-Wi 0mr-iH&fwm yi )' - rw$' 4' i JULY 17, '19 08's" The Commoner; l" vj- i tti it DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM congress, as far as the federal jurisdiction extends, for a general employers' liability act covering injury to body or loss of life of employes.. We pledge the democratic party to the enactment of a law cre ating a department of labor, represented separately in the presi dent's cabinet, which department shall include the subject of mines and mining. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM :' , ,-. :s.' W Merchant Marine " DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM We believe in the upbuilding of the. American and merchant marine without new or additional burdens upon the people and without bounties irom the public treasury. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM We adhere to the republican doctrine of encouragement to American shipping and urge such legislation as will rovive the merchant marine prestige of the country, so essential to national defense, the enlargement of foreign trade and the industrial pro, perity of our own people. DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM Navy The constitutional provision that a navy shall be provided and maintained means an adequate navy and we believe that the inter cuts of this country would be best served by having a navy sufficient to defend the coasts of this country and protect American citizens wherever their rights may be in jeopardy. ..TK.- '1 U . " ". ".' 1i REPUBLICAN PLATFORM The Sixtieth congress passed many commendable acts increasing" the efficiency of the army and navy, making the militia of the states an integral part of the national establishment, authorizing joint maneuvers of army and militia, fortifying new naval bases and com pleting the construction of coaling stations; instituting a female nurse corps for naval hospitals and ships and adding two new bat tleships, ten torpedo boat destroyers, three steam colliers and eight submarines to the strength of the navy. Although at peace with the world and secure in the consciousness that the American people do not desire and will not rrnvr"k wnr with ntr Afimr i ,&pr ; , we nevertheless declare our unalterable devotion to a policy that 1-"' k " wiU keep this republic ready at all times to.defend her traditional ''s "' . doctrines and assure her appropriate part in protecting permanent tranquility among the nations. '7V J' Protection of American Citizens DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM REPUBLICAN PLATFORM We pledge ourselves to insist upon the just and lawful protec tion of our citizens at home and abroad, and to use all proper meth ods to secure for them, whether native-born or naturalized, and without, distinction of race or creed, the equal protection of law and the enjoyment of all rights and privileges open to them under our treaty; and if, under existing treaties, the right of travel and sojourn is denied to American citizens, or recognition is with held from American passports by any countries on the ground of race or creed, we favor prompt negotiations with the governments of such countries to secure the removal of these unjust discrimina tions. We demand that all over the world a duly authenticated pass port issued by the government of the United States to an American citizen shall be proof of the fact that he is an American citizen, and shall entitle him to the treatment due him as such. t Jftf - a -y$t , Ao1 . " .M'S ! ! y vr y-.y." -j'-'' ! if' : r Vt Vj; ' 'A r r- ! V fr Civil Service DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM The laws pertaining to the civil service should be honestly and rigidly enforced, to the end that merit and ability shall be the standard of appointment and promotion rather than services ren dered to a political party. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM . We reaffirm our former declarations that the civil service -laws?' enacted, extended and enforced by the republican party, shall cb&Cj tinue to be maintained and obeyed. ; , Pen stons DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM REPUBLICAN PLATFORM We favor a generous pension policy, both as a matter of justice to the surviving veterans and their dependents, and because it tends to relieve the country of the necessity of maintaining a large standing army; ' ' '- ft' -MJ& :& Another republican policy which must be ever maintained is that of generous provision for those who have fought the country's battles and for the widows and orphans of those who have fallen. We commend the increase in the widows' pensions made by the present congress, and declare for a liberal administration of all pension laws, to the end that the people's gratitude may grow deeper as the memories of heroic .sacrifice grow more sacred with the pass ing years. "&-?$ f- Health Bureau DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM We advocate the organization of all existing national public agencies into a national bureau of public health, with such powers over sanitary conditions connected with factories, mines, tenements, child labor and other such subjects as are properly within the jur isdiction of the federal government and do not interfere witn tne power of the states controlling public health agencies. REPUBLICAN PLATFORM We commend the efforts designed to secure greater efficiency in national public health agencies and favor such legislation will effect this purpose. 4 ;" ft - H Ik w is l 4 If f I 1H jA ':. MWMl