Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-07-09

aid of law and appropriation neces-
sary to full and effective operation.
We believe that no higher or more
valued privilege can be afforded TO an
American citizen than to become
freeholder in the soil of the Unlted,
States and to that end we pledge our
party to the enactment of soldier set
Elements and home aid Ieglslat1on
which will afford to the men VINO
fought for America the opportunity TO
become land and home owners under
conditions affording genuine govern
ment assistance unlncumDeaeo 5y
needless difficulties of red tape or ao-
vance financial investment.
The Railroads.
The railroads were subjected to fed
eral control as war measure WItnouI
other idea than the swift transport %
troops, munitions and supplies w men
human life and national hopes were al
stake, profits could not be consloereo.
and were not. Federal operation, now
ever, was marked by an inlSlHsence
resulted in many and marked reforms.
The equipment taken over was not
only grossly inadequate but sha!ie-
fully outWorn. Unification prdctlces
overcame these initial handicaps ana
provided additions, bettermenIs ana
improvements. Economies enapleo ~
GRAFTON without the RATE raises va
private control would have loun9
necessary, and labor was lreateo
with an exact justice that secured Inc
enthusiastic cooperation that Vlctoly
of federal control was achleVeo Iull s
and splendidly, and at far less cost
to the taxpayer than Woulu u ;
been the case under private Operation.
Investments in railroad properties were
not only saved by government operalloll,
but government management So nou
these properties vastly 1mpro rove ~ ar es+
cry physical and executive detail "A great
task was greatly discharged
The presidents recommendation OF re-
turn to private ownership gave the ne
L g,
to enact the necessary legislation. me
house took six months to formulate lss
ideas and another six months was con
sumed by the Republican senate an equ IA
ly vague debate. AS a consequence, the
Esch- Cumnins bill went to the president
in the closing hours of congress, ana ne
was forced to a choice between the cnaos
of veto and acQuiescence IN the meas
ure submitted, however grave may nave
been his objections to it.
There should be fair and complete
test of the law until careful ana mature
action by congress may cure its de1ects
and insure a thoroughly effective trans
portation system under private owner
ship without government subsidy at the
expense of the taxpayers of the country.
Improved Highways.
Improved roads are of vital Importance
not only to commerce and industry put
also to agricultural life. The federal road
act of 1916, enacted by Democratc con
gress, represented the first systematic Ell
fort of the government to insure the
building of an adequate system OF ROADS
in this country. The act, as amended, mas
resulted in placing the movement for I'M
proved highways in progressive and
substantial basis in every state IN me
Union and in bringing under actual con-
struction more than 1900 miles OF ROADS
suited to the traffic needs OF the COM
munities in which they are located.
We favor continuance OF the present
federal aid plan under existing federal
and state agencies, amended so as TO IN
cude as one of the elements In deter
lining the ratio in whichsthe several states
shall be entitled to- share in the FUND,
the area of public lands therein
Rural Free Delivery.
Inasmuch as the postal service has been
extended by the Democratic party to the
door of practically every producer ana
every consumer in the country eru5ai ffee
delivery alone having been provided for
100000 additional patrons within the past
eight years without material added cost,
we declare that this fundamentally can
and will be used to the maximum OF It's
capacity to improve the efficiency of dis
tribution and reduce the cost of living. to
consumers and increasing the profitable
operations of producers
Merchant Marine.
We desire to congratulate the American
people upon the rebirth of our merchant
marine. which once more maintains its
former place in the world. 1t was under
a Democratic administration that this
was accomplished after seventy 6So years OF
having been constructed since the act
was passed in 1916. We pledge the policy
of our party to the continued growth OF
our merchant marine under proper flegtS-
lation so that American products will be
carried to all ports of the world by YES
sells built in American yards. flying the
American flag.
Inland Waterways.
We cali attention to the failure of the
national convention to reC02-
nize in any way the rapid development of
barge transportation on our inland wa
terWays, which development Is the result
of the constructive policies OF the Demo-
cratic administration. And we pledge our
selves to the further development Of ade-
uuate transportation facilities on our riv-
ers and to the furtner Improvement OF
our inland waterways, and we recognize
the Importance of connecting the Great
Lakes with the sea by way of the Mis-
sissippi river and it's tributaries, as well
as by the st. Lawrence river
Transportation remains an increasingly
vital problem in the continued develop
ment and prosperity of the nation. Our
present facilities Tor distributor py rali
transportation by water is imperative
We therefore favor liberal and compre
hensive policy for the development and
utilization of our harbors and interior
Flood Control.
We commend the Democratic congress
for the redemption of the pledge contained
in our last platform By the passage of
the flood contol act Of March /, 1917, and
point to the successful control of the
floods Of the Mississippi river and the Sac
ramento river. California, under the pol
icy of that law, for its complete Justifica-
ton We favor the extension of this pol
icy to other flood control problems wher-
ever the federal interest involved justi-
fies the expenditure required,
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
By wise legislation and progressive adj
ministration, we nave transformed the
government reclamation projects, repre-
senting an investment of 500, 100000, from
a condition of impending failure and loss
of confidence in the ability of the govern
ment to carry through sucn large enter
prises to a condition of demonstrated sue
cess, whereby formerly arid and wholly
unproductive lands now sustain 40 600 pros
porous families and have an annual crop
production of over GOO, not including
the CROPS grown on a million acres OUT
side the projects supplied with storage
water from government works.
We favor ample appropriations for the
continuation and extension of this great
work of home building and internal i'm
provement along the same general lines
to the end that all practical projects shall
be built, and waters now running to waste
shall be made to provide homes and add
to the food supply, power resources and
taxable property, with the government ul-
timately reimbursed for the entire out
lay.
The Democratic party heartily indorses
the creation and work Of the federal trade
commission In establishing fair field for
competitive business, free from restraints
of trade and monopoly, and recommends
modification of the statutes governing its
activities so as to grant it authority to
prevent the unfair use of patents in re-
straint of trade
Live Stock Markets.