Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-31
The Broken Pledges.

at ST. LOUIS IN 1910. udl ~ liic SAoST
ing paragraph which asserts that our
pledges are made to be kept when in
office as we'll as relied upon during the
campaign" To insert that plank in
the platform Of 1916 would make the
Democratic national convention the
laughing stock of the whole country.
The convention itself could not re-
strain it's expression of mirth over
such an assurance as that.
The first pledge ir the Democratic
platform of 1912 related to the tariff
and asserted the purpose of the party
to revise the tariff "by legisla-
ton that will not irjure or destroy
legitimate industry" Every citi-
zens Of the United States knows. and
the records Of the Department Of Com
merce demonstrate, that the Demo-
cratic tariff threw our markets opens
TO competition with the products of
cheap labor in Europe and Asia, with
closed or went on part time, employees
were thrown out of work, their pur-
chasing power was reduced and the in
jury was reflected upon every legiti-
mate industry in the United States.
That injury was overcome by the out
break Of the European var, which es-
tablished an almost absolute protection
of American industry from foreign
competition and created a market for
our goods unequalled 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. ever before the out
break Of the European war, and that
cost has risen by enormous strides ever
since.
.. The next plank pledged the Demo-
cratic party to keep each Of the CO.
ordinate branches of the government
within its own bounds and not to per-
NIT one to encroach upon the just
powers of any Of the others. Not
withstanding that pledge, it is notori-
GUS that the Democratic majority in
Congress has accepted dictation from
the White House in matters of legisla-
ton.
The income tax and popular election
Of senators were the next planks in the
platform, but upon these there was no
issue, as the Republicans had already
submitted the constitutional amend
ments for these measures to a vote of
the states, and they were advocated by
both parties.
The next two planks advocated
presidential primaries and a 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 UNFOLDING Of the
honor and dignity OF the Nation-a
pledge that has been so frequently vio-
lated as to make it hazardous for
man to claim American citizenship III
our nearest sister republic.
A return to simplicity and econ
cmy," and reduction in the number of
public Offices" came next in the Demo-
cratic platform Of 1912-a pledge that
has been followed by increases in Of
fees. multiplication of appropriations,
and public extravaganza combined
with inef1iciency in public service.
The establishment Of a merchant
marine without imposing additional
burdens upor the people" was the next
important pledge upon which the party
made an issue in the last campaign.
The only effort towsrd the fulfllment
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 ap-
preparation of $50,000,000.
That pledge was followed by one for
the exemption from tolls Of American
ships engaged in coastwise trade pass
ing through the Panama Canal,
pledge that was not only ignored but
expressly and openly violated at the
earliest opportunity.
Honest enforcement Of the civil
service law to the end that merit and
ability shall be the standard of ap-
pointment" came next in the Demo-
cratic platform. Instead Of keeping
that pledge, the Democratic Congress
ras 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 CLASH
fed 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 charac-