The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-07-17

1 born or naturalized and without distinc-
ton OF race or creed the equal protection
] OF law ana the enjoyment of all rights and
| privileges open to them under our treat
les; 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
tions
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
ent1tle him to the treatment due him as
such.
Civil Service.
The laws pertaining to the civil service
should be honestly ana rfgidly enforced to
the end that merit and ability should be
the standard of appointment and promo
ton rather than services rendered to a
political party.
We favor generous pension policy. both
as matter ter Of justice to the surviving
1T tends to relieve the country of the neces-
sity of maintaining a large standing army.
Health bureau.
We advocate the organization of all ex-
listing national public health agencies into
a national bureau of public health. with
such power over sanitary conditions con-
nected with factories. mines tenements,
child labor, and other such subjects as are
properly within the jurisdiction of the
Federal government and do not interfere
with the power of the States controlling
public health agencies.
Agricultural and Mechanical Education.
The Democratic party favors the extern
sion of agricultural, mechanical, and in
dustrial education. We therefore favor
experiment stations and secondary agri-
cultural and mechanical colleges in the
several States.
Popular Election of Senators.
We favor the election of United States
Senators by direct vote of the people and
regard this reform as the gateway to other
national reforms.
Oklahoma.
We welcome Oklahoma to the sisterhood
of States and heartily, congratulate her
upon the suspicious beginning of great
career.
Arizona and New Mexico.
The national Democratic party has for
the last sixteen years IaDOred for the ad-
mission of Arizona and New Mexico as
separate States of the Federal Union, and
recognizing that each possesses every
qualification to successfully maintain sep
arate State governments we favor the i'm
mediate admission of these Territories as
separate States.
Grazing Land.
The establishment of rules and regula-
lions, if any SUCH are necessary, i'll rela-
ton to free grazing upon the public lands
outside of forest or other reservations,
until the time they shall eventually be
disposed of, should be left to the people
of the States respectively in which such
lands may be situated.
Waterways.
Water furnishes the cheapest means of
transportation, and the national govern
ment. having the control of navigable
waters, should improve them to their full
mediate adoption of liberal and compre-
hensive plan for improving every water
course in the Union which is justified by
end we favor when Practicable the connec-
ton of the Great Lakes with the navigable
rivers and with the Gulf through the Mis-
with each other and the rivers, bays, and
sounds of our coasts with each other by
artificial canals, with a view to perfecting
gated by vessels of standard draught.
We favor the coordination of the various
services of the government connected
purpose of aiding in the completion OF
such Il system of waterways. and we
favor the creation of a fund ample for
continuous work which shall be conducted
under the direction of commission OF
experts to be authorized by law.
We favor Federal aid to State and local
authorities in the construction and main
tenance of post roads.
Telegraphs and Telephones.
We pledge the Democratic party to the
enactment of Il law to regulate the rates
and services to telegraph and telephone
companies engaged in the transmission OF
messages between the States. under the
jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Natural Resources.
| We repeat the demand for internal de-
velopment and for the conservation of Oul
natural resources contained in previous
platforms. the enforcement of which Mr.
tant party; and to that end we insist up
placement Of needed needed forests, the pr preser.
vation of the public domain for home
sources in timber, coal, iron, and oil
against monopolfstic control, the develop:
ment of our waterways for navigation and
every other useful purpose. including the
| irrigation of arid lands. the reclamation OF
swamp lands, the Qualification of streams
preservation of electric power generated
| by this natural force from the control OF
monopoly; and to such end we urge the
exercise of all powers, national, State. and
municipal, both separately and in coop
Grafton.
We insist upon a policy of administers
ton of our forest reserves which shall re-
lieve them of the abuses which have arisen
Hereunder and which shall as far as prac.
ticable conform to the police regulations
Gated. which shall enable homesteaders as
of right to occupy and acquire title to all
portions thereof which are especially
adapted to agriculture. and which shall
as well to the private citizen as to the
larger manufacturer and consumer.