The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-05-08
MERCER TELLS FOR WHAT HE STANDS


but should see to it that there is
rigid enforcement of the laws.
| am opposed to the dominance OF
our legislative bodies by the "speclal
interests" When we consider that IN
great majority of cases these Spe-
cial interests are engaged in the utlI-
ization of public or natural resources
for private gain, that they are sup
pressors of fair competition. that
they pay unfairly small wages to
the workers who are in truth the
producers of their wealth while they
themselves are piling up enormous
and swollen fortunes, we reallze that
the menace from the special inter-
ests' is great. That they should
maintain lobbies and seek to control
the law-making bodies of the coun-
try is a peril that should be handled
with severity and dispatch.
Dangers of Intemperance.
am in favor Of all laws that tend
to suppress and restrict lntemper-
ance in the use of alcoholic liquors
and deleterious narcotics. Just how
to handle the problem so as to Sc
cure the desired results is matter
for the serious consideration of all
good citizens. l am we'll aware that
in many cases a strict legal prohi-
bition of the sale of SpirituOus
liquors has the effect Of adding to
the evils which it was designed to
remove. Whatever will teach the
Dangers of intemperance and what
ever will impress upon communities
the immense Importance OF regulat-
ing the traffic and holding it in stern
check ought to be made a part of
our code. | am in favor of having
the truth concerning the dangers of
alcoholism and other intemperance
impressed upon the youth of our
land, and | believe that our schools
should teach as far as possible what
these dangers are and what they
mean to the future Of the race. |
favor the legislation already enacted
Looking to the safeguarding of the
shipment of liquors from other states
into prohibition communities.
Opposes 'IOophOIe" Laws.
| strenuously oppose laws that are
framed with "jokers" or lOophOles
for the purpose of defeating or off
setting the very result which the law
itself, or the spirit of the law, was
designed to secure. The child labor
law is an example of what | mean.
Exempted from the provisions of this
law are children who have no par
ents or disabled parents. Such chill
dren are the very ones who should be
provided with an education in order
that they may be enabled to main
tain themselves and become useful
citizens. The government is able to
provide an education for this class
and should see that it is done. An
other example of the ''loop-hOle"
law is the framing of law against
unlawful business deals and then
leaving to some court the interpreted
ton of such terms as unreasonable
restraint of trade"
| favor a strong Department of
Labor, to be maintained separately
from the Department of Commerce.
| believe that the man who fills the
cabinet office of Secretary of Labor
should come from the ranks of the
laboring people The emphasis that
such an appointment would lay upon
democratic freedom from ''class"
would, l believe, go far toward
Strengthening the bonds between the
government and labor. 1t would not
only be a merited recognition of this
great element of our national popu-
lation, but a sure method of securing
a desirable and friendly co-opera-
ton.
SiX-Year Term For President.
favor an amendment to the Con-
stitution fixing the term of the
President at six years and making
him ineligible to reelection for the
succeeding term. The examinations
and determinations INDUCED by the
candidates and their advocates in
the present race by both the great
parties | regard as regretable by all
good men. This amendment will
serve to preclude the probability of
such a spectacle in future contests
for the highest office of the greatest
government on earth.
The foregoing are the main feat
ures of the platform on which l ask
your support. | believe these to be
the tenets of the true political faith,
and for them, if elected, | shall stand
firmly. If you honor me with cleo
ton l promise no great or sweeping
revolution, no visionary reforms. I
can and do pledge to you, however,
fair, honest and conscientious dis
charge of every duty connected with