The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-21
Democratic National Platform

reserved to it, but we insist that fed
eral remedies for the regulation of in
terstate commerce and for the proven
ton of private monopoly shall be
added to and not substituted for state
remedies.
INCOME TAX AND POPULAR
ELECTION OF SENATORS.
We congratulate the country upon
the triumph of two important reforms
demanded in the last national plat
form, namely, the amendment OF the
federal Constitution authorizing an in
come tax and the amendment provid-
ing for the popular election Of sena-
tors, and we call upon the people of
all the states to rally to the support
of the pending propositions and secure
their ratification.
We note with qualification the unani-
nous sentiment in favor of publicity
before the election Of campaign con-
tributions-a measure demanded in
our national platform of 1903 and at
that time opposed by the Republican
party-and we commend the Demo-
cratic house of representatives for ex-
tending the doctrine of publicity to
recommendations, verbal and written,
upon which presidential appointments
are made to the ownership and con-
troll of newspapers and to the expendi-
lures made by and in behalf of those
who aspire to presidential nomina-
tions, and we point for additional JUS
LITIGATION for this legislation TO the
enormous expenditures of money in
behalf of the president and his pre-
decessor in the recent contest for the
Republican nomination for president.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES.
The movement toward more popular
government should be promoted
through legislation in each state
which will permit the expression of
the preference of the electors for ma
tional candidates at presidential prim-
aries.
We direct that the national COM
mittee incorporate in the call for the
next nominating convention a require
ment that all expressions of prefer
| ence for presidential candidates shall
be given and the selection of dele
gates and alternates made through
| primary election conducted by the
| party organization In each state,
where such expression and election
are not provided for by state law.
Committeeman who are hereafter to
constitute the membership Of the
| Democratic national committee and
whose election is not provided for by
law shall be chosen in each state at
such primary elections and the ser
vice and authority of committeeman,
however chosen, shall begin immedi-
ately upon the receipt of their ere
| dentiaIs respectively.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
| We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of a law prohibiting
any corporation from contributing to
| q campaign fund and any individual
| from contributing any amount above
a reasonable maximum.
TERM OF PRESIDENT.
We favor a single presidential term
and to that end urge the adoption Of
an amendment to the Constitution
making the president of the United
| States Ineligible for reelection, and
We pledge the candidate of this con-
vention to this principle.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS.
At this time, when the Republican
party, after a generation of unlimited
power in it's control of the federal
| government, is rent into factions, it
| is opportune to point to the record OF
accomplishments Of the Democratic
I house Of representatives in the Sixty
/ second congress. We indorse its &C
ton and we challenge comparison OF
its record with that of any congress
which has been controlled by our OPP
ponents.
We call the attention of the patri-
otto citizens Of our country to its rec
/ ord of efficiency, economy and con-
structive legislation.
It has. among other achievements,
revised the rules of the house Of rep
resentatives so as to give to the repre-
| sentatives Of the American people
freedom of speech and of action in ad-
vocating, proposing and perfecting
| remedial legislation.
/ T. ho~ relief
the people and the development of our
country; it has endeavored to revise
the tariff taxes downward in the inter
est of the consuming masses and thus
to reduce the high cost of living.
It has proposed an amendment to
the federal Constitution providing for
the election of United States senators
by the direct vote of the people.
1t has secured the admission of Ari-
iona and New Mexico as two sover-
eign states.
It has required the publicity Of cam
paign expenses, both before and after
election and fixed a limit upon the
election expenses of United States
senators and representatives.
1t has also passed a bill to prevent
the abuse of the writ of injunction.
1t has passed a law establishing ar
eight-hour day for workmen on al
national public work.
1t has passed a resolution which
forced the president to take imme-
date steps to abrogate the Russian
treaty.
And it has passed the great supply
bills which lessen waste and extraya-
gance and which reduce the annua
expenses of the government by many
millions of dollars.
We approve the measures reported
by the Democratic leaders in the
house Of representatives for the ere
alton of council of national de-
Tense, which will determine a definite
naval program, with a view to in
creased efficiency and economy. Th'
party that proclaimed and has always
enforced the Monroe doctrine and wa!
Il sponsor for the new navy will con
tinue faithfully to observe the consti
tutional requirements to provide an'
maintain an adequate and well-pro
portioned navy sufficient to defent
American policies, protect our citi
zens and uphold the honor and dtgnit!
of the nation.
, REPUBLICAN EXTRAVAGANCE
We denounce the profligate vast
of the money wrung from the peopl
by oppressive taxation through tn
lavish appropriations of recent Reuub
Iican congresses, which have KEEP