The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-16
ell for the extension of American COM

lei for the extension Oh AueIlCdn con
merce. 1t took a two-year's fight to
overcome the influence of the shipping
! trust, but the fight has at last been
won, and the government is now in
position to use a merchant marine OF
/ it's own to safeguard the interests OF
{ the American shipper.
Eight.-The Child Labor Law has
come in response to the growing de-
mand for social betterment. The fact
that such law is necessary is a sad
commentary upon the heartlessness of
man-that he should become so
money-mad as to be willing to increase
his profits by the stunning Of the
bodies and the dwarfting of the minds
of minors. The Democratic party de-
iserves credit for adding this law to it's
extraordinary record of great accom-
plshments.
Ninth.-The Philippine Bill, while
dealing with an international matter
Iis domestic in that it not only an
nounces national policy, but also
promises to safeguard domestic poll
Etics from the disturbing influences of
colonial questions. Eighteen years
ago when the question of Imperialism
first raised its head, the Democrats in
the Senate were quick to strike at it
with the Bacon resolution, which de-
clared against colonial policy and
gave the Filipinos promise of ulti-
mate independence. Every platform
written by the Democratic party of
the nation Since that time has repeat
ed this pledge and now, to the honor
of the nation and to the credit of the
democratic party, the platform pledge
has been fulfilled and the promise Of
ultimate independence given. Our
nation has thus shown itself able to
resist the temptation before which the
,monarchies have fallen, namely, the
temptation to exercise power in cola
|tion of the principles of self-govern-
Iment.
Tenth.-The list of this administra-
tons accomplishments cannot fairly
be concluded without reference to the
thirty Peace Treaties negotiated dur
ing the first two years of the admins
tration with nations exercising author
Iity over 1,30O,OO0,O00 of people, or
three-fourths of the world. In addi-
tion to the thirty nations which have
|signed treaties, three others with a
combined population of more than
100,000,000, have endorsed the princi.
pie embodied in the treaty plan, so
that today there are less than five ma
itions with any considerable population
which have declined to approve of
this plan, and three of these have been
prevented by controversies still un.
settled. These thirty treaties contain
three provisions new to treaty making.
First: They cover all questions of ev.
cry kind and character and provide
that such disputes, when they defy
diplomatic settlement, shall be submit
ted to an international tribunal for in
vestigation and report. Second A
years time shall be allowed for inves-
tigation and report, during which
there shall be no resort to force.
Third: The parties reserve the right
to independent action at the conclu-
sion of the investigation. 1t is be-
lieved that these provisions will, by
insuring time for anger to subside, op-
portunitw for questions of facts to be
separated from questions of honor,
and chance for the peace forces of
the world to operate, make war be-
tween the contracting parties of re-
mote possibility. These treaties, not
only give this nation primacy in the
matter of world peace. but they insure
a peace at home which will enable nur
nation to work out its domestic pro.
b'ems and set an example worthy of
emulation by the rest of the world.
When did any party, in so short a
time, present and complete so re-
narkable a program for the advance.
ment of the nations welfare. Is it
popssible that party which has thus
justified public confidence can be re.
tuked by the people to whose interests
it las dedicated itself?
w L RRYAN