Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-11


construction Of additional ships.
Merchant Marine.
We believe that one Of the oountry's
most urgent needs 10 . revived NOR
chant marine. There should be-
American ships, and plenty of them.
TO make use Of the great American
interoceanic canal now nearing COM
pletion.
Flood Prevention.
The Mississippi river Is the nations
drainage ditch. Its food waters gath
cred from thirty-one states and the
Dominion Of Canada. constitute an
overpowering force which breaks tho
levees and pours It's torrents over
many million acres of the richest
land In the union. stopping mails. i'm
peding commerce, and causing great
loss Of life and property.
These foods are national In scope
and the disasters they produce seri-
ously affect the general welfare. The
state unaided cannot cope with this
giant problem, hence, we believe the
federal government should assume q
fair proportion of the burden Of its
control so as to 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
settlement and improvement Of such
lands We favor an amendment to the
law that will reasonably extend the
time within which the cost of any
reclamation project may be repaid by
the land owners under It.
Rivers and Harbors.
We favor q liberal and systematic
policy for the improvement Of our
rivers and harbors. Such improve
ment should be made upon expert In
formation and after a careful COM
parison Of cost and prospective bene-
Ats.
Alaska.
We favor q liberal policy toward
Alaska to promote the development
OF the great resources of that dis
trict, with such safeguards as will
prevent waste and monopoly.
We favor the opening of the coal
lands to development through law
leasing the lands on such terms as
will invite development and provide
fuel for the navy and the commerce
Of the Pacific ocean, while retaining
title In the United States to prevent
monopoly.
The Philippine policy of the Re-
publican party has been and Is IN
spired by the belief that our duty
toward the Filipino people is a ma
tional Obligation which should remain
entirely free from partisan policies.
immigration.
We pledge the Republican party to
the enactment Of appropriate laws to
give relief from the constantly grow
ing evil Of induced or undesirable
immigration which Is inimical to
the progress and welfare of the peo-
pie Of the United States.
We favor the speedy enactment Of
laws to provide that seamen shall not
be compelled to endure involuntary
servitude, and that life and property
at sea shall be safeguarded by the
ample equipment of vessels with life
saving appliances and will full COM
plement of skilled, able-bodied sea-
men to operate them.
Republican Accomplishment.
The approaching completion of the
Panama canal, the establishment Of
a bureau Of mines, the institution Of
postal savings banks, the increased
provision made in 1912 for the aged
and infirm soldiers and sailors OF the
republic and for their widows, and
the vigorous administration Of the
laws relating to pure foods and drugs
all mark the successful progress Of
Republican administration, and are
additional evidence of its effectiveness
Civic Duty.
We call upon the people to quicken
their interest in public affairs, to con-
denim and punish lynchings and other
forms of lawlessness, and to strength
en- in all possible ways respect for
law and the observance Of 1t. Indif-
farent 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 Arix-
ona and New Mexico upon the ad-
mission Of those states, thus merging
in the union In final and enduring
form the last remaining portion Of our
continental territory.
Republican Administrator.
We challenge successful criticism
Of the sixteen years Of Republican ad-
ministration under Presidents Nc
Kinley. Roosevelt and Taft. We heart
fly reafYirm the Endorsement Of Pres
ident Mckinley contained in the plat
form Of 1900 and 1904, and that Of
President Roosevelt contained In the
platform Of 1904 and 1908.
We invite the intelligent Judgment
Of the American people upon the ad-
ministration of william H. Taft. The
country has prospered and been at
peace under his presidency. During
the years In which he had the CO.
operation Of Republican congress