The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-11

acted by the republican Congress.
 RAILROADS
 We are opposed to government own ership and operation or employees op eration of the railroads. In the view of the conditions prevailing in ths country, the expenditures of the last two years and the conclusions which may be fairly drawn from an observa- tion of the transportation systems of 1 other countries. it is clear that ade- 1 quate transportation service both for the present and future can be fur nished more certainly, economically and efficiently through private owner ship and operation under proper regu- lation and control.
 There should be no speculative profit in rendering the service of transporta- ton; but in order to do justice to the capital already invested in railway en- terprises to restore railway credit to induce future investments at reason able rate and to furnish enlarged fa- cilities to meet the requirements of Nhe constantly increasing development. and distribution, a fair return upon actual value of the railway property used in transpo sportation should be made reasonably sure. and al the same tims to provide constant employment to those engaged in transportation serv- ice with fair hours and favorable
 
 pensation at least equal to those pre- vailing in similar lines of industry. We endorse the transportation act of 1920 enacted by the republican Con- sress as a most conservative legisla- tive achievement.
 WATERWAYS
 We declare it to be our policy to encourage and develop water trans portation service and facilities in con- r.a vyit Of the United States.
 REGULATION OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE We approve in general the existing fed- eral legislation against monopoly and combinations in restraint of trade, but since the known certainty of law is the safest of all, we advocate such amendment as will provide American business men with better means of de- termining in advance whether pro posed comDination is or is not unlawful. The federal trade commission, under a democratic administration, has not ac- complished the purpose for Which IL was created. This commission, properly or ganized and it's duties efficiently admin istered should afford protection to the public and legitimate business in this There should be no persecution of honest business, but to the extent that cir cumstances warrant we pledge ourselves to strengthen the law against unfair prac- tices.
 We pledge the party to an immediate resumption of trade relations with every nation with which we are at peace.
 PART SEVEN INTERNATIONAL TARIFF AND
 TRADE
 The uncertain and unsettled conditions of international balances and the aphor- maj economic and trade situation of the world and the impossibility of forecast ing accurately even the near future, pre- c,ude the formulation of a definite pro .sran1me to meet conditions a year hence Eut the republican party reatfrmed US belief in the protractive principle, ana nledee itself to d revision of the tarlII as soon as conditions shall make It neces- sary for the preservation Of the nome ma rket for American labor, agriculture and industry.
 MERCHANT MARINE
 The national defense and our foreign commerce require a merchant marine of the best type of modern ships fly ing the American flag, manned by American ,seamen, owned by private capital and operated by private energy.
 We indorse the sound Legislation re- gently enacted by the republican con gress that will insure the promotion and maintenance of the American merchant marine.
 We favor the application of the workmen's compensation acts to the merchant marine.
 We recommend that all ships en- gagged in coastwise trade and all Ves- sels of the American merchant marine shall pass through the Panama canai without premium of tolls.
 IMMIGRATION
 The standard of living and the standard of citizenship are it's most precious possessions and the preserva- tion and elevation of these standards is the first duty of our government. The immi grafton policy of the uniteo States should be such as to insure that the number of foreigners in the country at any one time shall not eN- ceed that which can be assimilated with reasonable rapidity, and to favor immigrants whose standards are slm- liar to ours.
 The selective tests that are at pres ent applied could be improved by re- ouesting a higher physical standard, more complete exclusion of mental defectives and of criminals and Of more effective inspection applied as near the source of immigration as possible as well as at the port Of en- try Justice to the foreigner and to ourselves demands provisions for the guidance, protection and better economic distribution of our alien population. To facilitate government supervision, all aliens should be re- quired to register annually until they become naturalized.
 The existing laws of the Unlteo States for the practical exclusion oi Asiatic immigrants is sound. ane should be maintained.
 There is urgent need of improvement in our naturalization law. No alier should become citizen until he has | become genuinely American, and tes;s | for determining the aliens fitness fol American citizenship should be pro | vided for by law.
 l We advocate, in addition, the inde pendent naturalization of marrie' women. An American woman should not lose her citizenship by marriag> to an alien resident in the Unitet | States.
 1 We demand that every America, citizen shall enjoy the ancient ane ] constitutional right of free speech I free press and free assembly. and tht