Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-07-09

extended to include land wholly un
suited therefor. The unnecessary
withdrawal from sale and settlement
of enormous tracts of public land upon
which tree growth never existed and
cannot be promoted tends only to re-
tard development, create discomfort
and bring reproach upon the policy of
| conservation.
The public land laws should be ad-
ministered in a spirit of the broadest
/ Gberality towards the settler exhibit
ing bona fide purpose to comply
| Herewith, to the end that the invita-
ton of this government to the land
less should be as attractive as possi-
Bile, and the plain provisions of the
forest reserve act permitting home
stead entries to be made within the
national forests, should not be nulli-
fed by administrative regulations
which amount to a withdrawal of great
areas of the same from settlement.
Immediate action should be taken
by congress to make available the vast
and valuable coal deposits of Alaska
under conditions that will be per
feet guaranty against their falling in
to the hands of monopolizing corpor-
ations, associations or interests.
Agriculture.
We believe in encouraging the de-
velopment of modern system OF agri-
culture and a systematic effort to i'm
prove the conditions of trade in farm
products so as to benefit both the con-
sumers and producers. And as an ef-
fcient means to this end we favor the
enactment by congress of legislation
that will suppress the pernicious prac-
tice of gambling in agricultural pro-
ducts by organized exchanges or 9th
ers.
Merchant Marine.
We believe in fostering by consti-
tutional regulation of commerce, the
growth of a met( (hant marine which
shall develop and strengthen the COM
mercial ties which bind US to our sis
ter republics of the south, but with
out imposing additional burdens upon |
the people and without bounties or
subsidies from the public treasury.
We urge upon congress the speedy |
enactment of laws for the greater Sc
curity of life and property at sea.
We favor the exemption from tolls |
If American ships engaged in coast
wise trade passing through the Pana-
ma Canal
We also favor legislation forbidding
he use of the Panama Canal by ships
,wned by or controlled by railroad
carriers engaged in transportation
with the canal.
Waterways.
We renew the declaration in our
asst platform relating to the conser-
alton of our natural resources and
he development of our waterways.
70 maintain an adequate depth of
Sater the entire year and thereby en-
ourage water transportation, is con-
ummation worthy of legislative at
ention and an issue national in its
haracter. 1t calls for prompt action
n the part of congress, and the demo-
ratio party pledges itself to the en-
ctment of legislation leading to that
nd.
We favor the cooperation of the
'nited States and the respective
tates in plans for the comprehensive
reatment of all waterways with a ,
lew of co-ordinating plans for chan :
el improvement with plans for drain (
ge of swamp and overflowed lands.
nd to this end we favor the appro- !
ration by the federal government s
sufficient funds to make surveys c
such lands. for development plans s
)r draining the same, and to super S
Ise the work of construction. s
We favor the adoption OF a liberal ,
nd comprehensive plan for the devel- ,
n frNn -
nd waterways with economy and ef- :
cheney, so as to permit their naviga-
on by vessels of standard draft. S
Post Roads.
We favor national aid TO state and
cal authorities in the construction :
Id maintenance of post roads
Employees Compensation Law. !
We pledge the democratic party. as
r as the federal Jurisdiction extends.
an employees compensation law pro a
ding adequate indemnity for injury 7
body or loss Of life /
Law Reform.
We recognize the urgent need of
form in the civil and criminal law in
e United States and we recommend
e enactment OF such legislation and :,
q promotion Of such measures as
I'D rid the present legal system OF o.
2 delays, expense and uncertainties ''
cident TO the system as now admin =
tered O
Parcels Post and r. 2. o. c.
We favor the establishment Of a l
rceis post or postal express and ID
SO the extension OF the rural deliy- s.
y system as rapidly as practicable. n
Rule Of the People. F.
We call attention 20 the fact that
e democratic party's demand for a r
turn 10 the rule Of the people eN- -
essed in the national platform four 81
arS ago has become the accented r-
ctrlne OF a large majority of the u
actors. We again remind the coun-
7 that only by larger exercise Of
E reserved power OF the people can q,
ay protect themselves from the mis- ~
2 Of delegated power and the usu-r- r
on OF governmental instrumental A.
by special interest For this reason tt
p national convention insisted on
overthrow OF -CaunouiSn~ and
Inauguration Of system By which Leo
.ited States senators could be elect %
by direct vote The democratic
rty offers itself 20 the country as
agency through which the com h'
'te overthrow Of corruption. fraud IN
q machine rule in American poll ca