Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-08

Chicago. Ausn s.-Following 10 the
full text Of the progressive party plat
form:
Declaration of principles Of the pro-
gressive party:
The conscience Of the people In
time Of grave national problems has
called into being a new party. born OF
the nations sense Of justice.
We Of the progressive party here
dedicate ourselves to the fulfillment OF
the duty laid upon US by our fathers to
maintain that government OF the peo-
pie. by the people and for the people,
whose foundations they laid.
We hold with Thomas Jefferson and
Abraham Lincoln that the people are
the masters Of their convictions to full
fill its purposes and to safeguard II
from those who, by perversion OF Its
intent. would convert 1t into an lnstru-
ment Of injustice. In accordance with
the needs Of each generation the peo-
pie must use their sovereign power to
estab and maintain equal oppor-
tunity and justice to secure which this
government was founded and without
which no republic can endure.
IQlS country DelO16S ~ Lie pSoPHS
who inhabit 1t. It's resources. its bust
ness. its institutions and It's laws
should be utilized, maintained or al
tered in whatever manner Will besr
promote the general interest. 1t Is
time to set the public welfare In the
first place.
Political parties exist to secure re-
sponsible government and to execute
the will OF the people. From these
great tasks both Of the old parties have
turned aside. Instead Of instrument to
promote the general welfare, they have
become the tools of corrupt interests.
which use them impartially to serve
their selfish purposes. Behind the os-
tensible government sits enthroned an
invisible government, owning no al
legiance and acknowledging no respon-
sibility to the people. To destroy this
invisible government, to dissolve the
unholy alliance between corrupt BUSH
ness and corrupt politics is the first
test Of the craftsmanship Of the day.
Forge New Instrument.
The deliberate betrayal Of its trust
by the republican party, the fatal in
capacity Of the democratic party to
deal with the new issues Of the new
time, have compelled the people to
forge a new instrument Of government
thru which to give effect to their will
in laws and institutions. Unhampered
by tradition. uncorrupted by power.
undismayed by the magnitude OF the
task. the new party offers itself as the
instrument Of the people to sweep
away old abuses, to build new and
nobler commonwealth.
This declaration is our covenant with
the people and we hereby bind the par
ty and its candidates in state and ma
ton to pledges made herein.
The national progressive party. COM
mitted to the principle Of a self-con-
trolled democracy expressing Its Will
thru representatives Of the people.
pledges itself to secure such altera-
lions in the fundamental law OF the
several states and Of the United States
which shall insure the representative
character Of the government.
in particular these declarations: Fer
direct primaries for the nomination OF
state and national officers, for nation
| wide preferential primaries for candi-
dates for the presidency. for the direct
election Of United States senators by
the people. and We urge on the states
the policy Of the short ballot, with re-
sponsiblity to the people secured by
| the initiative, referendum and recall.
Almond the Constitution.
The progressive party, believing that
free people should have the power
from time to time 70 amend their
fundamental law so as to adapt 1t pro-
gressively to the changing needs Of the
people, pledges itself to provide more
easy and expeditions method OF
| amending the federal constitution.
| Up to the limit Of the constitution
and later by amendment OF the con-
stitution II found necessary. we advo-
cate bringing under effective national
Jurisdiction those problems which have
| expanded beyond reach Of the individ-
| ual states.
It is as grotesque as 1t is intolerable
that the several states should. by I'M
equal laws in matters Of common con-
Germ. become competing commercial
| agencies. barter the lives OF their chill
dren. the health Of their women and
the safety and we'll being Of their
| working people for the profit Of their
financial interests.
! The extreme insistence on states
rights by the democratic party in the
Baltimore platform demonstrates anew
| its inability to understand the world
| into which it has survived. or to ad-
| minister the affairs of union OF
states which have in all essential re-
spects become one people
For Equal Suffrage.
THE progressive party, believing that
no people can justly claim to be a true
democracy which denies political rights
| on account Of sex, pledges itself to the
| task of securing equal suffrage to men
and women alike.
I'VE pledge our party to legislation
| that will compe! strict limitation Of ell
campaign contributions and expendi-
lures. and detailed publicity Of both
before as well as after primaries and
elections.
1--WE pledge our party to legislation
compelling the registration Of lobby
lists; publicity Of committee hearings
except on foreign affairs. and record
ing OF all votes in committee: and for
l Kidding foAAra1 from, bo1A