The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-03

waterways. The present devastation
OF the lower Mississippi Valley accen-
tuates the movement for the regula-
ton Of river flow by additional bank
and levee protection below, and the
diversion, storage and control Of the
floodwaters above and their utiliza-
ton for beneficial purposes in the re-
clamation of arid and swamp lands
and the development OF water power,
instead of permitting the floods to
continue, as heretofore, agents of de-
struction. We hold that the control OF
the Mississippi river is a national
problem. The preservation of the
depth of its water for the purpose OF
navigation, the building of levees to
maintain the integrity of it's channel
and the prevention of the overflow o.
the land and It's consequent destruc
ton, resulting in Interruption of in
terstate commerce, the disorganizatior
of mail service and the enormous los.
of life and property, impose an obliga
1 ton which alone can be discharged
/ by the general government.
| To maintain an adequate depth Of
water the entire year and thereby en-
courage water transportation, con
summation worthy of legislative at
tention and an issue national in its
character. 1t calls for prompt action
on the part Of congress, and the demo
cratic party pledges itself to the enact
ment Of legislation leading to that
end.
We favor the cooperation OF the
United States and the respective
states In plans for the comprehensive
treatment Of all waterways with a
view OF co-ordinating plans for chan
mel improvement, with plans for drain
age of swamp and overf,owed lands,
and to this end we favor the appro-
priation by the federal government OF
sufficient funds to make surveys of
such lands, to develop plans for drain
ing such lands and to supervise the
work OF construction.
We favor the adoption of liberal
and comprehensive plan for the devel-
opment and Improvement of our in
land waterways with economy and
efficiency, so as to permit their navi-
CATION by vessels of standard draft.
Protection OF National Uniform
We commend to the several states the
adoption of law making it an offense
for the proprietors of places of amuse-
ment and public entertainment to dis
| C,.tv,, Inn 10 ot,,et ~,
United States similar to the law pass
ed by congress applicable to the Dis
trict Of Columbia and the territories
in 1911.
Rule OF the PeopIe-We call atten-
ton to the fact that the democratic
party's demand for return to the rule
of the people expressed in the nation.
al platform four years ago, has now
become the accepted doctrine of a
large majority Of the electors. We
again remind the country that only by
La larger exercise of the reserved
power of the people can they protect
themselves from the misuses of the
delegates power and tho usurpation
of governmental instrumentality by
special interest.
For this reason the national conven
ton insisted on the overthrow of Can.
nonism and the Inauguration Of sys
tenn by which United States senators
could be elected by direct vote The
democratic party offers itself to the
country as an agency through which
the complete overthrow and extripa
ton of corruption, fraud and machine
rule in American politics can be eff
Ifected
Conclusion--Our platform is one OIL
principles, which we believe to be es
sential to our national welfare On
t pledges are made to be kept when II
Office, as we'll as relied upon during
the campaign, and we invite the coop
Grafton of all citizens, regardless o.
party, who believe in maintaining un
impaired the institutions and tradi
tions of our country.