Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-09
PLATFORMS CHOSEN AT CHICAGO CONVENTIONS
PROGRESSIVE

The progressive party's platform as
drafted by the resolutions committee
follows:
This is the year of decision for the
nations future. AS we now decide, so
we shall 20 forward in righteousness
and power or backward IN degrade
ton and weakness.
"Of necessity we deal now with the
foundations of our national life. We
are facing elemental facts of force, of
right and wrong, of extreme national
peril. Our present choice of path will
be irrevocable. The tradition of iso-
lation has been ended The United
States is now a part of a world sys-
TEN of civilization. We stand or fall
as we prepare now to take our part in
peace or war and hold our own
therein.
Duties of Nations.
LAS members of an international
basic duties:
ITO secure our rights and equal
treatment of our citizens, native or
naturalized, on land and sea, without
regard to race, creed or nativity.
TO guard the honor and uphold the
just influence of our nation.
To maintain the integrity of in
ternatioal law.
Civilizations Basis.
These are the corner stones of civ
ilization. We must be strong to de-
fend them.
THE present war shows that it is
the supreme duty of civilization to
create conditions which will make for
permanent peace. We earnestly de-
sire to keep the peace, but there are
! higher things which we must keep if
we would keep the faith as Washing
ton and Lincoln kept it. Peace at the
price of submission and cowardice is
not desirable, nor is it the peace Of
justice, which alone would make it
permanent.
"Supine submission to the invasion
of our rights or Indifference to the
wrongs Of weaker nations will not
long maintain peace, nor will mere
threat Of action enforce our rights I'M
der International law. There must be
! an unfaltering determination and a
prepared ability to defend our rights
and to fulfill our international obli-
/ cations. In such a readiness lies the
surest safeguard of both national hon
| or and continued peace.
! Mexican Policy.
Failure to deal firmly and prompt
/ ly with the menace of Mexican dis
orders has brought conditions worse
than warfare and has weakened our
national self-respect. Every resource
! of government should be forthwith
used to end these conditions, and pro-
tect from outrage the lives, honor and
property of American men and wo-
men in Mexico
whatever our country can legiti-
mately do to attain peace for war
stricken Europe, and TO aid in the
procurement Of equal rights without
discrimination because Of race or
| be done.
National Defense.
adequate provision for the com
mon defense has become the task of
] foremost national concern. We must
/ be ready. in spirit. arms and industry.
! Beneath the structure Of military
and economic strength there must be
I a unified spirit of this cosmopolitan
people, a deep loyalty and undivided
allegiance to America, the land which
! has welcomed US and our immigrant
fOrefathers. Back of any adequate ma
ti0nal preparedness in arms or in in
dustry must remain the democratic
soul of an undivided people, deter
mined to keep Americas great heri-
tage and traditions unfalteringly in
first place. Americas problems must
be faced and solved solely in the light
OF American ideals.
American political action must be
taken in the services of American ends.
/ unWavering patriotism and unfalter-
ing fidelity to America is the only
spirit which should animate our citi-
zens. If in this melting-pot of hun
bred nations the children of any fail
to find our common destiny worthy OF
common devotion and defense we shall
sustain irreparable loss of national
character.
In this spirit of Americanism &C
tluH uluSL ut tdheu lOI the CUIuuOu
defense.
| Preparedness.
preparation in arms requires:
"A navy restored to at least second
rank in battle efficiency;
"A regular army of 250,000 men
fully armed and trained, as a first line
of land defense;
"A system of military training ade-
quate to organize with promptness, be-
hind that first line of the army and
navy. citizen soldiery. supplied
armed and controlled by the national
government.
Training for All.
in our democracy every male citi-
zen is charged with the duty of de-
Tending his country. This duty is not
new 1t has existed from the founda-
ton of the government Under modern
conditions it cannot be performed
without military training; service
without training means slaughter and
disaster AS the nation has always
recognized and exercised the right to
enforce compulsory military service in
time of war, so should there be uni
versal military training for that ser
vice during times of peace.
I'VE believe in preparedness for de-
tense, but never for aggression. We
must not sacrifice the lives of men for
the glory of gain or military conquest
And We believe that the women of the
country, who share with men the bur
| den of the government in times of
peace and make equal sacrifice in time
] of war. should be given the full polit-