The Green Forest tribune., 1912-07-12

[ ttnue faithfully to observe the con | stitutional requirements to provide and maintain an adequate and we'll 1 proportioned navy sufficient to defend 1 American politics. protect our citi- 1 zens and uphold the honor and dig nity of the nation.
 Republican Extravagance.
 We denounce the prohigate waste ! of the money wrung from the people | by oppressive taxation through the lavish appropriations of eccentric Re publican congresses, which have kept taxes high and reduced the purchas- ing power of the peoples toll. We 1 demand a return to that simplicity and economy which befits a Demo cratic government and a reduction in the number of useless offices, the salaries of which drain the substance of the people.
 Railroads, Express Companies, Tele-
 graph and Telephone Lines.
 We favor the efficient supervision and rate regulation of railroads, ex- press companies, telegraph and tele phone lines engaged in interstate commerce. To this end we recom- mend the valuation of railroads, ex- press companies, telegraph and tele phone lines by the Interstate Com merce commission, such valuation to take into consideration the physical value of the property, the original cost, the cost of reproduction, and any element of value that will render the valuation fair and just,
 We favor such legislation as will effectually prohibit the railroads, ex- press, telegraph and telephone com panies from engaging in business which brings them into competition with their shippers or patrons; of leg islation preventing the overissue of stocks and bonds by interstate rail roads, express companies, telegraph and telephone lines and legislation which will assure such reduction in transportation rates as conditions will permit, care being taken to avoid re- duction that would compel a reduc- ton of wages, prevent adequate serv- ice, or do injustice to legitimate in- vestments
 Banking Legislation.
 We oppose the so-called Aldrich bill of the establishment of a central bank, and we believe the people of the country will be largely freed from panics and consequent unemployment and business depression by such systematic revision of our barking laws as will render temporary relief in localities where such relief is need ed, with protection from control or dominion by what is known as the money trust Banks exist for the ac- commodation of the public and not for the control of business. All legis- lation on the subject of banking and currency should have for it's purpose the securing of these accommodations on terms of absolute security to the public and of complete protection from the misuse of the power that wealth gives to those who possess it. We condemn the present method of depositing government funds in few favored banks, largely situated or controlled by Wall street in return for political favors, and we pledge our party to provide bylaws for their de | banking institutions of the country, national and state, without discrimin- ation as to locality, upon approved securities and subject to call by the | government
 Rural Credits.
 Of equal importance with the ques- tion of currency reform Is the ques- tion of rural credits or agricultural finance. Therefore we recommend that an investigation of agricultural credit societies in foreign countries be made so that 1t may be ascertained whether a system of rural credits may be devised suitable to conditions in the United States, and We also favor legislation permitting national banks to loan a reasonable proportion of their funds on real estate security.
 We recognize the value of vocation al education and urge federal appro- priations for such training and exten- sion teaching in agricultural co-opera- tion with the several states.
 Waterways.
 We renew the declaration in our last platform relating to the conserva- ton of our national resources and the development of our waterways. The present devastation of the lower Mis- sissippi valley accentuates the move ment for the regulation of river flow | by additional bank and levee protec- tion below, and the diversion, storage and control of the flood waters above and their utilization for beneficial purposes In the reclamation of arid and swamp lands and the develop ment of water power, instead of per mitting the floods to continue as here tofore, agents of destruction.
 We hold that the control of the Mississippi River Is national prob lem. The preservation of the depths of its waters for the purpose of navi- gation; the building of levees to main tain the integrity of it's channel, and the prevention of the overflow of the land and it's consequent devastation, resulting in the interruption of inter- state commerce, the dsorganization of the mail service and the enormous loss of life and property impose an obligation which alone can be dis charged by the general government
 To maintain an adequate depth of water the entire year and thereby en- courage water transportation is con- summation worthy of legislative at tention and presents an issue national in it's character. It calls for prompt action on the part of congress, and the Democratic party pledges itself to the enactment of legislation lead