The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-10-04
THE PROGRESSIVE CONTRACT
WITH VOTERS OF THE U. S.
The Most Direct, the Simplest and Most
Enlightened Political Document
Ever Presented

Of grave national problems has called into
being a new party, born of the nations
awakened sense of Justice.
We of tho Progressive party here dedi-
cate ourselves to the fulfllment of the
duty laid upon us by our fathers to main
| tain that government of the people, by the
people and for the people, whose founda-
| lions they laid.
| We hold, with Thomas Jefferson and
Abraham Lincoln, that the people are the
| masters of their constitution, to fulfill Its
| purposes and to safeguard 1t from those
who by perversion Of its intent would
| convert II into an instrument of injustice.
This country belongs to the people who
| inhabit It. Political parties exist to Sc
cure responsible government and to exc
cute the will of the people. From these
great tasks both the old parties have
turned aside. Behind the ostensible gov
eminent sits enthroned an invisible gov
eminent, owing no allegiance and ac-
knowledgtng no responsibility to the peo-
pie. To destroy this invisible government.
to dissolve the unholy alliance between
corrupt business and corrupt politics. IL
the first task of the statesmanship OF the
day.
The deliberate betrayal of its trust by
the Republican party, the fatal incapacity
of the Democratic party to deal with the
new issues of the new time, have COM
ment of government through which to
give effect to their will in laws and insti-
tutions.
A Covenant With the People.
This declaration is our covenant with
the people, and we hereby bind the party
and its candidates In state and nation to
the pledges made herein.
The Progressive party declares for d.
rect primaries for the nomination OF state
and national officers. for nation wide pref
erential primaries for candidates for the
presidency, for the direct election Of Unit
ed States senators by the people, and we
urge on the states the policy of the short
ballot with responsibility to the people, Sc
cured by the initiative, referendum and
recall.
The Progressive party pledges itself to
provide a more easy and expeditions meth
cd of amending the federal constitution.
Up to the limit of the constitution and
later by amendment of the constitution,
II 1t is found necessary, we advocate
bringing under effective national 1uris-
diction those problems which have ex-
banded beyond reach of the individual
states.
The extreme insistence on states rights
by the Democratic party in the Baltimore
platform demonstrates anew Its inability
to understand the world into which 1t has
union of states which have In all essential
respects become one people.
Equal Suffrage. -
The Progressive party. believing that no
people can justly claim to be a true de-
mocracy which denies political rights on
account of sex, pledges itself to the task
Of securing equal suffrage to men and
women alike.
We pledge our party to legislation that
will compel strict limitation Of all cam
paign contributions and expenses and de-
tailed publicity of both before well as
after primaries and elections.
We pledge our party to legislation COM
polling the registration of lobbyists. pub
licity of committee hearings. except on
foreign affairs. and recording Of all votes
in committee and forbidding federal APP
pointees from holding Office in state or
national political organizations or taking
part as officers or delegates in political
conventions.
The Progressive party demands such re-
strictions of the power of the courts as
shall leave to the people the ultimate
authority to determine fundamental ques-
lions of social welfare and public policy.
To secure this end 1t pledges itself to- pro-
vide.
First.-That when an act passed under
the police power Of the state Is held I'M
constitutional under the state constitution
by the courts the people, after an ample
interval for elaboration, shall have an
opportunity to vote on the question
whether they desire the act to become
law Notwithstanding such decision
Second.-That every decision of the high
est appellate court of a state declaring an
act of the legislature unconstitutional on
the ground of its violation Of the federal
constitution shall be subject to the same
71xrt na
States as Is now accorded to decisions
sustaining such legislation.
Administration of Justice.
The Progressive party pledges itself to
| work INCREASINGLY for the reform of legal
procedure and judicial methods.
We believe that the issuance Of injunc-
lions in cases arising out of labor dis
putes should be prohibited when such In
functions would not apply when no labor
disputes existed
We also believe that a person cited for
contempt In labor disputes, except when
such contempt was committed in the ac-
| tual presence OF the court or 80 near
thereto as to interfere with the proper
administration OF justice, should have
| right to trial by jury.
The supreme duty of the nation is the
| conservation OF human resources. We
pledge ourselves to work increasingly for:
Effective legislation looking to the pre-
vention of Industrial accidents, occupa-
| tional diseases, overwork, involuntary I'M
employment and other injurious effects
| incident to modern industry.
The fixing of minimum safety and
health standards for the various occupa-
| lions, the prohibition of child labor, mini
mum wage standards for working wo-
men, the general prohibition Of night
work for women and the establishment
| OF an eight hour day for women and
| young persons, one days rest in seven for
all wageworkers. the eight hour day In
continuous twenty-four hour industries
| the abolition of the convict contract labor
system, substituting a system of prison
production for governmental consumption
only and the application of prisoners
| earnings to the support of their depend
ent families. publicity as to wages, hours
and conditions of labor. full reports upon
| Industrial accidents and diseases and the
opening to public inspection of all tallies
weights, measures and check systems on
labor products.
We pledge our party to establish de-
partment of labor.
Country Life.
The development and prosperity OF coun-
try life are as important to the people
who live in the cities as they are to the
farmers.
We pledge our party to foster the de-
velopment Of agricultural credit and CO.