Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-09-30
PROGRESSIVE PARTY PLATFORM
First Installment.)

The conscience of the people, in a
time of grave national problems, has
called into being a new party, born
of the nations awakened sense OF
justice. We of the progressive party
here dedicate ourselves to the full
fillment of the duty laid upon us by
our fathers TO maintain that govern
ment of the people, by the people
and for the people whose founda-
tions they laid.
We hold with Thomas Jefferson
and Abraham Lincoln that the peo-
pie are the masters of their consti'
tuition, to fulfill it's purposes and to
safeguard it from those who. by per-
version of its intent, would convert
it into an instrument of injustice.
In accordance with the needs of each
generation the people must use their
sovereign powers TO establish and
maintain equal opportunity and in
dustrial justice, to secure which this
government was founded and with
out which no republic can endure.
This country belongs to the peo-
| pie who inhabit it. Its resources, its
business, its institutions and its laws
should be utilized, maintained or al
tered in whatever manner will best
promote the general interest.
1t is time to set the public welfare
in the first place.
The Old Parties.
| Political parties exist to secure re-
sponsible government and to execute
the will of the people.
From these great tasks both of the
old parties have turned aside. In
stead of instruments to promote the
general welfare, they have become
the tools of corrupt interests which
use them impartially to serve their
selfish purposes. Behind the osten-
sible government sits enthroned an
invisible government, owing no allie
glance and acknowledging no respon-
sibility to the people.
To destroy this invisible govern
ment, to dissolve the unholy alliance
between corrupt business and cor
rupt politics is the first task of the
craftsmanship of the day.
The deliberate betrayal of its trust
by the republican party, and the ia,
tai incapacity of the democratic par
ty to deal with the new issues of the
new time, have compelled the people
to forge a new instrument of govern
ment through which to give effect t
their will in laws and institutions.
Unhampered by tradition, uncor
rupted by power, undismayed by th
magnitude of the task, the new part.
offers itself as the instrument of tn
people to sweep away old abuses, t
, build a new and nobler common
wealth.
A Covenant With the People.
p This declaration is our covenan
D with the people, and we hereby bin
Y the party and its candidates in stat
and nation TO the pledges made here
!. in.
The Rule of the People.
|, The progressive party, committe
? to the principle of government by
It self-controled democracy expressin
o it's will through representatives {
S the people, pledges itself to secul
II such alterations in the fundament
/ law of the several states and of I'll
1t United States as shall insure the rel
le resentative character of the govern
T. ment.
g In particular, the party declar,
L for direct primaries for the nomin
g ton of state and national officer
"A for nationwide preferential prim
lie ries for candidates for the pres
e. dency, for the direct election
United States senators by the peopl
and we urge on the states the poll
ey of the short ballot, with respon'