the improvement improve-ment of our national currency system sys-tem We believe tho 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 svstem should have as basic principles prin-ciples soundness and elasticity. The control should be lodged with the 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 aud credit system In private hands, not I subject to public control. Commercial Development. Tho time has come when the fed-oral fed-oral government should co-operate with manufacturers and producers In extending our foreign commerce. To this end we demand adequate appropriations appro-priations by congress and the appointment appoint-ment of diplomats and consular officers offi-cers bolely with a view to their special spe-cial fitness and worth, and not iu consideration of political expediency. It is imperative to the welfare or our people that we enlarge and extend ex-tend our foreign commerco. Wc aro pre-eminently ntted to ao mis ue-causc, ue-causc, as a people, wo have developed high skill in the art of manufacturing, our business men aro strong executives, execu-tives, stroug organizers. In every way possible our federal government should co-operate In this important matter. Any one who has had opportunity oppor-tunity to 6tudy 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 I them a leading competitor for the I commerce of the world. It should be remembered that they are doing this on a national scale and with largo units of business, whilo the Democrats Demo-crats would have us believe that we should do it with small units of business, busi-ness, which would bo controlled not by the national government but by forty-nine conflicting Btate sovereignties. sovereign-ties. Such a policy is utterly out of keeping with tie progress of the times and gives our great commercial rivals ri-vals in Europe hungry for International Interna-tional markets golden opportunities of whloh they are rapidly taking advantage. ad-vantage. The natural resources of the nation must be promptly developed and generously gen-erously used to supply the people's need, but wo cannot safely allow them to be wasted, exploited, monopolized or controlled against tho general good. Wo heartily faor the policy of conservation con-servation and we pledge our party to protect tho national forests without hindering their legitimate use for the hnnfit t nil tho npnnlo. Agricultural lands In the national forestc are and should remain open to the .genuine settler Conservation will not retard legitimate development. The honest settler must recelvo his patent promptly without hindrance, rules or delay. Wo believe that tho remaining forests, for-ests, coal and oil lands, water power and other natural resources still in state or uatlonal control (oxevpt ag. ricultural lands) ore more likely to be wisely conserved and utilized for toh general welfare If held In the public pub-lic hands. In order that consumers and producers, managers aud workmen work-men now and hereafter need not pay toll to private monopolies of powor and raw material, wo demand that Buch resources shall be retained by the state or nation and opened to immediate im-mediate use under laws which will oucourago development and raako to the people a moderate return for benefits ben-efits conferred. In particular we pledge our party to require reaaonablo compensation to tho public for water powor rights horeafter granted bv the public. V0 plcdgo legislation to loaso the public grazing lands under equitable Provisions Provi-sions now pending which will increase in-crease the production of focJ tov t,1Q people aud thoroughly safeguard tho rights of the natural horaeraaker. 1 Natural resources whose conservation lis necessary for the national welfaro should bo owned or controlled by the nation. Good Roads. Wo recognize the vital importance of good roads and we plodgo our party to foster their extension In every proper pro-per way and we favor the early construction con-struction of national highways. Wo also favor the extension of the rural freo delivery service Alaska. The coal and other natuial resources re-sources of Alaska should be opened to development at once. They aro owned by tho people of tho United States and are safe from monopoly, waste or destruction only while so owned. Wo demand that they siiaU neither bo Bold nor given away nx-cept nx-cept under the homestead law, but while held in government ownership shall bo opened to use promptly upon liberal terms requiring Immediate development. Thus the benefit of cheap fue) will accrue to the government of the United Uni-ted States and to the people of Alaska, and the Pacific coast; tho settlement of extensive agricultural lands will hastoned; tho extermination of the salmon will be prevented: and tho Just and wise development of Alaskan resources will talc tho placo 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 8uoh railroads, harbor or other oth-er facilities for transportation as the welfare of the people demand. We promise the people of the tor-rltorj' tor-rltorj' of Alaska the same measure of local self-government that was gtyen to other American territories, and that federal officials appointed thero shall be qualified by previous bonnflde residence res-idence In the territory. Waterways. The rivers of tho United States are the natural arteries of this continent conti-nent We demand that they shall be opened to traffic as lndespenalble parts of a great nation -wide system of transportation In which the Panama Pana-ma canal will be tho central line, thuB enabling the whole Interior of the United States to share with the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards in the benefit derived from the canals. It is the national obligation to develop our rivers, and especial' the Mississippi Mis-sissippi and its trlbuta.les, without delay, under a comprehensive general plan covering each river system from Its source to its mouth, designed to 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 carried out In close and friendly co-operation between be-tween the nation, the states, and the 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 tho 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 the 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 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 the Panama canal soon will be available for tho lakes-to-the-gulf deepwaterway and other portions of this great work and should be utilized by the nation in co-operation with the various stales, at the lowest cost to the people. Tho Panama canal, built and paid for by the American people must bo used for their benefit. We 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 be allowed to use the canal, and American ships shall pay no tolls. The 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. We believe in a protective tariff which shall equalize conditions of competition betweon the United States and foreign countries both for tho farmer and the manufacturer and which shall maintain for labor an adequate ad-equate standard of living. Primarily tho 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 Wo believe that tho presumption Is always in favor of the consuming nnhllo We demand tariff revision because the present tariff is unjust to the people of the United States. Fair dealing toward the peoplf requires an Immediate downward revision of these schedules wherein duties are shown to bo 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 tho cost of production, efficiency of labor, capitalization, Industrial organization organi-zation and efficiency, tnd the genoral competitive position In the country nnd abroad of Industries neeklng protection protec-tion from congress; second, as to the revenue producing power of tho tariff and Us 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 purchasing pur-chasing power of the consumer. We believe that this commission should have plenary powers to elicit Information and to prescribe a uniform uni-form system of accounting for tne great protected industries. The work of the commission should not prevent the immediate adoption of acts reducing reduc-ing the schedules generally recognized as excoBslve. ' Wo condemn the Payne-Aldrlch bill as unjust to the people. The Republican Repub-lican organization is in the' hands 01 those who have broken, and cannot again be trusted to keep the promise of necessary downward revision. Tho Democratic party Is committed to tho destruction of the protective svstem through u tariff for reyenuo only, a policy which would Inevitably produce widespread industrial and commercial disaster, Wo demand tho Immediate repeal of the Canadian reciprocity act Inheritance nd Income Tax. We boliove in a graduated Inheritance Inherit-ance tax aa a national means of equalizing equal-izing the obligation of holders of property prop-erty to government and wo hereby Pledge our f.artv to enact such a fed-eial fed-eial law, ad will" tax large Inheritance returning to th states an cqultablo percontag of all amounts collected. 1 We favor the ratification of tho pend- E lag amendments to the constitution H giving tho government powor to ovy 9 an income tw. a Peace and National Dofense. jj The Progressive party doplorcs the fl survival in our civilization of the bar- I baric system of warfare among na- I lions, with its enormous waste of resources re-sources even in time of pcaco and the consequent Impoverishment of tho life of the tolling masses. Wo pledge tho partv to use Its best endeavors to substitute sub-stitute Judicial and other peaceful means c settling international differences. dif-ferences. ,3Ve favor an international agreement agree-ment for the limitation of naval forces. Pcuding auch an agreement, and as the best means of preserving peace, We plodgo ourselves to maintain for- the present the policy pf building two battleships a year. Treaty Rights. We pledge our party to protect th rights of American citizenship at home and abroad. No treaty should receive the sanction of our government govern-ment which discriminates between American cltlzons because of birthplace, birth-place, race or religion, or that does not recognize the absolute right of expatriation. The Immigrant. Through tho establishment of industrial in-dustrial standards we propose to se-curo se-curo to the able-bodied Immigrants and to his able nntive fellow workorB a larger share of American opportunity. opportun-ity. We denounce the fatal policy of indifference in-difference and neglect 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 tho congested cities, to supervise rigidly all private agencies dealing with thom and to promote their assimilation, education and adyancement. Pensions. We pledge our service to a wise and Just policy of pensioning American Ameri-can soldiers, and the widows and children chil-dren by the federal government, and we approve the policy pf the southern states In granting pensions to the ox-confederate ox-confederate soldiers and sailors and their widows and children. Civil 3ervice. Wo condemn the violation of the civil servico law by the president, including in-cluding the correction and assessment of subordinate omployes and the refusal re-fusal to punish such violations after a finding of guilty by his owji commission, com-mission, his distribution of patronase among subservient congressmen, wuue 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 renominatlon. 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 tho enactment enact-ment of a civil service law, and wc also insist upon continuous service during good behavior and efficiency. Business Organization. We pledge our party to readjustment readjust-ment of tho business methods of the national government and a proper coordination co-ordination of the federal bureaus which will increase tho economy and efficiency of the government service, prevent duplications and secure better results to tho taxpayers for every dollar dol-lar expended. Supervision of Investment. The people of the United States are swindled out of many millions of dol- lars everv year through worthless In- vestment's. The plain people, the wage earners and the men and women with small savings, have no way of knowiug 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 be the duty of the government to protect its peoplo 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 as will furnish to the people of the United States this much-needed pro-"tection, pro-"tection, and we pledge ourselves thereto. Conclusion. Op 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 and pollcv, we appeal for the support of all A'merlcan citizens without regard to previous political affiliations. |