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Show jjr-THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM i The following Is tile platform adopt- 51 ed by the Progressive party at its nn- 2 tional convention hold at Chicago Au- n guat 6, 1912, and Colonel Roosovelt U 6ald It was a binding: contract with h the people to be observed If the Pro gressives were elected to office. h Compare this straight, clean-cut plat form without any Ifs with the old party promises: ; Declaration of Principles of the Pro gressive Party. J The conscience of the people in a time of grave national problems, has called Into being a now party, 'born ; of the nation's awakened sense" of jus tice. ; We of the Progressive partv dedi cate ourselves to the fulfillment of tho duty laid upon us by our fathom I to maintain that government of the - v people, by tho people and for the peo ple whose foundations they laid. "Wo ; 1 '. hold with Thomas Jofferson and Abrn-I Abrn-I hsm Lincoln that the people are tho H masters of their constitution to fulfill Its purposes and to safeguard it from those who, by perversion of Its In-: In-: tent, would convert it Into an instru ment of injustice. In accordance with the needs of each generation the peo-; peo-; pie muse use their soveroign powers to establish and maintain equal op-4 op-4 portunity and Industrial justice, to se- I cure which this government was founded and without which no republic repub-lic ca" endure. This country belongs to tho people who inhabit it. Its resources, its business, bus-iness, its Institutions and Its laws L should be utilized, maintained or al- jV- j tcred in whatever manner will best ttaffi'l promote the general Interest. It is Dp time to set the public wclfaro in the rafc i first place $& . Tho Old Parties. jh2 ,t Political parties oxlst to secure re- f$$J sponsible government and to execute ii the will of the people From these great tasks both of the old parties have turned aside. Instead of instruments instru-ments to promote the general welfare J they have become the tools of cor-j cor-j rupt Interests which use them Impar-i Impar-i ttelly to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government, knowing no allegiance and acknowledging acknowl-edging no responsibility to tho 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 the day. -A The deliberate betrayal of its trust by tho Republican party, the fatal incapacity in-capacity of the Domocratic party to deal with the new Issuer of tho new time have compelled the people to forge a new instrument of government through, which to give 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 now and nobler commonwealth. A Govornment With the People. This declaration is our covenant with tho people and wo horcby bind the party and its candidates in state and nation to the pledges made here-The here-The Rule of the People. The National Progressive party committed to the people of the gov- ' ernment by a solf-controlled democracy, democ-racy, cxprc'sslng its will through rep- ' resenlatives of tho people, pledges Itself to secure such alterations in the fundamental Jaw of tho several states and of the United tntcs as shall Insure In-sure the representative character of ' the government. In particular the ' party decrees for direct primaries for.1 the nomination of state and national I officers, for nation-wide preferential primaries for candidates for the pres- ' Idency, for the direct election of Unit- . ed States senators by the people; and : wo urge on the states the policy of ' the short ballot with responsibility to . the peoplo secured by the Initiative. ' referendum and recall. ' Amendment of Constitution. j The Progressive party believing that a free people should have the power to amend their fundampntal law so as to adapt it progressively to the changing needs of tho people pledges itself to provjde a more easy and expeditious method of amending the federal constitution. Nation apd State. Up to the limit of tho constitution ' and later by amendment of the constitution, con-stitution, if found necessary, wo advocate bringing under effective national jurisdiction those problems which have expanded beyond reach of the Individual states. i E It is as grotesque as it is intoler- I able that lha several states should by I unequal laws in matter A common concern become competing commercial commer-cial agencies, barter the lives 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 extreme insiatance on states rights by the Democratic party in the Baltimore platform demonstrates anew its inabilitv to understand the world Into which It has survived, or to administer the affairs of a union 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 bo a true democracy, which denies political rights on account of sex, pledges Itself to the task of securing equal suffrage to men and women alike Corrupt 'Practices. We pledge our party to logTslation that will compel sjrlot limitation of all campaign contributions and expenditures ex-penditures and detailed publicity of both, before as well as after primaries primar-ies and elections. Publicity and Public Service. We 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 federal appointees from holding office In state or national political organizations or taklns part as officers or dologatos In politcal conventions for the nomination of elective stale or national officials. i ne uourts. Tho Progressive party demands such restriction of power of tho courts, as shall leave to the people tho ultimata authority to determine fundamental questions of social wel-faro wel-faro and public policy To securo this end it pledges itsolf to provide. 1 That when an act, passed under I the police power of tho state Is held unconstitutional under the state constitution con-stitution by tho courts, tho people, after an amnio Interval for deliberation, delibera-tion, shall have an opportunity to voto on the question whether they desire the act to become law notwithstanding not-withstanding such decision. 2 Thnt every decision of the highest high-est appelate court of a state 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 the same review by the supremo court of the United States as is now accorded to decisions sustaining sus-taining such legislation. Admln'Gtratlon of Justice. Tho Progressive party In order to Eoouie 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, pledges Itself to work unceasingly for the reform re-form of legal procedure and judicial methods. We believe that the issuance of in- j junotlons In cases 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 porson cited for contempt In labor disputes, except when such contempt was committed In tho actual presence of tho court or so near there as to interfere with the proper administration of justice should hnvo a right to trial by Jury. Social And Industrial Justice The supreme dut of the nation is tho conservation of human resources through an enlarged measure of social so-cial and industrial justice We pledge oui selves to work unceasingly in state and nation for Effective legislation, looking to the ! prevention of Industrial accidents, occupational oc-cupational diseases, overwork, in- i voluntary unemployment and other Injurious effects incident to modern Industry. I The fixing of minimum safety and health standards for the arlous occupations oc-cupations and the exercise of tho publio 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 The general prohibition of night work for women and the establishment establish-ment of an eight-hour day for women and oung people. One days rest In seven for all wago workers. The eight-hour day in continuous twenty-four-hour Industries. Tho abolition of the convict contract con-tract labor system, substituting a system of prison production for gov-arnmental gov-arnmental 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 tho opening of public inspection of all tallies, Weights, measures and check systems on labor products. Department of Labor. We pledge our party to establish a department of labor with a scat 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 people who live in the cities as they are to tho farmoro, Increase of the prosperity on the farm will favorably favor-ably affect the cost of living, and promote tho interests of all who dwoll in the country, and all who depend upon its products for clothing, cloth-ing, shelter and food. We pledge our party to foster tho development of agricultural credit and co-operation the teaching of agriculture ag-riculture in schools, agriculture college col-lege extension, tho use of mechnnlaal power on the farm and to re-establish the Country Life Commission, thus directly promoting the welfare of the farmers, and bringing tho benefits bene-fits of better faimlng, bettor business busi-ness and bettor living within their roach High Coot of Living. The high coat of living is due partly part-ly to world-wide and partlv 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 tho tariff, tho trusts and conservation, will of themselves remove the artificial causes. Thero will remain other elements ele-ments such as the tendency to loave the, country for the city, waste, extravagance, ex-travagance, system of taxation, poor ' methods of raising crops and bad business mothods in markotlng crops. To remedy these conditions requires the fullest lnformatlpn and based on this Information, effectlvo government govern-ment supervision and control to re-movo re-movo 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. We favor tho union of all the existing ex-isting agencies of tho federal government gov-ernment dealing with the public health into a single national health sorvlco without discrimination against or for any one sot of therapeutic methods, Bchool of medlcino, or school of healing, with such additional powers pow-ers as may be necessary to enable it to perfform efficiently such duties in the protection of the public from preventable pre-ventable dlsoase as may bo properly undertaken by tho federal authorities; authori-ties; including the execution of existing exist-ing laws regarding puro food, quai-fantino quai-fantino and cognate subjects, the pro-I pro-I 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 oitles of the nation Business. We 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 equal justice and by sound progressive laws. We demand that the test of true prosperity shall be tho benefits conferred con-ferred thereby on all citizens, not confined to Individuals or classes and that the test of corporato efficiency shall be tho ability bettor to serve the public, that those who profit by the control of the business affairs, Bhall Justify thnt profit and that control con-trol by sharing with tho public the fruits thereof. We therefore demand a strong national na-tional regulation of Interstate corporations, cor-porations, Tho corporation is an essential part of modern business. The concentration concentra-tion of modern businobs, in some degree, de-gree, is both inevitable and, nocossary for 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 tho nation, has placed in the hands of a few men, enormous, secret, irresponsible power over the dally life pf the citizen a power un-sufferable un-sufferable in a free government nnd certain of abuse. This power has been abused In monopolv of national resources, 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 will preserve Its good while 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 aB are of public Importance, doing for them what the government now does for tho national banks, and what Is now done for the railroads by the Interstate Inter-state commerce commission. Such a commission must enforce the corn-ploto corn-ploto publicity of thoso 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 tho business man wll) have certain knowledge of the law, and will be able to conduct his business easily In conformity therewith; tho investor inves-tor will find security for his capital; divlrtondG will be. rendered more certain; cer-tain; and tho savings of the people will ho drawn naturally and safolv Into the channels of trade Under suoh a system of constructive construc-tive legislation, legitimate business freed from confusion, uncertainty and fruitions litigation, will develop normally nor-mally in response to the opergy and enterprise of tho American business man. Patents. We pledge ourselves to tho enactment enact-ment of a patent law which will make It Impossible for patents to bo suppressed sup-pressed or used against tho public welfarq In the interests of injurious monopolies. Interstate Commerce. ,r Wo pledge our party to Bccure to tho interstate commerce commission tho power to value tho physical property prop-erty of railroads. In order that tho power of the commission to protect J the people may not bo impaired or destroyed wc demand the abolition of tho commorco court. Currency. Wo boliovc there exists a need for prompt legislation for the improvement improve-ment of our national currency sys- tern. We believe the present method of issuing notc3 through private agencies is harmful and unscientific. The issue of currency I8 fundamentally fundament-ally a government function and the system should have aB basic principle prin-ciple soundness and elasticity. The control should be lodged with the government and nhould be protected from domination or manipulation bv Wall street or any special interest, We are opposed to the so-called Aldrich curroncy bill because Its provisions pro-visions would place our curroncy and credit system in private hands, not subject to public control. Commercial Development. Tho time has como when the federal fed-eral government should co-operate with manufacturers and producers In extandlng our foreign commerce. To this end we demand adequato appropriations appro-priations by cor.frr.ess and the appointment appoint-ment of diplomats and consular officers offi-cers Kolely with a view to tholr special spe-cial fitness nnd worth, and not In consideration of political expediency. It Is Imperative to tho welfare of our peoplo that we enlarge and extend ex-tend our foreign commerce. Wo aro pre-eminently fitted to do this bo-cause, bo-cause, as a people, we have doveloped high skill in tho art of manufacturing; our business men are strong executives, execu-tives, strong organlzem. in very way possible 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 polloy of oo-opora-tlon betwoen government and business has lu comparatively few years made them a leading competitor for tho coromerco of the world. It should bo remembered that they are doing this on a national Bcale nnd with large unite of bualnesE, while tho Demor crata would haye us bcliovo that we should do it with aroall units of business, busi-ness, which would be controlled not by tho natlona.1 government but by forty-nine conflicting state sovereign-tie.?. sovereign-tie.?. Such a policy Is utterly out of keeping with the progress of the times and gives our great commercial rivals ri-vals In Europe hungry for International Interna-tional markots goidon opportunities of which 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 thqm to be wasted, exploited, monopolized or controlled against tho general good. We heartily favor the poilcy of conservation con-servation and wo pledge our party to protect tho natlonnl forests without hindering their legitimate use for the benefit of all the people. Agricultural lands in the national foruots aroind should remain open to the genuine aottler, Conservation will not retard legitimate development. The honest settler must receive his patent promptly without hindrance, rules or delay. We believe that the remaining forests, for-ests, coal and oil lands, water power and other natural rosources still in state or national control (except agricultural ag-ricultural lands) are more likely ro bo wisely conserved and utilized for ten general welfare if hold In the public pub-lic hands. In order that consumers and producers, rannagers and workmen work-men now and hereafter need not pay toll to prlvato monopolies of power and raw material, we demand that tuch resources shall be retained b the state or nation and opened to immediate im-mediate uso under laws which wll! oncourago devolopment and make to the people a moderate return for benefits ben-efits conferred. In particular we pledge our party to require reasonable compensation to tho public for water pov.cr rights horcafter granted by the public. We pledge legislation to lease tho public grazing landt. under equitable provisions provi-sions now pending which will Increase In-crease the production of food for the people and thoroughly safeguard the rights of tho natural homemakor Natural resources whose conservation Is necessary for the national welfare should be owned or controlled by the nation. Good Roads. We recosnlze the vital importance of good roads and wo pledge our party to foster their extension In every proper pro-per way and wc favor the early construction con-struction of national highways. Wo also favor the extension of the rural free delivery sorvice. Alaska, The coal ana other natural rosources ro-sources of Alaska should bo opened to development at once. They aro owned by the people of the United Btatos and aro safe from monopoly, wa8to or destruction only while eo owned. We demand that they shall neither be sold nor gUon away ex-copt ex-copt under the homestead law, but while hold in government ownership shall bo opened to use promptly upon liberal, terms requiring Immediate development. de-velopment. Thus tho benefit of cheap fuel will accrue to the government of tho United Uni-ted States' and to the peoplo of Alaoka and the Pacific coaBt; tho settlement of extensive agricultural lands will be hastened; tho extermination of tho salmon will bo prevented; 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 bo preypnted by the prompt acquisition, construction construc-tion or Improvement by the government govern-ment of suoh rallroadB, harbor or other oth-er facilities for transportation a) the welfare of the people demand. Wo promise tho peoplo of the territory ter-ritory qf Alaska the same mosaure of local Belf-government that was given to other American territories, and that federal officials appointed there shall be qualified by previous bonaflde residence res-idence lu the territory Waterways. The rivers of tho United SUtes are the natural arteries of his continent. conti-nent. We demand that thoy shall bo opened to traffic as Indeapwuslble parts of a great nation-wldo system of transportation In which tho Panama Pana-ma canal will bo the contral line, thus enabling the whole interior of the United States to 3hare with the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards in the benefit derived from tho canals. It is the national obligation to develop our rivors, and especially the Mississippi Mis-sissippi and its tributaries, without delay, under a comprehensive general plan covering each river system from its sourco to lis mouth, designed to necure Its highest usefulness for navigation, nav-igation, Irrigation, domestic supply and tho prevention of floods. We plodgq our party to the immediate imme-diate preparation of such a plan whch should he made and carried out In close and frjendly co-operation between be-tween the nation, the states, and tho cities affooted. Under such a plan, the destructive floods of the Mississippi Missis-sippi and other streams which represent rep-resent a great and noodless less 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 tlvj deserts and the swamps, water wa-ter power enough to transform tho industrial standings of whole states would be developed, adequate water terminals would bo provided, transportation trans-portation by river would reivo 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 deopwatorway and other portions of this great work and should be utilized by tho nation in co-operation with the arious states, at the lowest cost to the peoplo, The Panama canal, built and paid for by the Amprlcan people must be need for tholr benefit. We demand that the canal shall bo so operated 06 to break the transportation monopoly mo-nopoly now hold and misused by tho transcontinental railroads Ships owned or controlled by transcontinental transconti-nental railroads must not be allowed to u3e the canal, and American ships shall pay no tolls. Tho Progressive party shall favor legislation having for its aim tho 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 between the United States and foreign countrlos both for the farmer and tho manufacturer and which shall maintain for labor an adequate ad-equate standard of IMng Primarily tho benefit of any tariff should bo disclosed In the pay envelope en-velope of tho 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 nnhllrv Wo demand tariff revision because the presont tariff Is unjust to the people of the United States. Fnlr dealing toward the peoplo requires an Immediate downward rovlslon of these j schedules wherein duties are shown to bo unjust or excessive. We pledge ourselves to tho establishment estab-lishment of a non-partisan scientific tariff commission reporting both to the president and to oithor branches of congress, which Bhall report first the cost of production, efficiency of labor, capitalization, industrial organization organi-zation and efficiency, and tho general competitive position in tho 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 offoct of the tariff on the prices, operations oper-ations of middlemen and on the purchasing pur-chasing power of the consumer. We bollove that thb commission should have plenary powers to elicit Information aud to prescribe a uniform uni-form system of accounting for tho great protected industries. The work of the commission should not prevent the immediate adoption of acts reducing reduc-ing tho schedules generally recognized as excessive. We condemn the Payno-Aldrich bill ap. unjust to the people Tho Republican Repub-lican organization is in tho hands of thoso who have broken, and cannot again be trusted to keep the promise of necessary dowpward revision. The Democratic party is committed to the destruction of tho protective syjjtom through a tariff for rovenue pnly, a policy which would Inevitably produce widespread Industrial aud commercial dlaastnr. We demand the Immediate repeal u of the Canadian reciprocity act. Inheritance and Income Tax. We believe In a graduated Inheritance Inherit-ance tax an a national means of equalising equal-ising tho obligation of holders of property prop-erty to govornment and we horeby pledge our party to enact such a federal fed-eral law, as will tor large Inheritance, returning to tho states an equitable percentage of all amounts colloqted. We favor the ratification of the pond-In? pond-In? amendments to the copstltlutlon KJvIne the government power to levy nu income tax. Pesce and National Defense. The Progressive party deplores the ourviyaj In our civilization of the bor-burlc bor-burlc B.vatom of warfare among nations, na-tions, with Its enormous waste of re-bources re-bources oven in time of peace and tho consequent impoverishment of the life of the toiling masses. Wc plqdge the partv to use its best endeavors to substitute sub-stitute Judicial and other pcacoful means of settling International dlf-feroncos. dlf-feroncos. We favor an International agrce- ment for tho limitation of naval forces. Pending such an agreement, and as the beat means of preserving peace, wo 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 th rights of American cltlzenBhlp at homo and abroad. No treaty should recolve 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 the absolute right of expatriation. The Immigrant, Through the establishment . pf in duBtrlal standards we propose to secure se-cure to the able-bodied immigrants and to his nolo native fellow workers a largor shaio of American opportunity. opportun-ity. We denounce the fatal policy of Indifference In-difference and neglect which hao left our enormous immigration population to becomo tho proys of chance nnd 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 them and to promote their assimilation, education and advancement. 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 of the southern states in granting pensions to the cx-confedorate cx-confedorate soldiers and sailors and their widows and children. Civil Service. We condemn the violation of the civil service law by the president, in-eluding in-eluding the correction and assessment of subordinate oraployes and the refusal re-fusal to punish 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 nomlnatlona from tho senate until political support for himself was secured, and his appointments appoint-ments to office iO reward -those who voted for his yenomlpntlon. To eradicate eradi-cate those abuses we demand not only the enforcement of tho civil service act in lotter and spirit, bijt also legislation legis-lation which will bring under tho competitive com-petitive system postmasters, collectors, collec-tors, marshals, and all other non-political officers, as well as the enaot-ment enaot-ment of a civil service law, and we also insist upon continuous service durlnggood behavior and efficiency. Business Organization. Wcfiledgo our party to readjustment readjust-ment of tho business methods of the national government and a proper coordination co-ordination of the federal buroaus which will lncreaso the economy and efficiency of the government service, prevent duplications and securo bettor results to the taxpayers for every dollar dol-lar expended. Supervision of Investment. The people of tno United States are swindled out of many millions of dbl-lars dbl-lars every year through worthless investments. in-vestments. The plain people, tho wage earners and tho mep 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 easly within grasp. We hold it to be tho duty of tho 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 as will furnish to the people of tho United Stales this much-needed protection, pro-tection, and we pledge ourselves thereto. Conclusion. On these principles and on tho roo-ognized roo-ognized desirability of uniting tho progressive pro-gressive forces of the nation into an organization which shall unequivocally ropresont the progressive spirit nnd policy, we appeal for the support of all American citizens without regard to previous political affiliations. . rift - |