The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-29
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS PLEDGED
 TO CREATE AN ADEQUATE NAVY

Washington was opposed to party government He insisted that parties make for strife and substitute for patriotic national endeavor the of factionas and greed for office.
 Nevertheless parties-ev as they are in some aspects to be necessary to the conduct of free govern ments, and democraces could scarcely be worked without them
 The proof of this statement is simple
 Wherever government has assumed the democratic form parties have arisen
 Party government has it's advantages but those ad- vantages are largely diminished when for the collective will of the party voters substituted the individual will of number of bosses each seeking arbitrary and sell fish purpose
 The disadvantages that inhere in the party system multiplied when the bosses of both parties unite to promote their profit and to outwit and defeat the people.
 The meaning of the present political movement is the overthrow of bosses to make fair field for operation of the collective will of government
 This effort to overthrow the bosses was so full in Chicago, that Republicans formed party.
 It was successful in Baltimore that Democrats de- ated the bosses and nominated the best progressive in the nation as candidate.
 Nevertheless tue local bosses continue in many places, and the result every field of party activity
 The boss will conflicts with the party will.
 The latest example of this sort of conflict is shown in the vote on the naval bill.
 The Democratic platform has pledged the people a navy adequate defend the Panama Canal and to defend the commerce of the United States in case of war.
 Yet many Democrats in Congress have opposed the appropriation for the construction of two battle ships, this year, which plain defiance of party obiga tion and public duty.
 Everybody hopes for the end of war. Universal peace than it used to be- Some day there will be national disarmament and armies and navies will be reduced to the proportions of international police.
 But that day has not arrived Until it arrives, it is the duty of Congress to maintain navy sufficient to pro tect the country against attack by other powers
 For this purpose the navy should be increased rather than less, rapidly.
 The surest way have peace is to be prepared for war.
 powerful navy is at once the cheapest and the sur est way to avert.
 Armies are costly It is difficult if not impossible to land an army foreign shore if the owners of that shore maintain strong navy.
 And if the United States maintains strong navy foreign foe can get foothod in the United States.
 There might be exception in the case of Canada if there should be with England But there is not likely to be with England and if there were the United States would much probably seize Canada than Canada the United States. So far as Democratic congressman are concerned there but path to honor The party has pledged adequate navy It is the duty of Democratic tiVes to vote for such navy.
 The representative who chooses to obey the will of some boss rather than the collective wil mere ghost of legislator and will find his job as phantasmc as him. Isef.
 The Democratic platform calls for more battle ships.
 Who is the Democratic representative who can ust- fy his abandonment of his party's pledge?