Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04

-
! elimination of whatever kind between
! American citizens, whether native born
or allen. and regardless of race, religion,
, or previous political allegiance. The right
! of asylum is a precious possession of the
| people of the United States. and it 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 demo-
cratic House of Representatives in refus-
| ing to authorize the construction of addi-
tonal ships.
MERCHANT MARINE.
| We believe that one of the country's
4 most urgent needs is a revived merchant
marine. There should he American ships,
| and plenty OF them to make use Of the
! great American interoceanic canal now
nearing completion
! FLOOD PREVENTION
The Mississippi river IS the nations
drainage ditch. Its flood waters. gath
cred from thirty-one States and the Do
minion of Canada. constitute an over
I powering force which breaks the levees
and pours its torrents over many million
acres of the richest land in the Union.
/ stopping mails impeding commerce. and
! causing great loss of life ard property.
| These floods are national in scope. and
! the disasters they produce seriously at
feet the general welfare. The States un-
aided cannot cope with this giant prob
lem; hence we believe the federal gov.
eminent should assume a fair proper
ton of the burden of its control SO as
10 prevent the disasters from recurring
| floods.
RECLAMATION.
We favor the continuance of the policy
of the government with regard to the
| reclamation Of arid lands, and for the
encouragement of the speedy settle
ment and Improvement of such lands We
! favor an amendment 10 the law that will
reasonably extend the time within which
| the cost of any reclamation project may
| be repaid by the landowners under it.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
| We favor Il liberal and systematic pol
icy for the improvement or our rivers
/ and harbors. Such improvements should
be made upon expert information and
fter careful comparison Of cost and
ALASKA.
We favor IA liberal policy toward Alas
ka, TO promote the development OF the
great resources of that district. with
such safeguards will prevent waste
and monopoly.
| We favor the opening of the coal lands
to development through a law leasing
| he. Il ia
development and provide fuel for the
navy and the commerce of the Pacific
ocean, while retaining time In the Uni
ted States to prevent monopoly.
| PORTO RICO.
We ratfy In all its particulars the
platform OF 1905 respecting citizenship
for the people of Porto Rico.
PHILIPPINE POLICY
The Philippine policy OF the Republican
party has been and is inspired by the
belief that our duty toward the Filipino
! people is national obligation which
! should remain entirely free from par
tisan politics.
! IMMIGRATION.
/ Wo pledge the Republican party to the
enactment of appropriate laws to give
relief from the constantly growing evil
OF induced or undesirable immigration.
which is inmical to the progress and
! welfare OF the people OF the United
! States
SAFETY AT SEA.
/ We favor the speedy enactment OF laws
to provide that soamen shall not be COM
PEELED to endure involuntary servitude
and that HE and property at sea shall
be safeguarded ty the ample equipment
of vessels with lfc-savins appliances
and with full compliments OF skilled,
able bodied seamen to operate them.
! REPUBLICAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
The approaching completion of the
! Panama canal, the establishment of
bureau Of mines, the institution of postal
savings banks, the increased provision
made in 1912 for the aged and infrm
soldiers and sailors of the republic and
| for their widows, and the vigorous adj
minlstration OF the laws relating to pure
food and drugs all mark the successful
progress OF republican administration
and are additional evidence of its ef-
fectiveness.
ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY.
/ We commend the earnest effort OF the
republican administration to secure
greater economy aud increased efficiency
| in The conduct of government business;
extravagant appropriations and the crea-
ton OF unnecessary offices are an in
justice to the taxpayer and bad ex-
ample to the citizen.
| CIVIC DUTY.
We call upon the people to quicken their
interest In public affairs. to condemn and
punish lynchings and other forms OF law
lessness. and to strengthen In all possible
ways respect for law and the observance
OF 1t. Indifferent citizenship Is an evil
from which the law affords no adequate
protection and for which legislation can
provide no remedy.
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.
| We congratulate the people of Arizona
and New Mexico upon the admission OF
those States thus merging In the union
IN hnal and enduring form the last re-
naming portion OF our continental terri
! tory.