The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-08-15

principles of the progressive party:
The conscience OF the people in a
time of grave national problems has
called into being a new party, born OF
the nations awakened sense of JUS
tice.
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
people. by the people and for the PEG
pie, whose foundations they laid.
We hold with Thomas Jefferson and
Abraham Lincoln that he people are
the masters OF the constitution to full
fill its purposes and to safeguard 1t
from those who. by perversIon Of It's
intent, would convert 1t into an instru-
ment of injustice. In accordance with
the needs OF each generation the people
must use their sovereign powers to es-
tablish and maintain equal opportunity
and Industrial Justice, to secure which
this government was founded and with
" iA4Si 40 ASf1pAtS ScAAi ~
This country belongs to the people
who inhabit it. It's resources, its busi-
ness, its institutions and its laws should
be utilized. maintained or altered in
whatever manner will best promote the
general interests. 1t is time to set the
public welfare in the first place.
IT. niI D,r4is~
Political parties exist to secure re-
sponsible government and to execute
the win of the people. From these
great tasks both OF the old parties
have turned aside. Instead of instru-
ments to promote the general well
fare, they have become the tools of cor
TALLY to serve their selfish purposes.
Behind the ostensible government sits
enthroned an invisible government,
owing no allegiance and acknowledging
no responsibility to the people. To de-
stroy his invisible government, to de-
stroy the unholy alliance between cor
rupt business and corrupt politics is the
first task of the craftsmanship of the
day.
Deliberate betrayal of It's trust by
h republican party and the fatal in
capacity of the democratic party to
deal with the new issues Of the new
time nave compelled the epople TO forge
a new instrument of government
through which TO give effect to their
will in laws and Institutions Unham-
pered by tradition. uncorrupted by
power, undismayed by the magnitude of
he task, the new party offers itself as
the instrument of the people to sweep
away old abuses, to build q new and
nobier commonwealth.
A Covenant With People.
This declaration is our covenant with
the people. and we hereby bind the par
ton to the pledges made herein.
TIE Rule of the People.
The national progressive part, com
mitted to the principle of government
by a self controlled democracy ex-
pressing its will through representa-
tives of he people, pledges itself to
secure such alterations in the funda-
60 - AN y 90 GIL S1hNSs Sll1
of the United States Is will insure the
representative character of the gov
In particular the party de-
clares for direct primaries for the
of state and national Of
ficers, for nation wide preferential pri-
maries for candidates for the presi-
dency. for the direct election of United
States senators by the people. and we
urge on the states the policy Of the
ballot with responsibility to the
secured by the initiative, refer
endum and recall.
Amendment of Constitution.
The progressive party. believing that
a free people should have the power
from time to time to amend their fun
law, SO as to adapt it pro-
g~ressively to the changing needs of the
people, pledges itself to provide a more
easy n expeditions method of amend
ing h federal constitution.
Nation and State.
Up to the limit of the constitution
and later by amendment of the con-
stitution, If found necessary, we ad-
yocate bringing under effective ma
tionai jurisdiction those problems
have expanded beyond the reach
of the individual states.
1t Is as grotesque as 1t is into1erable
that the several states should by UNI
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 well being Of their
working people for the profit of their
financial interests.
The extreme insistence on states
rights by the democratic party in the
platform demonstrates anew
its inability to understand the world
into which 1t has survived or to adj
minister the affairs Of a nation of
states which nave in all essential re-
spects become one people.
Equal Suffrage.
The progressive party, believing thai
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 me- and wome alike.
Corrupt Practices.
We pledge our party to legislation
will compel strict limitation of all
campaign contributions and expendi-
lures and detailed publicity of both be-
fore as well as after primaries and
elections.
Publicity and Public Service.
We pledge our party to legislation
compelling the registration of lobby
lists. DubliCity of committee bearfnpS