El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-03

OFMOCRATIC PLATFORM ASSAI[S
MANY OF REPUBLICAN POLICIES

preferences of the electors for nat1ona!
candidates at presidential primaries
the platform continues
we direct that the national com
mfttee incorporate in the call Tor the
next nominating convention require
Doent that all expressions of preference
for presidential candidates snaI De
given and the selection of delegates
and alternateS made through primary
election conducted by the party organ
iZation in each state where such eN
preston and election are not PROVIDED
for by state laws. committeeman
are hereafter to constitute the member
ship of the national committee ana
whose election is not provided Tor by
law shall be chosen in each state at
such primary elections and the SER
vice and authority of committeeman
however chosen, shall begin immedl-
ately upon the receipt OF their cree
dentialS respectively.
Campaign Contributions.
1--WE pledge the Democratic party
to the enactment OF a law prohlolt-
/ ing any corporation from contribute
ing to a campaign fund and any in
dividUal from contributing any amount
above a reasonable maximum
Term of President.
I'VE favor single presidential
term and to that end urge the adop-
ton of an amendment to the constl-
tuition making the president of the
| United States Ineligible for reelection
and we pledge the candidate of this
convention to this principle
Democratic Congress.
at this time, when the Republic
can party, after a generation OF un-
limited power in its control OF the led
eral government, is rent into factions,
it is ODpOrtune to point to the record
Of ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the Democratic
house of representatives IN the ga
congress. We indorse its action and
we challenge comparison of its record
with that OF any congress which has
{ OnnOnenTS.
we call the attention of the pat
riOtic citizens of our country to its
record Of efficiency. economy and 2OD-
structive legislation"
The platform then enumerates many
of the bills initiated and passed by
the house.
National Defence.
Regarding the Democratic plans for
| national defence it says:
I'VE approve the measure reported
/ by the Democratic leaders in the house
for the creation of council of ma
tional defence which Will determine a
definite naval program with a view TO
increa Sed efficiency and economy. The
party that proclaimed and has always
enforced the Monroe doctrine and was
sponsor for the new navy, viii con-
tinue faithfully to observe the roHsti-
tutionaI requirements to provide and
maintain an adequate and well propor-
toned navy sufficient'to defend Ameri-
can policies; protect our citizens and
nation
Republican Extravaganza.
we denOunce the proflgate waste
of the money wrung from the people
By oppressive taxation through the
| lavish appropriations of recent Re
/ publican congresses, which have kept
taxes high and reduced the purchasing
power Of the peoples toll. We de-
mand return to the simplicity and
economy which benefits a democratic
/ Government, and a reduction in the
number of useless offices, the salaries
( of which drain the substance of the
( people
Public Service Corporations.
I'VE favor the efficient supervision
and rate regulation of railroads, eX-
press companies telegraph and tele-
I phone lines engaged in interstate com
merce. To this end We recommend the
! valuation of railroads. express compan-
I les, telegraph and telephone lines by
/ the interstate commerce commission,
such valuation to take into consldera-
/ tiOn the physical value OF the property,
the original cost, the cost of reprOduc-
| ton, and any element of value that
will render the valuation fair and just
! I'VE favor such legislation as will
effectively prohibit the railroads, eX-
/ press, telegraph and telephone COM
panies from engaging in business
which brings them into competition
/ with their shippers, also legislation
preventing the over issue of stocks and
/ bonds by interstate railroads, express
companies, telegraph and telephone
/ lines and legislation which will assure
such reduction in transportation rats
/ as will permit, care being taken to
! avoid reduction that would compel
I a reduction Of wages, prevent adequate
/ service or do injustice to legitimate
/ investments.
Ranking Legislation.
| we oppose the socalled Aldrich bill
| or the establishment of a central bank
/ and we believe the people of the coun-
! try will be largely freed from panics
! and consequent employment and bust
/ ness depression by such systematic
! revision of our banking laws as will
/ render temporary relief in localities
! where such relief is needed, with pro-
| lection from control or domination by
| what is known as the money trust.
sBanks For the Public.'
! Banks exist for the accommodation
! of the public and not for the control
! of business. All legislation 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.
! I'VE condemn the present methods
I of depOsiting government funds in a
/ few favored banks. largely situated
/ in or controlled by Wall Street, in re-
! turn for political faYOrs and we pledge
| our party to provide by law for their
| deposit by competitive bidding among
| the banking institutions of the cOun-
J try.
Rural Credits.
| "Of equal Importance with the ques-
| ton of currency reform is the ques-
| tiOn of rural credits or agriculture
| finance. Therefore we recommend that
| an investigation of agricultural credit
/ societies in foreign countries be made,
| so that it may be ascertained whether
| a system of rural credits may be de-
| vised suitable to conditions in the
! United States; and we also favor legis-
| latiOn permitting national banks to
! loan a reasonable proportion of their
/ funds on real estate security.
we recognize the value of vOca-
| tionaI education and urge federal ap-
! preparations for such training and eX-
! tension of teaching in agriculture in
! cooperation with the several states.
Waterways.
| I'VE renew the declaration in ouI
! last platform relating to the conser-
| walton of our natural resources and
| the development of our waterways. The
| present devastation of the lower
| Mississippi valley accentuates the
| movement for the regulation of river
| flow. We hold that the control OF
the Mississippi river is a national
| prob EN-.
ITO maintain adequate depth of wa
ter the entire year and thereby en-