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

no treaty with amy other government
shall receive the sanction Of our gov
eminent which does not expressly rec
ognize the absolute equality Of all our
citizens, irrespective Of race, creed or
previous nationality, and which does
not recognize the right OF eXpatria-
tlon The American government should
protect American citizens in their
rights not only at home, but abroad,
and any country having government
should be held to strict accountability
for any wrongs done them, either to
person or property.
At the earliest practical opportunity
our country should strive earnestly for
peace among the warning nations Of
Europe and seek to bring about the
adoption Of fundamental principle Of
justice and humanity, that all men
shall enjoy discrimination in the lands
wherein they dwell.
Prison Reform Asked.
Prison reform-We demand that
the modern principles Of prison re-
form be applied in our federal penal
system. We favor such work for
prisoners as shall give them training
in remunerative occupations, so that
they may make an honest living when
released from prison the; the setting
apart of the net wages Of the prison.
er to be paid to his dependent family
or to be reserved for his own use upon
his release; the liberal extension Of
the principles Of the federal parole
law, with due regard both to the well
fare of the prisoner and the interests
of society; the adoption of the pro-
baton system, especially in the case
Of first offenders not convicted of Sc.
rious crimes.
Pensions-We renew the declara'
tions Of recent democratic platforms
relating to generous pensions for sol
diers and their widows, and call atten-
ton to our record of performance in
this particular.
We renew the declaration In our
last two platforms relating to the de-
velopment of our waterways. The re-
cent devastation of the lower Mississ-
ippi valley and several other sections
by floods accentuates the movement
for the regulation of river flow by ad-
ditional bank and levee protection be-
low and diversion, storage and con-
troll of the flood waters above, and
their utilization for beneficial purpos-
es In the reclamation Of arid and
swamp lands, and development Of wa
ter power, instead of permitting the
floods to continue, as heretofore
agents of destruction.
HarbOr improvement Favored.
We hold that the control of the
Mississippi river is national prob
lem. The preservation of the depth
of its waters for purposes of naviga-
tion, the building of ievees and works
of bank protection to maintain the
integrity of its channel and prevent
the overflow of its valley resulting ir
the interruption of interstate com
merce, the disorganization of the fal
service and the enormous loss of life
and property impose an anligatior
which alone can be discharged by tht
national government.
We favor the adoption of a liberia
and comprehensive plan for the de
velopment of our harOOrs and inlanC
waterways with economy and efficien
cy so as to permit their navigation b!
vessels Of standard draft.
1t has been and will be the policy
of the democratic party to enact al
laws necessary for the speedy devel
opment of Alaska and its great nat
ural resources.
TerritOries-We favor granting t
the people of Alaska, Hawaii and Por
to Rico the traditional territorial gov
eminent accorded to all territories o.
the United States since the beginning
of our government and We believe the
officials appointed to administer the
government of those several terrific
ries should be qualified by previous
bonafide residence.
Wilson Kept Us Out of War"
We unreservedly indorse our presi'
dent and vice president. Woodrow
Wilson, of New Jersey, and Thoma:
Riley Marshall, of Indiana, who have
performed the functions of their grea
offices faithfully and impartially ant
with distinguished ability.
In particular We commend to the
American people the splendid diplo'
matte victories of our great president
who has preserved the vital interests
of our government and its citizens ant
kept up out of war.
Woodrow Wilson stands today the
greatest American of his generation
This is critical hour in the history
of the world Upon the record above
set forth, which shows great construc.