The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-08
Declares Old Parties Are
Tools of the Corrupt
Interests
PARTY BELIEVES IN
EQUAL SUFFRAGE
Declares for Protective Tariff, Op-
poses Aldrich Currency Bill,
Would Develop Rivers and
Abolish Child Labor

Chicago. August Preamble: The
conscience OF the people in time OF
grave national problems has called INTO
being a new party, born of the nation
awakened sense of Justice.
I'VE of the progressive party ded-
icate our services to the fulfillment OF
the duty laid upon us by our fathers
to maintain that government of the
people. by the people and for the peo-
pie, whose foundations they laid.
I'VE hold, with Thomas Jefferson and
Abraham Lincoln, that the people are
the masters of their constitution to full
fill its purposes and to safeguard Il
from those who by perversion of its
intent. would convert 1t into any in
strument of injustice.
This country belongs to the people
who inhabit it. 1t is time to set the
public welfare in the first place"
The platform furthed declared: That
of corrupt interests which use them
impartially to serve their selfish pur-
poses," and that the new party Of
fers itself as the instrument of the
people to sweep away old abuses to-
build new and nobler common
wealth
For Direct Primaries
Declares under heading, THE rule of
the people, for direct primaries for the
nomination of state and national Of
ficers and candidates for the presi
dency; for the popular election of Unit
ed States senators and urges on the
states the use of the short ballot with
responsibility to the people secured by
the initiative. referendum and recall
Pledges the party to provide a more
easy and expeditions method OF amend
ing. the federal constitution
Advocates national jurisdiction of
problems which have expanded beyond
reach of individual states.
For Equal Suffrage
Pledges party to secure equal suf-
frage.
Pledges party to enactment of legis-
lation limiting campaign contributions
and expenditures and providing for
publicity thereof
Opposes participation by federal ap
pointees in state or national conven-
tions.
Demands such restrictions of the
the people the ultimate authority to
determine fundamental questions of
social welfare and public policy"
Pledges judicial reform, believing
that the issuance Of injunctions In la
Dor disputes should be prohibited when
such injunctions would not apply where
no labor disputes existed"
Against Child Labor
Declares against child labor and for
a minimum wage for women; for pre-
vention of industrial acts, safeguards
for health of employees, publicity as to
wages, eight hour work day and es-
tablishment of federal department of
labor.
Urges establishment of country
life commission and promotion OF the
welfare of farmers.
Pledges party to full and immedi-
ate inquiry and to immediate action
to deal with the high cost of living.
Favors a single national health serv-
ice,
To Strengthen Sherman Law
Demands national regulation of in
terstate corporations and urges tho
establishment of federal commission
TO supervise interstate Industrial cor
porations" and favors Strengthening the
Sherman law to insure competition in
business and prevent unfair trade prac-
tices.
Pledges party to enactment of patent
law that will prevent monopolies.
Favors Legislation giving interstate
commerce commission power to value
physical property of railroads and de-
mends abolition of the commerce court.
Opposes Aldrich Bill
Condemns method of issuing currency
notes through private agencies and urges
control thereof by the government alone.
Opposes the Aldrich currency bin.
Favors government cooperation with
manufacturers and producers in extend
ing foreign commerce.
Declares for prompt development of all
natural resources, condemning exploita
ton, waste and monopoization. Urges
reasonable compensation to the public
for waterpower rights hereafter granted.
Declares for good roads, national high
ways and extension of rural free deliv-
cry: in immediate development of nat
uraI resources of Alaska and promises to
that territory local self government as
given other territories.
To Develop Rivers
Pledges party to immediate preparation
OF plan to develop rivers of the country,
especially the Mississippi and tributaries,
without delay.
Demands that the Panama canal shall
lie operated so as to insure sea competi-
tion with trans-continental railroads. and
urges that American railroad controlled
ships be denied the use of the canal.
For Protective Tariff
Expresses belief In a protective tariff
which shall equalize conditions of COM
petition between the United States and
foreign countries of all classes; demands
tariff revision because the present tariff
is unjust to the people, and pledges party
to the establishment of a non-partisan
scientific tariff commission. Condemns
Payne Aldrich bill and the democratic
party's tariff policy as destructive of
the protective system" Demands imme-
diate repeal of the Canadian reciprocity
act
Favors inheritance and income taxes.
For Two Battleships
Favors international agreement for linn
ltatIon OF naval forces and the construc-