Evening journal., 1914-10-31
AFRAID OF THEIR 0MN PLATFORN.


the party has not been incorporated in the Democratic
campaign text book just recently issued The only
assumption is that unkep pledges led the authors
of this interesting little volume to this omission as
matter Of eNpediency.
The high cost living was one Of the first subjects
touched by the platform makers at Baltimore, who
pledged the party reduce the Of living by re-
duction of the tariff
The tariff has been reduced but how about the re-
duced cost of living? Ask the man who cats sleeps
rides train.
Then said the platform makers: 1--WE favor a single
Presidential term ana that end the adoption
of an amendment TO the Constitution making the Pres
dent Of the United States ineligible 10 reelection, and
VIC pledge the candidate the convention to this prn
cipl'
resolution to amend the constitution and limit the
Presidential tenure to one term was introduced in
Congress President Wilson a letter to Represon
tativo Palmer opposing this resolution. Palmer went
before the Judiciary Committee the House and pre-
scented the letter. The resolution died.
I'VE denounce the prohgato waste Of tho money
wrung from the people by oppressive taxation through
lavish appropriations Of recent Republican Con
grosses which kept taxes high, and reduced the
purchasing power Of tho peoples toll. We demand a
return to that simplicity and economy which BELTS a
Democratic government and reduction in the number
Of useless Offices the salaries OF which drain the sub
stance Of the people
sounds good. doesn't nY But in the face Of that
pledge the present Congress VIII loaS
than sSOOOOOOOO than the last Republican Con-
gress pork barrel" bill to appropriate S53OOOOOO
was defeated by the Republicans. The number of new
offices created by this administration into hun
dreds and additional $iO50OOOOO Of direct taxes is
just about be levied Thus have the real defni-
ton for Democratic simplicity"
Rural credits legislation is Of equal importance with
the question of currency reform, the platform says
President Wilson himself halted action by Con
gross this legislation
1--WE favor national aid to and local authorities
in the construction and maintenance Of postroads is
another plank bill to out this pledge passed
the House by an overwhelming vote, and nothing has
been heard OF the measure since.
But listen to this; 1--WE favor the exemption from
tolls of American ships engaged in the coastwse trade
passing through the Panama Canal"
Everybody knows this pledge was broken. A bill
already passed granting tolls to American coast
wise ships was repealed by order Of President Wilson
who from the stump during his campaign had every
where approved of tolls exemption.
And then: fThe law pertaining to the Civil Service
should be honestly and rigidy enforced, to the end
that merit and ability shall be the standard Of ap-
pontment and promotion rather than service rendered
to a political party"
The first thing that happened after the Democratic
administration into power was to order re-ex-
aminatons Of 10000 fourthclass postmasers already
in the Civil Service When these postmasers happened
to be Republicans, their places filed by Demo-
Gratis who made much lower ratings in the eNami-
nations When the income tax law was passed. care
full provision was made to have the positions thus
created filled outside the Civil Service An attempt
was made 10 remove deputy United States marshais
from the Civil Service and similar blow is now be-
ing directed against the present experienced and ei-
cient assistant postmasters On top OF this POST
master General Bureson would like to kill on the JOBS
of the capable Civil Service rural route carriers and
let the contracts carrying these routes to the lowest
private bidders
Another plank declares I'VE favor the establish
ment Of parcel post or postal express, and also the
extension Of the rural delivery system rapidly as
possible"
Quite nice in view of the fact that parcel post had
already been established by a Republican admnistra-
ton but the latter part Of that plank the rural
population is referred letter recently sent out to
Congress by the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
in which he says that Il think will agree with me
that much can be accomplished in this line by the es-
tahHshment OF additional routes"