The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-10-06
Republican Platform 1916

its deeds. and all really effective
laws regulating the railroads and
the great industrial corporations are
the work of Republican Congresses
and Presidents For this policy Of
regulation and supervision the DEM
ocrats. in a stumbling and piecemeal
way. are undertaking to involve the
Government in business which should
be left within the sphere of private
enterprise and i'm direct competition
with its own citizens. a policy which
is sure to result in an inferior pro-
duct
The Republican Party firmly be-
lieves that all who violate the laws in
regulation of business. should he in
dividually punished. But prosecu-
ton is very different from persecu-
ton, and business success, no mat
ter how honestly attained. is appar-
emily regarded by the Democratic
party as in itself a crime. Such doc
trines and beliefs choke enterprise
and stiae prosperity. The Repub-
lican Party believes in encouraging
American business. as it believes in
and will seek to advance all Ameri-
can interests.
Rural Credits.
We favor an effective system Of
rural credits as opposed to the inef
fective law proposed by the present
Democratic administration.
Rural Free Delivery.
We favor the extension .of the rur-
al free delivery system and condemn
the Democratic administration for
curtailing and Gripping il.
Merchant Marine.
In view of the policies adopted by
all the maritime nations to encour-
age their shipping interests, and in
order to enable us to compete with
them for the ocean-carrying trade.
we favor the payment to ships en-
gagged in the foreign trade of liberal
compensation for services actually
rendered in carrying the mails, and
such further legislation as will build
up an adequate American merchant
marine and give us ships which may
be requisitioned by the Government
in time of national emergency.
We are utterly opposed to the
Government ownership of vessels as
proposed by the Democratic Party,
because Government-owned ships,
while effectively preventing the de-
velopment OF the American merchant
marine by private capital. will be en-
tirely unable to provide for the vast
volume OF American freights and will
leave us more helpless than ever in
the hard grip OF foreign syndicates.
Railroads.
Interstate and intrastate trans
portation have become so interviewer
that the attempts to apply two and
often several sets OF laws to its regu-
lation has produced conflicts of au-
thority. embarrassment in operation
and inconvenience and expense to
the public.
The entire transportation system
of the codntry has become essential
~ national. We. therefore, favor
such action by legislation or, if nee
essary, through an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States as
will result in placing it under COM
plete Federal control.
Economy and National Budget.
The increasing cost of the Nation
al Government and the need for the
greatest economy of its resources in
order to meet the growing demands
of the people for Government service
call for the severest condemnation of
the wasteful appropriations of this
Democratic administration, of its
shameless raids on the Treasury, and
of its opposition to and rejection of
President Taft's oft-repeated propos-
ais anu tdllltSl CilOllo W otIulO
onomy and efficiency through the es-
adjustment of a simple businesslike
budget system to which we pledge
our support and which we hold to be
necessary TO effect any real reform
in the administration OF national fl
nances.
Conservation.
We believe in a careful husbandry
NJ all the natural resources of the
Nation hushandry which means
development without waste; use
without abuse.
CiVii-SorVice Reform.
The Civi!-Seryice Law has always
been sustained by the Republican
Party. and SIC rcnew our repeated
declarations that it shall be thor
CUgb!y and honestly enforced and
extended wherever practicable. The
Democratic Party has created since
March 4, 1918, 10000 Offices outside
of the Ciyil-Seryice Law at an annu-