The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-01
THE BROKEN PLEDGES.

III 1910. 1nat Is the closing paragraph
which asserts that ''our pledges are
made to be kept when in office as well
as relied upon during the campaign"
To insert that plank in the platform of
1916 would make the Democratic nation
al convention the laughing stock of the
whole country. The convention itself
could not restrain its expression of
mirth over such an assurance as that.
The first pledge in the Democratic
platform of 1912 related to the tariff
threw our markets open to competition
with the products of cheap labor in
Europe and ASIA, with the result that
our factories were either closed or
went on part time, employees were
thrown out of work, their purchasing
power was reduced and the injury was
reflected upon every legitimate indus
try in the United States. That injury
was overcome by the outbreak of the
European war, which established an
almost absolute protection of American
industry from foreign competition and
created a market for our goods IN
equaled in our history.
The next plank in the platform of
1912 pledged the Democratic party to
reduce the cost of living" but gov
eminent records show that the cost of
living increased, even before the out.
break of the European war, and that
cost has risen by enormous stride ever
since.
The next plank pledged the Demo-
cratic administration to a vigorous en-
forcement of the criminal as well as
the civil laws against trusts, the party
! having asserted that the record Of the
Republican party in this respect was
one of failure. Upon this pledge the
Democratic party secured many of its
votes, but it has absolutely nothing in
its record to show that any illegal trust
has been successfully prosecuted, either
civilly or crlminally.
The next plank pledged the Demo-
cratic party to keep each of the coordi-
nate branches of the government with
in its own bounds and not to permit one
to enroach upon the just powers Of any
of the others. Notwithstanding that
/ pledge, it is notorious that the Demo
cratic majority in Congress has ac-
cepted dictation from the White House
in matters of legislation.
The income tax and popular election
of Senators were the next plauks in the
platform, but upon these there was no
issue, as the Republicans had already
submitted the constitutional amendments
for these measures to vote of the
states, and they were advocated by
both parties.
The next two planks advocated
presidential primaries and single term
for the President, both of which
pledges have been ignored or violated
The next important pledge was pro-
lection of the personal and property
rights of American citizens at home and
abroad, and the upholding of the honor
and dignity of the nation-a pledge
that has been so frequently violated as
to make it hazardous for man to claim
American citizenship in our nearest
sister republic.
A return to simplicity and econ
omv, " and reduction in the number of
public offices" came next in the Demo
cratic platform of 19l2-a pledge that
has been followed by increase in Office,
multiplication of appropriations, and
public extravaganza combined with in
efficiency in public service.
The establishment of a merchant
marine without imposing additional
burdens upon the people" was the next
important pledge upon which the party
made an issue in the last campaign.
The only effort toward the fulfillment
of that pledge has been an appropria-
ton for government purchase of ships
and the expenditure of an unknown sum
of money, beginning with an approprla-
ton of $50, 900, 900.
That pledge was followed by one for
the exemption from tolls of American
ships engaged in coastwise trade pas
sing through the Panama Canal, a
pledge that was not only ignored but
expressly and openly violated at the
earliest Onnortunitv
Honest enforcement of the civil
service law to the end that merit and
ability shall be the standard of appoint
ment came next in the Democratic
platform, Instead of keeping that
pledge, the Democratic Congress has at
every opportunity passed laws which
set aside the civil service rules and
regulations, and the President has
issued an unprecedented number of
executive orders permitting deserving
Democrats to be placed in the classified
civil service without their taking the
competitive test to determine their
merit or ability.
Extension Of the rural delivery ser
vice was another pledge. The char
acter of extension this administration
has made in the rural delivery service