The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-22
.CAROLINIANS
ADOPT PLATFORM
Unqualified Approval of Peace
Treaty and League of Ma
tons Included

The Democracy of South Carolina,
in convention assembled, reaffirnas It's
allegiance to the principles of the1
party announced by Jefferson and SO
ably represented by the leadership OF
Woodrow Wilson. #
We extend our congratulations TO
the President and to the world satI
large, upon his restoration TO heaiJn,
and we wish for him many years or
happiness and vigor. Te him stricken
down in his splendid efforts to achieve
Ia permanent peace for the world ana
the happiness of mankind, we pledge.
our minds and resources to bring
about the full fruition Of his hopes
and magnificent work. In the leader
ship of woodrow Wilson the world has
been given an example Of self-sacrl-
fee, unselfish devotion to duty and
love of his fellow men never surpass-;
ed in the political history of nations.
We affirm our unqualified approval
of the treaty of Versailles and the
league of nations provided for there
in. and we condemn as unwise and as
unpatriotic the attitude of those sena-
tors who defeated its ratification
either directly or by Overwhelming. it
with reservations that are intended to
and will have the effect Of nullifying
lit The stand of the Republican lead
ers in refusing to pe-lnit its ratif1ca-
of America and places them in the
attitude OF having betrayed the honor
of their, country before the world. We
Ibelieye that this treaty with the
league of nations, is the only means
l.by which a lasting peace and the lib
i5erties of the weak and oppressed. ma
tons of the world can be preserved
The refusal to allow this country to
Eenter into the league of nations means
fthe preservation of militarism, which
we regard not only as ungodly but as
absolutely destructive Of the CONNER
cial, economic and spiritual welfare
Eof mankind, and we demand that our
representatives in congress use every
means in their power to-, defeat Such
measures as universal and compulsory
military training Of our young men.
We rejoice that in this time: Of world
! crisis the Democracy of America has
! been able to give to the United States
rand to the world leader through
Ewhose wisdom and courage there @YaS
perfected a plan which found uRiver-
fsal commentator from. men of all
parties, including many of the fore
most leaders of the Republican party
! in the United States. until a vicious
1 partisanship led them to repudiate
| the high principles which they. them
selves, beforehand had expressed and
| Endorsed.
As citizens of America, a country
which in the great war played part
that will be always viewed by her
citizens with just pride, we view with
the deepest humiliation the change of
front on the. part Of these men who
sought to destroy Woodrow Wilson
and detract from the achievements Of
the Democratic party and who were
willing, not only to repudiate the views
which they, themselves, had former
t " held but also trifle with the good
faith of their country and put at haz-
ard the destinies of the world.
We commend the action of. the
ESouth Carolina and Southern Legion in
opposing the bonus and express our
approval and declare that we are
heartily in favor of the most liberal
appropriation to those who were dis
abled and their dependents.
Evils of Republican Rule.
/; When the Democratic party came
into power in 1913 under the leader
iship of Woodrow Wilson, it found the
nation in a, condition Of comparative
Industrial and commercial depression.
I it's financial system not functioning.
land the banking system Of the coun-
try in the hands Of few men at whose
will panics periodically occurred.
with ominous frequency, causing
bankruptcy and ruin, stopping the
wheels Of industry and deterrng en-
! terprise Farmers were denied rea-
sonable scredit for the prosecution Of
their business by the local banks; spe-
! cial interests were ciamoring for even
more power than that long exercised
/ by them These and other ills had en-
listed for sixteen years under the Re-
publican rule, without any relief.
During the seven years of Demo-
cratic government more, constructive
legislation has been enacted for the
good of the entire nation than during
the so years of Republican mis-
government. We,call attention to the
/! following:
The abolition Of the robber tariff
law that made paupers of our farm
ers.
The progressive income tax that
made the rich bear a just proportion
/ of taxes. taking the burden from the
backs OF the producers.
The farmers loan act. that enabled
farmers to obtain cheap money, on long
/ time through non-taxable farm loan
bonds thus compelling land mort
gage banks to lower the rate of in
terest.
Help For Farmers.
The Smith-Lever agricultural extern
sion act putting the services of the