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The Commoner
VOL. 16, NO. 6
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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
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