Republican farmer., 1920-07-09
FULL TEXT OF DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

rduce the cost of living to consumers: while increasing the profitable opera tions of producers. 1 We strongly favor the increased use Of the motor vehicle in the trans tportation of the mails and urge the rempval of the restrictions imposed
 by the Republican Congress the
 use of motor device in mail trans
 portatfon in rural territories. l Merchant Marine l We desire to congratulate the American people upon the rebirth of Jour merchant marine which once more maintains its former place in the world. It was under a Demo- Icratfc administration that this was
 accomplished after seventy years of indifference and neglect, thirteen mil llions of tons having been constructed since the act was passed in 1916. We
 pledge the policy of onr party to the continued growth of our merchant
 marine under proper legislation so l that American products will be car
 ried to all ports of the world by yes sels built in American yards. flying
 the American flag.
 Port Facilities.
 l The urgent demands of the war for adequate transportation of war ma-
 terial as well as for domestic needs
 revealed the fact that our port facili-
 ties and rate adjustment were such as to seriously affect the whole coun- try in times of peace as we'll as war. We pledged our party to stand for equality of rates, both import and ex- port, for the ports Of the country to
 the end that there might be ade-
 quate and fair facilities and rates for
 the mobilization of the products of the country offered for shipment
 Inland Waterways.
 We call attention to the failure of
 the Republican National convention
 to recognize in any way the rapid de- velopment of barge transportation on
 our inland waterways, which develop
 ment is the result of the constructive
 policies of the Democratic administra-
 ton. And we pledge ourselves to
 the further development of the trans
 portation facilities on our rivers to
 the further improvement of our in land waterways and we recognize the importance of connecting the Great
 Lakes with the sea by way of the
 Mississippi river and its tributaries,
 as we'll as by the St. Lawrence river.
 We favor an enterprising foreign trade policy with all nations and in
 this connection we favor the full util-
 ization of all Atlantic, Gulf and Pa , cif1c ports and an equitable distribu- . tion of shipping facilities between the various ports.
 Transportation remains an increas- ingly vital problem in the continued development and prosperity of the na-
 1 tion
 Our present facilities by rail are inadequate and the promotion oi , transportation by water is imperative We therefore favor a liberal and comprehensive policy for the devel-
 | nn11ant and Ifi1iZafinn II ~ c11r 1a rh . and interior waterways.
 Flood Control.
 We commend the Democratic con-
 gress for the redemption of the pledge contained in our last platform by the passage of the flood control act of
 March 1. 1917, and point to the sue
 cessfuI control of the floods of the
 Mississippi river and the Sacramento . river, California. under the policy of ' that law for its complete Justification 2 We favor the extension of this policy to other flood control problems g wherever the federal interest involv' a ed juStifes the expenditure required Reclamation of Arid Lands. Il By wise legislation and progressive Il administration we have transform e6 . the government reclamation projects r representing an investment of $100,. t 00o,000 from a condition of impend- n ing failure and loss of confidence 1T = the ability of the governm ent to carry = through such large enterprises to z - condition of demonstrated success. @ whereby formerly arid and wholly d unproductive lands now sustain 40,- s 900 prosperous families and have ar t annual crop production of Qxer $7O,' - 100000, not including. ths crop: e grown million acres outside tht = projects supplied with storage water = from government works.
 - We favor ample appropriations fo1 e the continuation and extension of thi : great work of home building and in 't ternal improvemen along the same Il general lines, to the end that all prac l. tical projects shall be built. ant II ' waters now running to waste shall b, |. , made to provide homes and add to tn. '. food supply, power resources ant = taxable property, with the govern ;, ment ultimately reimbursed for thu a entire outlay.
 = The Trade Commission. e The Democratic party heartily en a dorses the creation and work of th' .- federal trade commission in estab if fishing a fair field for competitiv' s business, free from restraints O a trade and monopoly" and recon O mends amplifcation of the statute l. governing it's activities so as to gran n 1t authority sto prevent the unIal
 use of patents in restraint of trade. @ Live Stock Markets.
 l. For the purpose of insuring jus $ and fair treatment in the great in F terstate live stock market and thu 1T instilling confidence in grower l. through which production will b. @ stimulated and the price of meats t.
 l consumers be ultimately reduced, w
 favor the enactment of legislation T. for S1YyoarvjSinn of such market l. by the national government. l. Mexico.
 5, The United States is the neighbo 5, and friend of nations of the thre 't Americas. In a very special sens l. our international relations in thi n hemisphere should be characterize l, by good will and free from any pos 1t sih1e. susnicion as to our nationa > purpose.