Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-18


It has secured the admission Of
Arizona and New Mexico as two
sovereign states.
1t has required the publicity of cam
paign expenses both before and after
election, and fixed limit upon the
election expenses Of United States
senator's and representatives.
1t has also passed bill to prevent
the abuse of the writ Of injunction.
1t has passed a law establishing an
eight hour day for workmen on all
national public work.
1t has passed a resolution which
forced the president to take immedi-
ate steps to abrogate the Russian
treaty.
And 1t has passed the great supply
bills. which lessen waste and extrav-
agance, and which reduce the annual
expenses Of the government by many
millions of dollars.
An Adequate Navy.
We approve the measure reported
by the Democratic leaders In the
House Of Representatives for the Gre
alton of a council Of national defense,
which will determine a definite naval
programme with view to increase
efficiency and economy. The party
that proclaimed and has always en-
forced the Monroe doctrine and was
sponsor for the new navy, will con-
tinue faithfully to observe the con-
stitutional requirements to provide
and maintain an adequate and we'll
proportional navy sufficient to defend
American politics, protect our citi-
zens and uphold the honor and dig
nifty Of the nation.
Republican Extravaganza.
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
demand a return to that simplicity
and economy which BELTS 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 recon-
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 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 banking
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 &C
commodation OF the public and not
for the control of business. All legis-
lation on the subject of banking and
currency should have for its 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-
post by competitive bidding, the
banking institutions of the country,
national and state, without discrimin-
alton as to locality, upon approved
securities and subject to call by the
government.
Rural Credits.
OF equal Importance with the ques-
ton Of currency reform is the ques-
ton Of rural credits or agricultural
finance. Therefore we recommend
that an investigation of agricultural
credit societies in foreign countries
be made so that it may be ascertaned
whether system OF rural credits
may be devised suitable to conditions
I'm the United States, and we also
favor legislation permitting national
hanks IN Ioan reasonable nroportion