The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-25
PARTY CHIEFS PLEDGE AID
Progressives VIII Stand BY the Ad
ministratlon

| Prominent Progressive and Repub
lican party leaders have issued a
statement at New York pledging their
support of the Administration war
plans and urging the adoption OF
measures which, they said, they be-
lieved to be Immediately necessary.
| Among those who signed the state
ment were: Hiram w. Johnson, Ray
mond Robins, Harold l.. Ickes, Will
lam Draper, Lewis Clifford Pinchot,
Miles Poindexter Ogden Reid, Il. A.
Van Valkenburg, Chester Rowell,
William Allen White. The statement
says:
Believing that our country has en-
tered the great war rightly, wisely
and of necessity, that it is our duty
as great free people to take our
part in the defense of liberty, demo
cracy and civilization against the at
tack of militarism, and that our sober
purpose is to secure a just and lasting
peace, we support with all our hearts
and all our powers the war plan of
the government, declared by the pres
ident in his address to congress on
April 2.
I'VE earnestly desire that the war
may be brought to successful,
prompt and permanent conclusion;
that our allies may receive from us
whatsoever assistance will best sus-
tain them in their vast sacrifices, and
that our nation, playing its part with
honor, courage and effectiveness, may
be spared all needless burdens and
avoidable loss.
ITO carry forward the war plans of
our government with full success,
and thereby achieve the ends just
named, we believe that the following
measures are Immediately necessary:
Il. Universal military service, to
insure equality of sacrifice in the ma
tional defense.
"2. Universal industrial service of
both men and property in support of
the nation.
49, An official guarantee that the |
government will buy at stated prices
oil agricultural products offered, so !,
as to encourage the largest possible |
production on our farms.
a. Government control of the :
price of the necessities of life, nclud- }
Ing rent, food and fuel, to stop undue /!
increase of the cost of living.
"5. Federal and State guarantees 4
to the wage earners of America that .
their rights shall not be lost so that
the sacrifices that are required OF ,
them in common with all other ciu- !
zens during the war shall not con-
tinue after peace IS restored
IS. Government cooperation to !
maintain and develop the efficiency |
of law,abiding enterprises, thus pre-
serving the foundations of our COM
mercial prosperity. The tremendous
struggle for the markets of the world
which will follow the war must not
find us unprepared.
~. A graduated income tax, by
which an increasing part of the larger
incomes shall be conscripted for pub
lie purposes, so that wealth may bear
its fair share in the general sacri-
fee.
"S. A limit upon profits on Ameri-
can and Allied government orders,
and a supertax on excess profits due
to war conditions. To lend our AL
lies SO, 900 ,000,0 and then exact the
return of much of it in eXtortionate
profits would be indefensible.
80. Conservation of grain so far as
possible for food purposes.
40. The payment OF as much OF the
cost of the war as can be met out
Of current revenues.
III. National and state legislation
granting women equal political rights
with men, thus completing the es-
of democracy.
"12. The retention and control OF
all natural resources now held by the
government so that the foundations
Of national efficiency and Industrial
strength may not be impaired.
"13. The workers of our country
will make heavy sacrifices during the
war. With peace will come industrial
A government COM
should be organized now to
prepare for the distribution of unem-
ployed labor after the war and for
use of surplus labor.
With far-sighted purposes, we should
plain to carry forward into the coming
peace the increased industrial power
from reorganization of
abor and capital made necessary by
The war.
IA From common devotion to SER
vice to prepetuate and advance DEM
)cracy there should be assurance of
common benefit, so that out of the
sacrifices of war America may
achieve broader democracy in govern
nent, more equitable distribution of
wealth, and greater national efficien-
~ in raising the level of the general
Welfare"