Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-14
NATIONAL PARTY
ADOPTS PLATFORM
Favors Equal Suffrage, Prohibi-
ton and Better Laws for
Farmers and Laborers.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, TOO.
Convention Attended by 200 Delegates
Half Of Whom Bolted from the
Prohibition Party.

Chicago, March 7.-Eaual suffrage
nationwide prohibition and radica
legislation favoring farmers and labor
form of the National party adopted
here to-day at a convention attended
by about 200 delegates, one hundred O,
whom are boilers from the Prohibition
party
The platform was adopted by a unan
imous vote. 1t is the first definite OK.
preston of the policies of the new
party.
In regard to suffrage, the platform
demands the right or men and womer
to vote on all questions and enforce.
ment of the laws enfrancnsing negroes
and others regardless of color or race
The prohibition plank pledges the
Hparty to work for nationwide prohibi.
ton and for immediate ratification OF
the constitutional amendment
WOULD EXTEND FARM LOAN LAW
Extension of the federal loan law is
among the important items Of legislation
concerning farmers, which is advocated
Advance loans upon crops or products in
storage. government insurance of farms
and stock. federal inspection Of farm prod
ucts at terminals and untaxing of all farm
equipment and measures to prevent the
holding of large tracts of land idle are
included.
Limitation of immigration. shortening
of working hours, governmental insur-
ances. more rigorous inspection of facto-
ries and working places. adequate en-
forcement of child labor laws, are some of
the things urged in the labor plank. 1t
also advocates that the government for
bid interstate shipments Of articles made
by children, women employed more than
eight hours a day. or six days a week,
convicts under private contract or per-
sons employed in uninspected factories or
mines. Abolition of contract prices or
labor and the establishment of the honor
system in prisons is advocated.
INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
Much Of the platform also is devoted
to the question of international democ-
| racy.. The platform declares that the
party recognizes that the republic OF the
world is the goal for international poll
teal development and urges abolition of
secret diplomacy, freedom of the seas
and abolition of prohibitive or discrim-
inatory tariffs or taxes upon trade and
commerce. Foreign investments must
bear their own risks. another plank de-
mands.
Other conditions advocated are freedom
| Of speech both by word of mouth and by
printed matter, the short ballot in State
| and municipal elections, right Of absentee
citizens to vote by affidavit, public owner
ship of public utilities and extension of
| the postal and parcel post systems.
ALSO A MANIFESTO.
A manifesto, simplifying the partys
platform, was approved tonight and
copies of it will be sent to the labor
parties Of foreign countries. Besides
explaining the purpose of the party il
says:
Labor will win the war and the organ
| ization of labor forces is a paramount
| condition to the winning of the war.
| Labor is gaining a ruling position in all
| fields of society and this position must
| be strengthened until labor controls So
ciety. This must be done through unions
| and farmer organizations"
1t also demands that labor representa-
tives be included in any council dis
cussing terms of peace and urges that
| the housing commission authorized by
Congress be empowered to continue Its
| work after the war so as to care for the
millions of returning soldiers who will
be without means of earning a liveli-
hood.
The report of the committee on organi-
cation calling for appointment Of ma
tional committee and various State COM
mittees was adopted unanimously The
report declared that the party had shown
a remarkable growth since it was first
| organized. Although it did not mention
| figures the report declared that many
State candidates on the national ticket
| would be elected at the next election.