The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-10

American passports by any countries
on the ground of race or creed, we
favor prompt negotiations with the
government of such countries to Sc
cure the removal of these unjust dis
ordinations. 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.
Civil Service.
The laws pertaining to the civil ser
vice should be honestly and rigidly en-
forced to the end that merit and abil-
ity shall be the standard of appoint
ment and promotion rather than SER
vice rendered political party.
Pensions.
We favor a generous pension policy,
both as matter of justice to the sur
viving veterans and their dependents
and because it tends to relieve the
country of the necessity of maintain
ing a large standing army.
Health Bureau.
We advocate the organization of all
existing national public health agen-
cies into national bureau of public
health, with such power over sanitary
conditions connected with factories,
leUeIleulS, CllllQ ldDOT anu OlIl-
er such subjects as are properly with
in the Jurisdiction of the government
and do not interfere with the power
of the states controlling public health
agencies.
Agricultural and Mechanical Education
The Democratic party favors the ex-
tension of agricultural mechanical
and Industrial education. We, there
FORE favor the esta blishment of dis
fri aOrinl,ltnro1 oynarirnPnt stations,
the secondary agricultural and me-
chanical colleges in the several states.
Popular Election of Senators.
We favor the election of United
States senators by the direct vote of
the people and regard this reform as
the gateway to other national reforms.
Oklahoma.
We welcome Oklahoma to the sis
terhood of states and heartily congrat-
ulate her on the suspicious beginning
of a great career.
Arizona and New Mexico.
The national Democratic party has
for the last sixteen years labored for
the admission of Arizona and New
Mexico as separate states of the feder-
al union and recognizing that each
possesses every qualification to sue
cessfully maintain separate govern
ment we favor the immediate admis-
SION OF lnoSe IeTTllOTleS dS separate
states.
Grazing Lands.
The establishment of rules and reg
ulations if any such are necessary in
relation to free grazing upon the pub
lie lands outside of forest or other re-
servations until the same shall even
tually 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
government, having the control
of navigable streams, should
improve them to their full
est capacity. We earnestly
favor the immediate adoption of a lib
eral and comprehensive plan for i'm
proving every water course in the un-
ion which is justified by the needs of
commerce and to secure that end we
favor, when practicable, the connec-
ton of the Great Lakes with the navi-
gable rivers and with the Gulf through
the Mississippi river and the navigable
rivers with each other. and the rivers.
bays and sounds of our coasts with
each other by artificial canals with a
view to perfecting a system of inland
waterways to be navigated by vessels
of standard draught.
We favor the cooperation of the