Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-07-15
DEMOCRATIC
NATION nal
PLATFORM

0Vho NOLhAlAttCC dAAAt VI thC Rt0AAoAAh
was adopted by the Democratic nation
al convention without change. The
document is as follows:
The Democratic party, in its national
convention now assembled, sends greet
ings to the president of the United states,
woodrow Wilson, and halls with patriotic
pride the great achievements for country
and the world wrought by a Democratic
administration under his leadership.
1t salutes the mighty people OF TINS
great republic, emerging with imperish-
able honor from the severe tests and
grtevous strains of the most tragic war
In history, having earned the plaudits
and gratitude of all free nations.
1t declares its adherence to the funda-
economic and Industrial justice n ad-
vance,. n purpose to resume the great
work of translating these principles into
effective laws, begun and carried far by
the Democratic administration and inter-
rupted only when the war claimed all the
national energies for the single task of
victory.
League Of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
League of Nations as the surest, II not
the only, practicable means of maintain
Ing the permanent peace of the world
and terminating the insufferable burden
OF great military and naval establish
ments. 1t was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to crush a
colossal scheme of conquest.
1t was upon this basis that the prest-
dent of the United States, in prearrange-
ment with our allies, consented to a sus-
pension OF hostilities against the imperial
German government the armistice was
granted and a treaty of peace negotiated
upon the definite assurance to Germany, as
well as to the powers pitted against Ger
T0nnV fhaf go dannrn1 nEcnnin.tnp 80 N
tons must be formed, under specific COW
enants, for the purpose of affording mu-
tual guarantees of political independence
and territorial integrity to great n
small states alike"
Hence we not only congratulate the
president on the vision manifested and
the vigor exhibited in the prosecution of
the war, but we felicitate him and his
associates on the exceptional achieve
ments at Paris involved in the adoption
OF a league and treaty so near akin TO
previously expressed American ideals and
SO Intimately related TO the aspirations
Of civilized peoples everywhere.
We the president for his cour-
age and his high conception of good faith
In steadfastly standing for the covenant
agreed to by all the associated and allied
nations at war with Germany, and We
condemn the Republican senate for it's
refusal to ratify the treaty merely be-
cause it was the product of Democratic
craftsmanship, thus i~nterposing partisan
envy and personal hatred in the way of
the peace and renewed prosperity of the
world
BY every accepted standard of inter-
national morality the president is justi-
ned in asserting that the honor of the
country is involved in this business; and
we point to the accusing fact that, before
II was, determined to initiate political an
tagonism to the treaty the now Repub-
ncan chairman of the senate foreign re-
lations committee himself publicly pro-
claimed that any proposition for a sepa-
rate peace with Germany, such as he
and his party associates thereafter re-
ported TO the senate, would make US
guilty OF the blacklist crime"
On May 10 last the Knox substitute for
the Versailles treaty was passed by the
Republican senate, and this convention
can contrive no more fitting characterize
ton of its obloquy than that made in the
Forum Magazine of December, 1918. by
Henry Cabot Lodge when he said:
IF we send our armies and young men
abroad to be killed and wounded in north
ern France and Flanders with no result
but this, our entrance into war with such
an intention was a crime which nothing
can justify"
The intent of congress and the intent
OF the president was that there could be
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war as this could recur.
We cannot make peace except in ON
pany with our allies. 1t would brand US
with everlasting dishonor and bring ruin
to US also If we undertook to make a sep
arate peace"
Lodges Proposals Condemned.
Thus TO Lnat which Mr.. Lodge, in saner
moments, considered 1.-THE blacklist crime"
he and his party in madness sought to
give the sanctity of law; that which eigh-
teen months ago was of Everlasting dis
honor" the Republican party and its can
didates today accept as the essence of
faith.
We indorse the presidents view of our
international obligations and his firm
stand against reservations designed to
cut to pieces the vital provisions in con-
gress for voting against resolutions for
separate peace which would disgrace the
nation, We advocate the immediate rat
ihcation of the treaty without reserva-
tons which would impair its essential in
Iesrlty, put 90 NOT oppose the acceptance
OF any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations of the United
States to the League of Nations. Only
by doing this may we retrieve the repu-
taton of this nation among the powers
OF the earth and recover the moral cad
ership which President Wilson won and
which Republican politicians at Washing
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this may
We hope to aid effectively in the resto-
ration of order throughout the world and
to take the place which we should as
sumo in the front rank of spiritual, com
mercial and Industrial advancement,
We reject as utterly vain, il not vicious.
the Republican assumption that r~atifca-
ton of the treaty and membership In the
League of Nations would in any wise
Impair the integrity or independence of
our country. The fact that the cove
nant has been entered into by 20 nations
all as jealous of their Independence "a
We are of ours. Is a sufficient refutation
Of such charge. The president repeatedly
has declared, n this convention reaf-
firms. that all our duties and obligations
as a member of the league must be full
filled in strict conformity with the Com
gtitution of the United States, embodied
In which is the fundamental requirement.
of declaratory action by the congress he
fore this nation may become a nartici-
pant In any war.
Conduct of the War.
During the war President Wilson exhib-
tied the very broadcast conception Of Ub
eral Americanism. In his conduct of the
war, as In the general administration Of
MS high office, there was no semhlanca
OF partisan bias. He invited to Washing
ton as his councillors and c%oadiutors hun
dreds OF the most prominent and pro-
nounced Republicans In the country. To
these he committed responsibilities OF the
gravest import and most CONFIDENTIAL ma
ture. Many of them had charge Of vital
activities of the government.
Ana yet, with the war successfully pros
ecuted and %gloriously ended, the Repub-
lican party In congress, far from an
plauding the mastery leadership Of the
president and felicitating the country on
the amazing achievements Of the Arneri-
can government. has meanly reouited the
considerate course Of the chief magistrate
by savagely defaming the commander in
chief OF the army n navy. by assajlino
nearly every public officer of every