The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-21
Iowa Republican Platform
Adopted at esMoines

so over the determined opposition of
the democratic party in platform and
in the legislature. The single defeat
the republican party has suffered in
this state was accomplished by de-
mocracy united on a platform oppos-
ing prohibition of the liquor traffic.
The only proposal to amend the con-
stitution, by writing prohibition there
in, was submitted by order of re-
publican legislature. For forty years
the republican party has shown by
its words and its acts that it is
opposed to the liquor traffic. We be-
lieve that the real friends Of tenn
perance will pin their faith to a party
with such a record in preference to
one which processes a sudden con-
version to temperance after more
than forty years Of consistent and in
sfstent opposition.
We favor any and all laws which
will effectuate temperance. We re-
affirm the past utterances Of the re-
publican party of Iowa upon prohi-
bition which has become the settled
policy of this state, and declare that
there should be no backward step
thereon. We believe the people OF
the state should have right to pass
upon the question Of constitutional
prohibition, and we pledge that the
rext legislature will submit to the
people the proposed prohibition y
amendment approved by the thirty
sixth general assembly.
We stand for the vigorous enforce
ment Of all laws and unequivocably
pledge our candidates to that policy.
Public Highways.
Clearly recognizing the importance
of good roads as an economic and
social asset to any state, the repub-
lican party stands for the continued
improvement of the highways Of this
state until it's roads are as good as
are needed for any legitimate pur-
pose. We most heartily favor the
building of the very best roads the
taxpayers are able and willing to pay
for, insisting only that we are opposed
to any bond issue for the purpose Of
paying for the hard surfacing Of
roads, either by state, county, town
ship or road district, except by con-
sent of the parties who are to be
taxed therefor or in case Of emer-
gency.
We believe that the IDS local
community" as used in The demo-
cratic platform, are too indefinite and
that that platform is no guaranty
that county, acting as a unit, shall
not be permitted to force system
Of road improvements upon some
small subdivision of county, COM
polling few taxpayers to assume
the burden Of an improvement which
they may be glad to have, but are
unable to pay for.
In view Of the we'll known decla-
rations Of the democratic candidate
for governor in favor Of the hard
surfacing of roads and the issuing of
bonds therefor, and the fact that he,
as q member of the Single Tax
league, has committed himself to the
policy of raising all taxes by taxing
land. and land only, it would be I'M
safe from the standpoint Of the man
who pays the bills to Permit that
party and it's candidate for governor
to shape and administer our laws on
road building.
We believe that public dollar
should buy just as good service as a
private dollar, and pledge ourselves
unreservedly to the enforcement Of
honesty, economy and efficiency in
the administration of state affairs.