The Green Forest tribune., 1912-07-12

United States.
 We favor the exemption from tolls of American ships engaged in coast wise trade passing through the Pan anna canal
 We also favor legislation forbidding the use of the Panama canal by ships owned or controlled by railroad car riers engaged in transportation com petitive with the canal.
 Pure Food and Public Health.
 We reafiirm our previous declara- tions advocating the union and strengthening Of the various govern mental agencies relating to pure foods, quarantine, vital statistics and human health. Thus united and ad- ministered without partiality to or discrimination against any school of medicine or system of healing, they would constitute a single health serv- ice, not subordinated to any conner cial or financial interests, but devot- ed exclusively to the conservation of human life and efficiency. Moreover, this health service should cooperate with the health agencies of our vari- ous states and cities, without inter- ference 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 serv- ice should be honestly and rigidly en- forced to the end that merit and abil. ity should be the standard of appoint ment and promotion rather than serv- ice rendered to political party, and we favor a reorganization of the civi! service with adequate compensation commensurate with the class of work performed for all officers and em- ployes; we also favor the extension to all classes of civil service employees of the benefits of the provisions of the employers liability law; We also recognize the right of direct petition to congress by employees for the re- dress of grievances.
 Law Reform.
 We recognize the urgent need of reform in the administration of civil and criminal law in the United States and we recommend the enactment of such legislation and the promotion of such measures as will rid the present legal system of the delays, expense and uncertainties incident to the sys- tenn as now administered.
 The Philippines. @
 We reaffirm the position thrice an- nounced by the Democracy in national convention assembled against a policy of imperialism and colonial exploita. ton in the Philippines or elsewhere. We condemn the experiment in inn 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 decla ration of the nations purpose to rec ognize the independence of the Phil ippine islands as soon as a stable gov. ernment can be established, such in- dependence to be guaranteed by us until the naturalization of the islands can be secured by treaty with other powers. In recognizing the independ- ence of the Philippines, our govern ment should retain such land as may be necessary for coaling stations and naval bases.
 The Russian Treaty.
 We commend the patriotism of the Democratic members of the Senate and House of Representatives which compelled the termination of the Rus sian treaty of 1882, and we pledge ourselves anew to preserve the sacred rights of American citizenship at home and broad. No treaty should re- ceive the sanction of our government which does not recognize that equal ity of all of our citizens, irrespective of race or creed, and which does not expressly guarantee the fundamental right of repatriation.
 The constitutional rights of Ameri- can citizens should protect them on our borders and go with them through out the world and every American citi- zen residing or having property in any foreign country is entitled to and must be given the full protection of the United States government, both for himself and his property.
 Parcels Post and Rural Delivery.
 We favor the establishment of parcels post or postal express and also the extension of the rural delivery system as rapidly as practicable.
 Panama Canal Exposition.
 We hereby express our deep inter est in the great Panama Canal Expo sition to be held in San Francisco in 1915, and favor such encouragement as can be properly given.
 Protection of National Uniform.
 We commend to the several states the adoption of a law making it an offense for the proprietors of places of public amusement and entertain ment to discriminate against the uni- form of the United States similar to the law passed by Congress applica- ble to the District of Columbia and the territcries in 1911.
 Pensions.
 We renew the declaration of our last platform relating to generous pension policy.
 Rule of the People.
 We call attention to the fact that the Democratic party's, demand for a return to the rule of the people ex- pressed in the national platform four years ago has now become the ac- cepted doctrine of large majority of the electors. We again remind the country that only by larger exer. else of the reserved power of the