Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-09
Platform One Which All Members of the Party
Will Unite in Supporting.
1T is FORCEFUL, CLEAN CUT AND SAFE
Presents Key to the Solution of the Evils
Brought On by Republican Rule

strictest economy and frugality COM
patible with vigorous and efficient
civil. military. and naval administra-
tiOn as right of the people, too
clear to be denied or withheld
,. We favor honesty in the public
service. The enforcement of honesty
in the public service. and to that end
a thorough legislative investigation of
those executive departments of the
government already known to TEEN
with corruption, as well as other de-
partments suspected of harboring cor
ruption. and the punishment of ascer-
tanned corruptionists without fear or
favor or regard to persons. The per-
siStent and deliberate refusal of both
the senate and the house of represen-
tativCs to permit such investigation to
be made demonstrates that only by
change in the executive and in the
legislative departments can complete
exposure, punishment. and correction
be obtained.
Federal Government Contract With
Trusts.
publican party in congress in refusing
to prohibit an executive department
from entering into contracts with con.
victed trusts or unlawful combinations
in restraint of interstate trade. We
believe that one of the best methods
of procuring economy and honesty in
the public service is TO have public
officials, from the occupant of the
White House down to the lowest of
them, returned as nearly as may be to
JCffersonian simplicity. of living.
Executive UsurpntIOn.
). We favor the nomination and
election of a president imbued with
the principles of the constitution, who
will set his face stcTnly against exec
utiVe uSurpatiOn of Legislative and ju-
dicial functions, whether that usurpa-
tion be yelled under the guise of exec
utive construction of existing laws or
whether il take refuge in the tyrants
pleas of necessity or superior wis
dom.
Imperialism.
We favor the preservation, so far
as we can. of an open door for the
worlds commerce in the orient with
oriental and European affairs, and
without arbitrary. unlimited. irrespon-
sible, and absolute government any
where within our jurisdiction. We
oppose, as fervently as did George
himself. an indefinite. ir-
discretionary and vague
absolutism and a policy of colonial
exploitation. no matter where or by
whom invoked or exercised: we be-
ievc with Thomas jefferson and John
Adams, that no government has right
10 make one set of laws for those
at home" and another and differ
ent set of laws. absolute in their
character, for those Gin the colonies"
All men under the American flag are
entitled 10 the protection Of the in
5titutions whose emblem the flag is;
f they are inherently unfit for those
Institutions, then they are inherently
Unfit to be members of the American
body polite. Wherever there may ex-
st a people incapable of being gov
erned under American laws, In cor
;onance with the American constitu-
ion, that people ought not to be part
If the American domain.
We insist that we ought to do for
he Filipinos what we have done al
'cady for the Cubans, and il is our
iuty to make that promise now, and
Ipon suitable guarantees of protection
o citizens of our own and other coun-
ries resident there at the time of our
set the Filipino people
Ipon their feet. free and Independent
o work ont their own destiny.
The endeavor of the secretary OF
var, by pledglng the governments
for promoters" in the
Philippine islands to make the United
states a partner in speculative legis-
aion of the archipelago, which was
,nly temporarily held up by the op-
position of the democratic senator's,
n the last session, will, If successful,
cad to entanglements from which It
will be difficult 10 escape.
The democratic party has been, and
gill continue TO be, the consistent OPP
,onent of that class of tariff legislation
~ which certain interests have been
permitted. through congressional IA
yOr, 70 draw a heavy tribute from the
American people. This monstrous per-
version OF those equal opportunities,
which our political institutions were
to secure, has caused what
nay once have been infant industries
CONTINUED On Ps~e SIX