The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-03

gard to the general welfare. Reser- vations should be limited to the pur- poses which they 'purport to serve and not extend to include land wholly un- suited therefore. The unnecessary withdrawal from sale and settlement of enormous tracts of public land up- on which tree growth never existed and cannot be promoted, tends only to retard development, create discon- tent and bring reproach upon the pol icy of conservation.
 The public land laws should be ad- ministered in a spirit of the broad est liberality towards the settler, ex- hibiting a bonafide purpose to comply herewith to the end that the in- vitation as given out to the landless should be as attractive as possible and the plain provisions of the forest reserve act permitting homestead tional forests should not. be nullified by administrative regulations which amount ito a withdrawal of great areas of the same from settlement. Immediate action should be taken by Congress to make applicable the Alaska under conditions that will be a perfect guaranty against their fall- ing into the hands. of monopolizing corporations, OF persons. We rejoice in the inheritance of mineral re- sources unequaIed in extent, variety or value and in the development of a mining industry unequaled in it's mag nitude and importance. We honor the men who, in their hazardous toll un- der ground daily risk their lives in the products of the mine, so essen tial to the industries, the commerce and the comfort of the people of this country. And we pledge ourselves to the extension of the work of the bu. reau of mines in every way appropri- at uyit view of safeguarding the lives of the miners, saving the waste of essential resources and promoting the economic development of mining, which, along with agriculture must in the fu- ture, more than in the past, serve as the very foundation of our national prosperity and welfare and our inter-. national commerce.
 Agriculture
 We believe in encoura ging the de- velopment of modern system of ag ricu1ture and a systematic effort to improve the conditions of trade in farm products so as to benefit both the consumers and producers. And 4s an efficient means to this end, we favor the enactment by Congress of legislation that will suppress the per, nicious practice of gambling in agri- cultural products by organized ex- changes or others.
 Mercnant Marine.
 We believe in fostering, by constitu-. tional regulation of commerce, the. growth of a merchant marine, which, shall develop and strengthen the com mercial ties which bind us to. our sis- ter republics of the South, but with out imposing additional burdens upon the people and without bounties or, subsidies from the public treasury.
 We urge upon Congress the speedy a<1kv1 Ia %h0 fmp curity of life and property at sea; and we favor the repeal of all laws and the abrogation of ESQ much of our etreaties with other nations as provide for the arrest and Imprisonment of seamen charged with desertion, .or with violation Of their contract of service.
 Such laws and treaties are llr1- Ann erican and violate the spirit, if not the letter of the Constitution of the United States.
 We favor the exemption from tolls of American ships engaged in coast wise trade passing through the Pana- ma canal.
 We also favor Legislation forbidding the use of the Banana canal by ships owned or controlled by railroad car riers engaged in transportation com petitive with the canal,
 Pure Food and Public Health.
 We reaffirm our previous, declara- tions advocating the union and strengthening of the various govern mental agencies relating to pure foods, quarantine. vital statistics and human health. Thus united and administer ed with partfality to or discrimination against any school of medicine or sys- tenn of healing, they could constitute a. single health service, not subordln- ated to any commercial or: financial &a1 nN 6 n the conservation of human life and efficiency. Moreover. this health ser vice should cooperate with. the health agencies of our various States ana clt- ies, without interference with their prerogatives or with the freedom of individuals to employ such medical or hygenic aid is they may see fit.
 Civil Service Law.
 The law pertaining to the civil ser vice should be honestly and rig1dly enforced. to the end that merit and ability should be the standard of ap- pointment and promotion, rather than service rendered to political party; and we favor reorganization Of the civil service with adequate compensa- tion commensurate with the class or work performed, for all offers and employees; we also favor the extension to all classes of civil service employees of the benefits of the provisions of the employers, liability law; we also rec ognize the right of direct petition to Congress by. employees for the redress of grievances.
 Law Reform.
 We recognize the urgent need of re- form in the administration of civil and criminal law in the United States. and we recommend the enactment of such legislation and the promotion of such measures as will rid the present legal system of the delays, expense and uncertainties incident to the system as now administered.
 The Philippines.
 We reaffirm the position thrice ah- nout1ced by the Democracy in national convention assembled against a policy of imperialism and colonial expio1ta- tion in the Philippines or elsewhere. We condemn the experiment in im- perialism as an inexcusable blunder which has involved us in enormous exnense. brought us weakness instead of strength and laid our nation open to the charge of abandonment of the fundamental doctrine of self-govern- nent. We favor an immediate dec- Iaration of the nations purpose to rec ognize the independence of the Philip nine Island as soon as a stable gov+ ernment can be established, such inde- nendence to be guaranteed by us un- ii the naturalization of the islands can he secured by treaty with other nowers. In recognizing the inde- nendence of the Philippines, our gov ernment should retain such land as may be necessary for coa1ing stations