Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-08-10
THE PLATFORM

the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, on
this twentieth day of July, 1916,
grateful to Almighty God for the
blessings of liberty, for our institu-
tons and the multiplying signs of
party victory for the cause for which
the party stands, in order that the
people may know the source of it's
faith AID the basis of its action,
should it be clothed with government
al power, challenges the attention of
the Nation and asks the votes of the
people on this Declaration of Princi-
Piles.
Prohibition.
We denounce the traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors. We believe in it's aboli-
ton. 1t is crime--not a business
and should not have governmental
sanction.
We demand-and if given power,
we Will effectuate the demand-that
the manufacture, importation, ex-
portatlon, transportation and sale of
alcoholic liquors for beverage purpose
shall be prohibited
To the accomplishment of that
end, we pledge the exercise of all
governmental power-the enactment
of statutes and the amendment of
constitutions, state and national. On
ly by political party committed to
this purpose can such policy be made
effective. We call upon all voters. so
believing, to place the Prohibition
party in power upon this issue as a
necessary step in the solution of the
liquor problem.
Suffrage.
The right of citizens of the United
States to vote should not be denied
or abridged by the United States or
by any state on account of sex. We
declare in favor of the enfranchise-
ment of women by amendments to
state and federal constitutions.
We condemn the Republican and
Democratic parties for their failure
to submit an equal suffrage amend
ment to the national Constitution. We
remind the four million women voters
that our party was the first to de-
clare for their political rights. which
1t did in 1872. We invite their CO.
operation in electing the Prohibition
party to power
Peace and Preparedness.
We are committed to the policy of
peace ana friendliness with all ma
tons. We are unalterably opposed to
the wasteful military program of the
Democratic and Republican parties.
Mllltarism protects no worthy institu-
ton. 1t endangers them all. It VIC
lates the high principles which have
brought US as a nation to the pres
ent hour. We are for a constructive
program in preparedness for peace.
We declare for and will promote a
world court, to which national differ
ences shall be submitted, so maintain
ed as to give its DEGREES binding force.
We will support compact among
nations to dismantle navies and dis
band armies, but until such court and
compact are established we pledge
ourselves to maintain an effective
army and navy and to provide coast
defenses entirely adequate for nation
al protection.
We are opposed to universal militia
ry service, and to participation in the
rivalry that has brought Europe to
the shambles and now imperils the
civilization of the race.
Private profit, SO far as constitu-
tionally possible, should be taken out
of the manufacture of war munitions
and all war equipment.
In normal times we favor the en-
ployment of the army in vast recla-
nation plans, in reforesting hills and
mountains, in building state and ma
tional highways, in the construction
OF an inland waterway from Florida
to Maine, in the opening of Alaska
and IN unnumbered projects which
VIII make our soldiers constructive
builders of peace. For such service
there should be paid an adequate in
dustrial wage.
Those units of our navy which are
capable of being converted into mer-
chantmen and passenger vessels
should be constructed with that pur-
pose in view, and chiefly SO utilized
in times of peace.
We condemn the political parties
which, for more than thirty years,
have allowed munition and war equip
ment manufacturers to plumber the
people and to jeopardize the highest
interests of the nation by furnishing
honey-combed armor plate and sec
ond-rate battlesships which the Navy
League now declares are wholly in
adequate.
We will not allow the country to
forget that the first step toward ply
steal, economic, moral and political
preparedness is the enactment of ma
tional Prohibition.
Tariff and Reciprocity.
The countries at war are preparing
for fierce industrial struggle to fol-
low the cessation of hostilities. As a
matter of commercial economy, inter
national friendliness, business eff
cheney, and as help to peace, we de-
mand that reciprocal trade treaties be
negotiated with all nations with which
we have trade relations. A commits
sion Of specialists, free from the con-
troll of any party, should be appoint
ed with power to gather full informa-
ton on all phases of the questions of
tariff and reciprocity, and to recon-
mend such legislation as it deems
necessary for the welfare of Ameri-
can business and labor.
Merchant Marine.
The necessity of legislation to ena-
bic American ship builders or owners
to meet foreign competition, on the
most favorable terms, is abious.
Materials for construction should be
admitted free of duty.