Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-25

lands, under existing laws.
PARCELS POST.
In the interest of the general public
and particularly of the agricultural or
rural communities, we favor legislation
looking to the establishment. under prop
er regulation of parcels post. the postal
rates to be graduated under a zone sys-
fem in proportion to the length of car
riage.
PROTECTING AMERICANS.
We approve the action taken by the
president and the congress to secure with
Russia, as with other countries, treaty
that will recognize the absolute right of
expatriation and that will prevent all
discrimination of whatever kind between
American citizens, whether native born
or alien, and regardless of races, religion
\ or political allegiance. The right of asy-
Ium is a precious possession of the people
of the United States and is to be neither
surrendered nor restricted.
THE NAVY.
We believe in the maintenance of an
adequate navy for the national defense
and we condemn the action of the dem
ocratic house of representatives in re-
fusing to authorize the construction of
additional ships.
MERCHANT MARINE.
We believe that one of the country's
marine. There should be American ships,
and plenty of them, to make use of the
great American inter-oceanic canal now
nearing completion.
FLOOD PREVENTION.
The Mississippi river is the nations
drainage ditch. It's flood waters, gath
cred from 81 states and the Dominion of
Canada, constitute an overpowering force
which breaks the -levees and pours it's
torrents over many million acres Of the
richest land in the union, stopping mails,
impeding commerce, and causing great
loss of life and property. Those floods
are national in scope, and the disasters
they produce seriously affect the gen.
eral welfare. The states unaided cannot
cope with this giant problem; hence, we
believe the federal government should
assume a fair proportion of the burden
of its control so as to prevent the dis
ssters from recurring floods.
RECLAMATION.
We favor the continuance of the pol
icy of the government with regard to the
reclamation of arid lands; and for the
encouragement of the speedy settlement
and improvement of such lands we favor
an amendment to the law that will rea-
sonably extend the time within which
the cost Of any reclamat ton project may
be repaid by the land owners under it,
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
We favor a liberal and systematic pol
icy for the improvement of rivers and
harhors. Such Improvements should be
made upon expert information and after
careful comparison of cost and pros
pective benefits.
ALASKA.
We favor liberal policy toward Alas
ka toy promote the development of the
great resources of that district with such
safeguards as win prevent waste and
monopoly.
We favor the opening of the coal lands
to development through a law leasing
the lands on such terms as will invite
development and provide fuel for the
navy and the commerce of the Pacific
ocean while retaining title in the United
States to prevent monopoly.
PHILIPPINE POLICY.
The Philippine policy of the Republi-
can party has been, and is inspired by
the belief that our duty toward the Fill
pino people is a national obligation which
should remain entirely free from parti-
san politics
IMMIGRATION
We pledge the Republican party to the
enactment of appropriate laws to give
relief from the constantly growing evil
of induced or undesirable immigration,
WHICH, 10 llillllIdA " lAlG PAO6ACo9
welfare of the people of the United
States.
SAFETY AT SEA
We favor the speedy enactm emit of
laws to provide that seamen shall not be
compelled to endure involuntary servi-
tude, and that life and property at sea
shall he safeguarded by tle ample equip
ment of vessels with life-saving appli-
ances and with full compliments of able
bodied seamen to operate the boats.
REPUBLICAN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
The approaching completion of the Pan
anna canal, the establishment or bureau
of mines, the institution of postal saw
ings banks, the increased provision made
in 1912 for the aged anu intrm soldiers
and sailors of the republic and for their
widows, and the vigorous administration
of the laws relating to pure food and
drugs, al mark the successful progress
of republican administration, and are
additional evidence of its effectiveness.
We commend the earnest effort OF tne
republican administration to secure great
er economy and increased efficiency in the
conduct government business. Extrav-
agant appropriations and the creation
of, Unnecessary offices are an injustice TO
the taxpayer and a bad example to the
citizen.
CIVIC DUTY.
We call upon the people to quicken
their interest in public affairs to con-
denim and punish lynching, and other
forms of lawlessness and to strengthen
in all possible ways a respect for law
and the observance of it. Ind1nerent
citizenship is an evil from which the
law affords no adequate protection ana
for which legislation can provide no
remedy.
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.
We congrat ulate the people of Arizona
and New Mexico upon the admission of
these states, thus merging in the union
in final and ensuring form the last re-
naming portion of our continental ter
ritory.
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION.
We challenge successful criticism of
the Is years of Republican administration
| under Presidents Mckinley, Roosevelt
and Taft We heartily reaffirm the in
dorsement of President Mckinley con-
tanned in the platform of 1900 and of 1904
and that of President Roosevelt con-
tanned in the platform of 1904 and 1908.
| We invite the intelligent judgment OF
| the American people upon the admins
tration of William II. Taft. The country
| has prospered and been at peace under