The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17


 ment of coast defenses and the navy are also favored and the preparedness legis. lation of Congress is indorsed.
 Then comes the plank foreign rela- tions, in which the conduct of the Pres ident is highly commended The plank follows:
 FOREIGN RELATIONS
 "The democratic administration has throughout the present war; and success fully, held to the old paths of neutrality and of the peaceful pursuit of the legiti- mate objects of our national life which statesmen of all parties and creeds have prescribed for themselves in America since the beginning of our history. But the circumstances of the last two years have revealed necessities of international action which no former generation could have foreseen. We hold that it is the duty of the United States to use it's pow CT, not only to make itself safe at home but also to make secure it's just interests throughout the world, and both for this end and in the interest of humanity to assist the world in securing settled peace and justice. We believe that every peo- pie has the right to choose the sover- eighty under which it shall live; that the small states of the world have right to enjoy from other nations the same re- spect for their sovereignty and for their
  erful nations expect and insist upon, and that the world has right to be free from every disturbance of It's peace that has it's origin in aggression, or disregard of the rights of the peoples and nations, and we believe that the time has come when it is the duty of the United States to join with the other nations of the world in any feasible association that will effec- lively serve these principles; to maintain inviolate the complete security of the highway of the seas for the common and unhindered use of all nations.
 'The present administration has con- sstently sought to act upon and realize in it's conduct of the foreign affairs of the nation the principle that should be the object of any association of the nations formed to secure the peace of the world and the maintenance of national and in dividual rights. It has followed the highest American traditions. It has pre- ferred respect for the fundamental rights of smaller states even to property inter- ests and has secured the friendship of the people of these states for the United States by refusing to make a more ma torial interest excuse for the assertion Cr our superior power and the dignity of it's sovereign independence. It has re- garded the lives of it's citizens and the claims of humanity of greater moment than material rights. and peace as the  mercial claims. It has made the honor and ideals of the United States it's stand ard alike in negotiation and action"
 The plank on Pan-Americanism advo- cates the establishment and maintenance of closest relations between the United States and other republics of the wester- ern hemisphere and the administration is commended for holding the Pan-Ameri- can financial congress in May. 1915.
 MEXICO
 In the plank dealing with Mexico the Monroe doctrine is reasserted and the views often publicly expressed by Presi- dent Wilson are incorporated It IS de- clared that until restoration of law and order in the southern republic the troops which have been sent across the poroer to curtail bandit raids will be continued. The action of the President in refusing to be forced into intervention is com mended and the assertion that the United States desires no territorial aggrandize- ment at the expense of Mexico is reit' erated.
 The declaration of the platform of 1912 on conservation which shall not withhold the country's natural resources from de- yelopment, but shall prevent waste, is re affirmed.
 Beneficial legislation for the farmer enacted by the present administration is then recited and included the rural credits and federal reserve act steps that had been taken to put the farmer on sound credit basis. Attention is called to the cotton futures act and the warehouse bill now pending in Congress Good roads meas ures have been passed and the depart ment of agriculture is extending it's work of education and this policy is indorsed.
 National aid for the construction of good roads is indorsed and the problems of labor are then taken up. The party proposes to improve condition of gov ernment employees by better wages and working conditions.
 Faith in the seamens act is reiterated and the enactment of federal child la- bor law is advocated. Systematic de- yelopment of federal aid in gaining em- rloyment, already begun. is proposed. The new department of labor is commended for it's efforts.
 Succeeding blanks declare in favor of thorough reconsideration of the means and methods by which the federal gov ernment handles questions of public health; for alteration of rules of the Senate to permit prompt transaction of legislative business; for careful economy in all government expenditures, and as a first practical step to budget system the House of Representatives is urged to return to it's former practice of initiating and preparing all appropriation bills through a single committee.
 Previous platform declarations for the rigid enforcement of the civil service laws are reaffirmed.
 The Philippines self government bill re- gently passed by the House is indorsed and the platform reiterates the partys indorsement of the purposes of ultimate freedom for the Philippines.
 WOMAN SUFFRAGE
 The woman suffrage plank, which pre- cipitated the only debate during the con- vention. is as follows:
 We recommend the extension of the franchise to the women of the country by the states upon the same terms as to n,en"
 plank then declares that the sacred rights of all American citizens at home and abroad must be protected. I he gov ernment is urseh to strive earnestly for peace in Europe at the earliest possible moment
 1lanks then declare for C niI1 ehensive prison reform. national c"ntrCl of the