The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-03-25
PLEDGES MADE TO BE BROKEN.

"Our pledges are made to be kept
when In office as we'll as relied upon
during the campaign said the BaltI-
more platform OF the Democratic
party.
The only acts by which the Demo-
cratic party has kept any Of Its
pledges are:
Passage of a low tariff law
Passage OF an income tax law.
Passage OF the federal reserve law.
Passage OF two antitrust laws.
Passage OF the seamen's law.
The Democratic party pledged itself
to respect the reserved sovereign
powers OF the states. Congress con-
trolled by that party, Is attempting to
usurp these powers by passing the Fer
ris water power bill
1t Is pledged to publicity OF CAM
paign contributions before election, to
prohibition OF such contributions by
corporations and to limitation Of con-
tributions by individuals, but 1t has
done nothing.
1t urged adoption of a constitutional
amendment limiting the president to a
single term. A resolution to that ef-
feet was introduced by Senator Cum
minis. but 1t was smothered In commit
tee, because, as Representative Rucker
said. every one knows the president
Is not in favor Of It,"
The platform denounces Republican
extravaganza and demands simplicity
and economy arG abolition of useless
offices. The last congress has appro-
priated more money and created more
new offices than any preceding con-
gress.
Legislation preventing over-issue of
stock by railroads. express, telegraph
and telephone companies was prom
Used. but that has not been passed.
Rural credit legislation was promis-
ed. but has been repeatedly postpon-
cd.
The platform declared In favor of
1.-The cooperation OF the United States
and the respective states In plans for
the comprehensive treatment of all
waterways" A bill for that purpose
has been introduced, but has been re-
peatedly shelved In favor of the old,
disreputable. pork-barrel system Of
river and harbor appropriation.
Conservation laws were promised and
some progress has been made toward
their enactment, but the bills invade
the jurisdiction. violate the rights and
are In some respects inimical to the
The fostering of commerce and the
growth of a merchant marine were
favored by the platform. Some prog
ress toward carrying out this promise
was made under pressure OF war, but
the ship-purchase bill checked devel-
opment OF a merchant marine by pri-
vate enterprise and no step has been
taken to amend the navigation laws
in a way to promote such develop
ment.
The platform favors "the exemption
from tolls OF American ships en-
gagged In coastwise trade passing
through the Panama Canal" The law
making this exemption was repealed
at the demand OF a Democratic presi-
dent supported by the majority of
Democrats in congress
A promise was made to strengthen
the pure food law, but 1t continues
largely imperative in consequence OF
judicial Interpretation which can be
reversed only by congress.
The platform said the civil service
law "should be honestly and rigidly
enforced but II has been evaded by
executive officers In the appointment
OF spoilsmsn. and congress has taken
from under It's provisions large num-
bers of offices and has excluded from
those provisions many newIy-created
offices.
Extension of the rural mail delivery
system was promised. but that system
has been so curtailed that many
pioneer settlers in the west are left
without mail service.
The bin reported to the Sixty-second
congress creating Council OF Nation'
al Defense was approved by the plat
form, but It was not even considered
when offered as an amendment to the
naval appropriation bin at the session
Just closed
This record goes to show that the
Baltimore platform Is what President
Wilson declared 1t was not-"molasses
to catch flies" 1t caught flies in 1912
but the party which made and broke II
win not be able to catch many in 1s1e
with the most attractive platform II
can prepare.-Oregonian
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GOVERNOR 1RoxANDER AND HIS