Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-25

and particularly of the agricultural or
rural communities we favor Legislation
! looking to the establishment, under
proper regulations, of a parcels post
| the postal rates to be graduated under
a zone similar in proportion to the
length of carriage.
| We approve the action taken by the
! president and the consresS TO secure
with Russia, as with the other coun-
trise. a treaty that will recognize the
| absolute right Of expatriation. and that
will prevent all discrimination or
whatever kind between American citi-
| zens, whether native born or alien ana
| regardless of race religion or previous
political allegiance. The right Of asylum
is a precious possession of the people
of the United States and 1t is to be
neither surrendered nor restricted.
We believe In the maintenance OF an
adequate navS-for the national de-
tense, and we condemn the action Of
! the democratic house of representatives
in refusing to authorize the construc-
ton of additional ships.
We believe that one of the country
most urgent needs Is a revived mer-
chant marine. There should be Amer
! lean ships and plenty Of them, to make
use of the great American interoceanlc
canal now nearing completion.
For Flood Prevention.
The Mississippi river is the nations
drainage ditch. It's flood waters gather-
ed from thirty one states and the Do
minton Of Canada, constitute an over
towering force which breaks the levees
and pours>its torrents over many mil
lion acres Of the richest land In the
union, stopping mails, impeding com
merce and causing great loss OF life
and property. These floods are ma
tional in scope and the disasters they
produce seriously affect the genera
welfare. The states, unaided, cannot
cope with this giant problem; hence,
we believe the federal government
should assume fair proportion OF the
burden Of it's control so as to prevent
the disasters from recurring floods.
Reclamation-We favor the continu-
ance of the policy of the government
with regard to- the reclamation or aria
lands, and for the encouragement OF the
speedy settlement and improvement OF
such lands we favor an amendment to
the law that will reasonably extend the
time within which the cost Of any re-
clamation project may be repaid by the
land owners under 1t.
Rivers and Harbors-We favor lib
eral and systematic policy for the I'M
provement of our rivers and harbors.
Such improvements should be maze
upon expert information and after
careful comparison of cost and pros
pective benefits.
We favor a liberal policy toward
Alaska to promote the development Of
the great resources of that district,
with such safeguards as will prevent
waste and monopoly.
We favor the opening Of the coal
lands to development through law
leasing the lands on such terms as will
invite development and provide fuel Tor
the navy and the commerce of the Pa
cif1c ocean. while retaining title IN the
United States to prevent monopoly.
Philippine Policy-The Philippine
apolicy Of the republican party has been
and Is inspired by the belief that our
duty toward the Filipino people is a
national obligation which should re-
main entirely free from partisan poll
tics.
Immigration-We pledge the repub-
lican party to the enactment of ap-
propriate laws to give relief from the
constantly growing evil Of induced or
undesirable immigration which is in
imical to the progress and welfare or
the people of the United States.
Safety at Sea-We favor the speedy
enactment of laws to provide that sea-
men shall not be compelled to endure
involuntary servitude and that life and
the ample equipment Of vessels with
ife-saving appliances and with full
compliments Of skilled, able bodied
seamen to operate them.
Canal Monument to Party.
The approaching complication Of the
Panama canal, the establishment OF a
bureau Of mines, the institution Of post
al savings banks, the increasing pro-
vision made in 1912 for the aged and
infirm soldiers and sailors OF the re-
public and for their widows, and the
vigorous administration of the laws
relating pure food and drugs, all
mark the successful progress of repub-
lican administration. and are additional
evidence Of it's effectiveness.
Economy and Efficiency in Govern
ment-We commend the earnest effort
of the republican administration to Sc
cure greater economy and increased
efficiency in the conduct Of govern
| ment business: extravagant appropria-
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