The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-07-02
DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM
AS Submitted to the Ma
tional Convention
for Action
DEBATE ON PLANKS
EXPECTED TO BE LONG
Favor League of Nations
Without Much Modi-
fication

The Democratic party, In its nation
al convention now assembled sends
greetings to the president of the United
States. Woodrow Wilson, and halls
with patriotic pride the great achieve
ments for country and the world
brought by a Democratic administra
ton under his leadership.
1t salutes the mighty people of this
great republic, emerging with imperish-
able honor, from the severe tests and
grievious strains of the most tragic
war in history, having earned the
plaudits aud the gratitude of all free
nations.
II declares it's adherence to the fun
damental progressive principles of So
eial, economic and industrial justice
and advance, and purposes to resume
the great work of 'translating these
principles into effective laws, begun
and carried far by the Democratic adj
ministration and interrupted 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, if not
the only practicable means of obtain
ing the permanent peace of the world
and terminating the insufferable bur
den of great military and naval estab-
lishments. 1t was for this that Ameri-
ca broke away from traditional isola-
ton and spent her blood and treasure
to crush colossal scheme of con
quest. 1t was upon this basis that
the president of the United States, in
pre- arrangement with our allies, con-
scented to a suspension of hostilitles
against the imperial German govern
ment. the armistice and granted a
treaty of peace negotiated upon the
definite assurance to Germany, RS well
as to the powers pitted against Ger
many, that "a general association of
nations must be formed, under specific
covenants for the purpose OF afford
ing mutual guarantees OF political IN
dependence and territorial integrity to
great and small states alike Hence we
not only congratulate the president on
vision manifested and the vigor exhib-
tied in the prosecution of the war: but
we felicitate him and his associates on
the exceptional achievements at Paris
involved in the adoption of a league
and treaty SO near akin to previously
American ideals and so init.
mately related to the aspirations of
civilized peoples everywhere.
We commend the president for his
and his high conception of
good faith in steadfastly standing for
The covenant agreed to by all the asset
dated and allied nations at war with
Germany. and we condemn the Republl-
IAN Senate for its refusal to ratify the
treaty merely because it was the prod
net of Democratic craftsmanship, thus
partisan envy and personal
hatred in the way Of the peace and re-
newed prosperity OF the world
By every accepted standard of inter
national morality the president is just
fed in asserting that the honor of the
is involved in this business:
md we point To the accusing fact that
before it was determined to initiate po-
itical antagonism TO the treaty, the
now Republican chairman OF the Sen
lte foreign relations committee, him
self publicly proclaimed that any prop
lsition for a separate peace with Ger
many, such as he and his party asso-
,iates thereafter reported to the Sen
ate would make up guilty Of the
blackest crime
On May 18th last the Knox substi-
tute for the Versailles treaty WAS
passed by the Republican Senate; and
his convention can contrive no more
fitting Characterization of its obloqy
han that made in the Forum Maya
zine 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 northern France and Flanders with
no result but this, our entrance into
war with such an intention was n
rhine which nothing can justify
The intent of Congress and the intent
~ the president was that there could
be no peace until we could create a sit
lation, where no such war as this could
-ecur. We cannot make peace except
in company with our allies. 1t would
brand MS with everlasting dishonor
and bring ruin to US also If we under
took to make a separate peace.
Thus 10 that which Mr.. Ledge. in
,aner moments, considered the black
ast crime" he and his party in mad
ness sought to give the sanctity of law;
hat which IS months ago was Of ever
lasting dishonor." the Republican party
and its candidates to-day accept as the
essence of faith.
We endorse the presidents view Of
nur international obligations and his
firm stand against reservations de-
signed to cut to pieces the vital provi-
,ions of the Versailles treaty and We
the Democrats in Congress
for voting against resolutions for sep
arate peace which would disgrace the
nation. We advocate the immediate
Of the treaty without reser-
walton which would impair it, essential
integrity: but do not oppose the accept
ance of any reservations making clear
r. or more specific the obligations Of
The United States to the league asso-
rates only BY doing this may We re-
trieve the reputation Of this nation
among the powers Of the earth and re
rover the moral leadership which
President Wilson won and which Re
publican politicians at Washington sac
rifccd- Only by doing this may we
hope to aid effectively in the restors
lion Of order throughout the World and
10 take the place which We should a.
sune in the front rank Of spiritual.
nmmercisl and industrial advance
ment.
We reject as utterly vain. II not
vicious. the Republican assumption