Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-07-11
Merchant Marine.

Merchant Marine.
We believe in fostering, by consti-
tutional regulation of commerce, the
growth of a merchant marine, which
shall develop and strengthen the COM
mercial ties which bind us to our sis
ter republics of the south, but with
out imposing additional burdens upon
the people and without bounties or
subsidies from the public treasury
| We urge upon Congress the speedy
enactment of laws for the greater
security of life and property at sea
and we favor the repeal of all laws
and the abrogation of so much of our
treaties with other nations as provide
| for the arrest and Imprisonment of
seamen charged with desertion or with
violation of their contract of service.
Such laws and treaties are un-American
and violate the spirit, if not the letter,
of the Constitution of the United
States.
/ We favor the exemption from tolls
of American ships engaged in coast
wise trade passing through the Pana-
ma Canal
We also favor legislation forbidding
! t1lG uSt VI U1lE ductlllcl 1ctltdl ny Sd1po
owned or controlled by railroad car
riers engaged in transportation COM
petitive with the canal.
Pure food and Public Health.
We re-affirm our previous declara-
ton advocating the union and streng-
thening of the various governmental
agencies relating to pure foods, quar-
antine, vital statistics and human
health Thus united and administered
without partially to or discrimination
against any school of medicine or sys-
tenn of healing, they would constitute
a single health service, not subordin-
| ated to any comI>rcial or financial
interests, but devoted exclusively to
the conservation of human life and
efficiency. Moreover, this health SER
vice should cooperate with the health
agencies of our various states and
cities, without interference with their
prerogatives or with the freedom of
individuals to employ such medical or
hygienic aid as they may see fit.
Civil Service Law.
The law pertaining to the civil SER
vice should be honestly and rigidly
enforced, to the end that merit and
ability shall be the standard of APP
pointment and promotion, rather than
service rendered to a political party,
and we favor a ganization of the
civil service with adequate compensa-
tion commensurate with the class OF
work performed, for all officers and
employees; we also favor the extern
sion to all classes of civil service
employees of the benefits of the pro-
visions of the liability compensation
act; we also recognize the right of
direct petition to Congress by en-
ployes for the redress of grievances.
Law Reform.
We recognize the urgent need OF re-
form in the administration of civil
and criminal law in the United States,
and we recommend the enactment of
such legislation as will rid the pre-
sent legal system of the delays, ex-
pense and uncertainty incidental to
the system as now administered.
The Philippines.
We re-affiran the position thrice an
nounced by the Democracy in national
convention assembled against policy
of imperialism and colonial exploita-
tion in the Philippines or elsewhere.
We condemn the experiment in i'm
perialism as an inexcusable blunder
which has involved us in enormous
expense, brought us weakness, instead
of strength, and laid our nation open
to the charge of abandonment OF the
fundamental doctrine of self-gOvern-
ment We favor an immediate dec
laration of the nations purpose toI
recognize the independence OF the
Philippine Islands as soon as stable
government can be established, such
independence to be guaranteed by us
until the naturalization of the islands
can be secured by treaty with other
powers In recognizing the indepen-
dence of the Philippines, our govern
ment should retain such land as may
be necessary for coaling stations and
naval bases.
Arizona and New Mexico.
We welcome Arizona and New Mex
leo to the sisterhood of States, and
heartily congratulate them upon their
auspicious beginning OF great and
glorious careers.