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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1916)
i oftfiijiMyfr1 IwH yy The Commoner VOL. 16, NO. 6 h R DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLATFORM Text of the Declaration of Principles Adopted by the Democratic National Convention at St Louis, June 16, 1916 Following 1b tho full text of tho democratic national platform adopted at St. Louis: "Tho democratic party In national convention assembled, adopts tho following declaration to tho end that tho peoplo of tho United States may both roallzorlho achievements wrought by four yoars of democratic administration and bo ap prised of tho policies to which tho party is com mitted for tho further conduct of national af fairs. "Wo ondorso tho administration of Woodrow Wilson. It speaks for itself, It is the best ex position of sound democratic policy at home and abroad. "Wo challenge comparison on our record, our kcoping of pledges and our constructive legisla tion with those of any party at any time. "Wo found our country hampered by special privileges, a vicious tariff, obsolete banking laws and an, inolastic currency. Our foreign affairs wore dominated by commercial interests for their Bolflsh ends. Tho republican party, desplto re peated plodgos, was impotent to correct abuses which it had fostered. Under our administra tion, under a leadership which has never fal tered, theso abuses have been corrected and our peoplo 'have been freed therefrom. FEDERAL RESERVE ACT "Our archiac banking and currency system, prolific of panic and disaster under republican administrations long tho refuge of tho monoy trust has boon supplanted by tho fedoral re servo act, a true democracy of credit under gov ernment control, already proved a financial bul wark in a world crisis, mobilizing our resources, placing abundant credit at tho disposal of le gitimate industry and making a currency panic impossiblo. "Wo havo created a fedoral trado commission to accommodato tho perplexing questions arising under tho anti-trust laws so that monopoly may bo strangled at its birth and legitimate industry oncouraged. Fair competition in business is now assured. "Wo havc.effected an adjustment of the tariff, adequato for revenue under peace conditions, and fair to tho consumer and to tho producer. Wo havo adjusted the burdens of taxation so that swollen incomes bear their equitable shares. Our revenues havo been sufficient in times of world stress and will largely exceed tho expendi tures for tho current fiscal year. LABOR LEGISLATION "Wo havo lifted human labor from the cate gory of commodities and havo secured to the . workingman tho. right of voluntary association for his protection and welfare. Wo have pro tected the rights of the laborer against the un warranted issue of writs of injunction, and have guaranteed to him the right jf trial by jury in cases of alleged contempt committed outside tho presence of the, court. "Wo have advanced tho parcel post to genuine efficiency, onlarged the postal savings system, added 10,000 rural delivery routes and exten sions, thus reaching 2,500,000 additional people; improved tho postal service in every branch, and for tho first time in our history, placed the post office system on a self-supporting basis, with ac tual surplu. -i 1913, 1914 and 1915. ECONOMIC FREEDOM Tho reforms which were most obviously need ed to clear away privilege, prevent unfair dis crimination and release tho energies of men of all ranks and advantages, havo been effected by recent legislation. We must now remove, so far is possible, every remaining element of unrest and uncertainty from the path of the business men of America and secure for them a continued period of quiot, assured and confident prosper- TARIFF "Wo '.reaffirm .our belief in tho doctrine of a tariff fpr tho purpose of providing sufficient rev onuo for the operation of the government econ omically administered, and unreservedly endorse the Underwood tariff law as truly exemplifying that doctrine. We recognize that tariff rates are necessarily subject to change to meet chang ing conditions in the world's production and trade. Tho events of the last two years have brought about many momentous changes. In some respects their effects aro yet conjectural and wait to bo disclosed, particularly in regard to our foreign trado. Two years of a war which has directly involved moat of tho chief indus trial nations of tho world and which has indi rectly affected the life and industry of all na tions aro bringing' about economic changes moro varied and far reaching than tho world has ever before experienced. In order to ascertain just what theso changes may be, the democratic con gross is providing for a nonpartisan tariff com mission to mako impartial and thorough study of ovory economic fact that may throw light either upon our past or upon our future fiscal policy with regard to the imposition of taxes on imports or with regard to tho changed and changing conditions under which our trade' is carried on. We cordially endorse this timely proposal and declare ourselves in sympathy with the principle and purpose of shaping legis lation within that field in accordance with clear ly established facts rather than in accordance with tho demands of selfish interests or upon in formation provided largely, if not exclusively, by them. AMERICANISM "The part that the United States will play in the new day of international relationships which is now upon us will depend upon our preparation and our character. The democratic party there fore recognizes the Assertion and triumphant demonstration of the indivisibility and coherent strength of tho nation as tho supreme issue of this day in which the whole world faces the crisis of manifold change, it summons all men, of whatever origin or creed, who would count themselves Americans to join in making clear to all tho world the unity and consequent power of America. "This is an issue of patriotism. To taint it with partisanship would be to defile it. ' In this day of test, America must show itself not a na tion of partisans, but a nation of patriots. There is gathered here in America the best of the blood, the industry and the genius of the whole world, the elements of a great race and a magnificent society to be melted into a mighty and splendid nation. "Whoever, actuated by the purpose to pro mote tho interest of a foreign power in disre gard of our own country's welfare or to injure this government in its foreign relations or crip ple or destroy its industries at home, and whoever by arousing prejudice of racial, religious or other nature, creates discord and strife among our people, so as to obstruct tho wholesome process of unification, is faithless to the trust which the privileges of citizenship repose in him and dis loyal to his country. "We therefore condemn as subversive of this nation's unity and integrity, and as destructive of its welfare, the activities and designs pf ev ery group or organization, political or otherwise, that has for its object the advancement of the interest of a foreign power, whether such ob ject is promoted by intimidating the govern ment, a political party or representatives of the people, or which Is calculated and tends to di vide our people into antagonistic groups, and thus to destroy the complete agreement and solidarity of the people and that unity of senti ment and national purpose, so essential to the perpetuity of tho nation and its freo institutions. We condemn all alliances and combinations of individuals in this country of whatever na tionality or descent, who agree and conspire to gether for the purpose of embarrassing or weak ening our government or of improperly influ encing or coercing our public representatives in paling or negotiating with any foreign power. We charge that such conspiracies among a lim ited number exist and have been instigated for the purpose of advancing the interests of for eign countries to the prejudice and detriment of our own country. We condemn anv political party which. In view of the activity of such coS SoHc ' surrenders its intesrity or modifies its PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES LOVE PEACE "Along with the proof of our character as a nation must go the proof of our power to plav the part that legitimately belongs to us The people of the United States love peace nw respect the rights and covet the friendship 6f aU other nations; tbeydesiro neither . additional territory nor any advantage which can not be peacefully gained by their skill, their industry or their enterprise; bufthey insist upon having absolute freedom of national life and policy and feel that they owe it to themselves and to the role of spirited independence which it is their sole ambition to play', that they should render themselves secure against the hazard of inter ference from any quarter and should be able to protect their rights upon the seas or in any part of the world. "We, therefore, favor the maintenance of an army fully adequate to the requirements of or der, of safety and of the protection of the na tion's rights; the fullest development of mod ern methods of sea coast defense and the main tenance of an adequate reserve of citizens trained to arms and prepared to safeguard the people and territory of the United States against any danger of hostile action which may unexpectedly arise; and a fixed policy for the continuous de velopment of a navy worthy to support the great naval traditions of the United States and fully equal to the international tasks which the United States hopes and expects to take part in per forming. The plans and enactments of the pres ent congress afford substantial proof of our pur pose in this exigent matter. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS "The democratic administration has through out the present war scrupulously and success fully held to the old paths of neutrality and of peaceful pursuit of legitimate objects of our na tional life which statesmen of all parties and creeds have prescribed for themselves in Amer ica since the beginning of our history. But the circumstances of the last two years have revealed necessities of internatibnal action which no former generation can have foreseen. We hold that it is the duty of the United States to use its power, not only to make itselfr's&fe at home, but also to make secure its interests throughout the world and, both for this end and in the in terest of humanity, to assist the world, in secur ing settled peace and justice. We believe that every people has the right to choose the sov ereignty under which it shall live; that the small states of the world have a right to enjoy from other nations tho same respeqt for their sover eignty, and for their territorial integrity that great and powerful nations expect and insist upon; and that the world has a right to be free from every disturbance of its peace that has its origin in aggression or disregard of the rights of peoples and nations; and we believe that the time has come when it is the duty of the United States to join with the other nations of the world in any feasible association that will effectively serve these principles, to maintain inviolate the complete security of the highway of the seas for the common and unhindered use of all nations. "The present administration has consistently sought to act upon and realize in its conduct of the foreign affairs of the nation the principles that should be the object of any association of the nations formed to secure the peace of the world and the maintenance of national and in dividual rights. It has followed ,the highest American traditions: it has preferred respect for the fundamental rights of smaller states, even to property interests, and has secured the friend ship of the people of these states for the United btates by refusing to make a more material in terest and excuse for the assertion of our su perior power acjainst the dignity of their sov ereign independence. It has regarded the lives or its citizens and the claims of humanitv as of greater moment than material rights, and peace as the best basis for the just settlement of com mercial claims. It has mado the honor and ideals of the United States its standard alike in negotiation and action. PAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS 'We recoirnlzp nnw o , i.,. -i.,. nnntr- nizeri. a definite and common interest between the United States with the other peoples and republics of the western hemisphere in all mat ters of national independence and free political development. We favor the establishment and maintenance of the closest relations of amitv ana mutual helnfulnesn between tho United Mtatea and the other republics of the .American continent-for the support of. peaceand-the.pro- n M