The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-09
prices should be prohibited and punished

We especially denounce rebates and dis crimination by transportation companies as the most potent agency in promoting and strengthening these unlawful con- spiracies against trade.
 We demand an enlargement of the pow CTS of the interstate commerce commis- sion to the end that the travelling man and shippers of this country may have prompt and adequate relief for the abuses to which they are subjected in the matter of transportation. We demand strict en- forcement of existing civil and criminal statutes against all such trusts, combina- tions and monopolies and we demand the enactment of such further legislation as may be necessary to effectually suppress them.
 Any trust or unlawful combination en- gagged in interstate commerce which Is monopOlizing any branch of business or reduction should not be permitted 10 transact business outside of the state of its origin. Whenever it shall be established in any court of competent jurisdiction that such monopolization exists, such pro- hibition should be enforced through com prehensive laws to be enacted on the sub- ject.
 Reclamation of Arid Lands.
 We congratulate our western citizens upon the passage of the law known as the Newlands irrigation act for the irrigation and reclamation of the arid lands of the west-a measure framed by a democrat, passed in the senate by a non-partisan vote and passed in the house against the opposition of almost all the republican leaders by vote, the ma- jority of which was democratic. We call attention to this great democratic meas ure. broad and comprehensive as 1t Is, working automatically throughout all time without further action of congress until the reclamation of all the lands in the arid west capable of reclamation is accomplished reserying the lands reclaim ed for home-seekers In small tracts, and rigidIy guarding against land monopoly as an evidence of the policy of domestic developments contemplated by the dem ocratlc party should 1t be placed In power.
 Isthmlan Canal.
 The democracy when entrusted with power will construct the Panama canal speedily, honestly and economically thereby giving to our people what dem ocrats have always contended fora great oceanic canal furnishing shorter and cheaper lines of transportation and less trammelled trade relations with the other peoples of the world.
 American Citizenship.
 
 We pledge ourselves to insist upon the just and lawful protection of our citizens at home and abroad, and to use all proper measures to secure for them, whether na- tive-born or naturalized, and without dis tinction of race or creed the equal pro- lection of laws and the enjoyment of all rights and privileges open to them under the covenants of our treaties of friend ship and commerce; and if under existing tfe fa frox a md coi ia denied to American citizens or recognition Is withheld from American passports by any countries on the ground of race or creed, we favor the beginning of nego- tiations with the governments of such to secure by new treaties the re- moval of these unjust discriminations. We demand that all over the world a duly authenticated passport 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.
 Election of Senators By the People. We favor the election of United States senators by the direct vote of the people.
 Statehood for Territories.
 We favor the admission of the terri tories of Oklahoma and the Indian Ter ritory. We also favor the immediate ad- mission of Arizona and New Mexico as separate states and a territorial gov ernment for Alaska and Porto Rico.
 We hold that the officials appointed to administer the government of any terri tory as well as with the district of Alaska should be bona fde residents at the time of their appointment of the territory or district in which their duties are to be performed.
 Condemnation of PoIygamy.
 We demand the extermnation of poly gamy within the Jurisdiction of the Unit ed States, and the complete separation of church and state in political affairs.
 Merchant Marine.
 We denounce the ship subsidy bill re- gently passed by the United States senate as an iniquitious appropriation of public funds for private purposes and a waste ful, illogical and useless attempt to over come by subsidy the Instructions raised by republican legislation to the growth and development of American commerce on the sea.
 We favor the upbuildng of American merchant marine without new or addi- tional burdens upon the people and with out bounties from the public treasury.
 Reciprocity.
 We favor liberal trade arrangements with Canada and with peoples of other countries where they can be entered into with benefit to American agriculture, manufactures. mining and commerce.
 Monroe Doctrine.
 We favor the maintenance of the Mon roe doctrine in its full integrity. Army.
 We favor the reduction of the army and army expenditures to the point his- torically demonstrated to be safe and suf- fcient.
 Pensions.
 The democracy would secure to the sur viving soldiers and sailors and their de- pendents generous pensions, not by an arbitrary executive order, but by legis- lation which grateful people stand ready to enact.
 Our soldiers and sailors who defend with their lives the constitution and the laws, have a sacred interest in their just administration. They must, there fore, share with us the humiliation with which we have witnessed the exaltation of court favorites without distinguished service over the scared heroes of many battles, or aggrandized by executive ap- propriations out of the treasuries of prostrate people in violation of the act of congress which fixes the compensation and allowances of the military officers.
 Civil Service.
 The democratic party stands committed to the principles of civil service reform and we demand their honest just and i'm partial enforcement
 We denounee the republican party for it's continuous and siniSter ancroa oh,,a,t