East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-06-19
The Democratic Platform

platform follows
The democratic party, in national
convention assembled, adopts the fol-
lowing declaration to the end that
the people of the United States may
both realize the achievements wrought
by four years Of democratic admin
! istration and be apprised of the poll
cies to which the party is committed
for the further conduct Of national
affairs.
We indorse the administration Of
Woodrow Wilson. 1t speaks for itself
1t is the best exposition Of sound
democratic policy at home and abroad,
We challenge comparison of our
record. our keeping of pledges and
our constructive legislation with those
of any party at any time,
! We found our country hampered
by special privilege, a vicious tariff,
obsolete banking laws and an inelas-
tic currency Our foreign affairs
were dominated by commercial inter.
ests for their selfish ends, The re-
publican party, despite repeated pledg-
es, was impotent to correct abuses
which it had fostered. Under our
administration, under leadership
which has never faltered, those abus-
es have been corrected ana our peo-
pie have been freed therefrom.
Federal Reserve Act Iauded.
Our archaic banking and currency
system, prolific of panic and disaster
under republican Administrations
long the refuge of the money trust
has been supplanted by the federal
reserve act. a true democracy of cred
lit under government control, already
proved a financial bulwark in world
crisis, mobilizing our resources, plac-
ing abundant credit at the disposal of
legitimate industry and making a cur
rency panic impossible
We have created a federal trade
commission to accommodate the per-
picking questions arising under the
antitrust laws so that monopol" may
be strangled at its birth and legiti-
mate industry encouraged. Fair COM
petition in business is now assured
We have effected an adjustment of
the tariff adequate for revenue under
peace conditions and fair to the con-
sumer and to the producer, We have
adjusted the burdens of taxation so
that swollen incomes bear their equit-
able share. Our revenues have been
sufficient in times of world stress and
will largely exceed the expenditures
for the current fiscal year.
Human Labor Lifted.
We have lifted human labor from
the category of commodities and have
secured to the workingman the right
of voluntary association for his pro-
lection and welfare. We have pro-
tected the rights Of the laborer
against the unwarranted issuance of
writs of Injunction, and have guar
anteed to him the right of trial By
Judy in cases of alleged contempt
committed outside the presence of the
court.
We have advanced the parcel post
to genuine efficiency, enlarged the
postal savings system added 10000
rural delivery routes and extensions,
thus reaching two and one-half mil
lions additional people improved the
postal service in every branch, and
for the first time in our history
placed the postoffice system on a self
supporting basis, with actual surplus
in 1913. 1914 and 1915.
The reforms which were most OBJ
viousIy needed to clear away privilege,
prevent unfair discrimination and re-
lease the energies of men in all ranks
and advantages, have been effected
by recent legislation. We must now
remove. as far as possible every re-
naming element of unrest and uncer-
tainty from the path Of the business
men Of America, and secure for them
a continued period of quiet, assured
and confident prosperity.
We reaffirm our belief in the doc
trine of a tariff for the purpose Of
providing sufficient revenue for the
operation Of the government econo.
mically administered and unreserv-
edly indOrse the Underwood tariff law
as truly exemplifying that doctrine.
We recognize that tariff rates are ne
cessarily subject to change to meet
changed conditions in the worlds pro-
duction and trade The events of the
last two years have brought about
many mOmentous changes. In some
respects their effects are yet cOniec-
tural and wait to be disclosed, particu-
larly in regard to our foreign trade.
Two years Of war which has d.
rectly involved most Of the chief in
dustrial nations Of the world. and
which has indirectly affected the life
and industry Of all nations are bring
ing about economic changes more var
led and far-reaching than the world
has ever before experienced.
Tariff Commission Sought.
In order to ascertain just what
these changes may be, the democratic
congress is providing for a nonparti-
san tariff commission to make i'm
partial and thorough study Of every
economic fact that may throw light
either upon our past or upon our fu-
ture fiscal policy with regard to the
imposition of taxes upon imports or
with regard to the changed and chang
ing conditions under which our trade
is carried on.
We cordially indorse this timely pro-
posal and declare ourselves in sympa
thy with the principle and purpose Of
shaping legislation within that field
in accordance with clearly establish
ed facts rather than in accordance
with the demands Of selfish interests
or upon information provided largely,
/ If not exclusively by them.