Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-07-10

aIu OF law and appropriation neCeS-
saTy 10 full and effective operation.
We believe that no higher or mor..
saLued privilege can be afforded to an
american citizen than TO become
GGt,eenoIdtr IN the soil Of the United
states. and to that end We pledge our
party 10 the enactment OF soldier set
Elements and home aid legislation
Whlch Will afford to the men who
fought for America the opportunity 10
become land and home owners under
conditions affording genuine govern
ment assistance unIucumbered by
needless difficulties of red tape or ad-
vance financial Investment
The Railroads.
The railroads were subjected to fed
eral control as war measure without
other idea than Ia" swift transport =
troops munitions and supplies. When
human LIE and national hopes were at
stake, profits could not De considered.
and were not. Federal operation. how
ever. was marked by an intelligence
anu einclency thai minimIZed loss and
resulted In MANI and marked reforms.
Inc equipment taken over was not
only grossly Inadequate. but shame
tulIE outworn. UnItcatiOn practices
ONercame these initial handiCaps and
provided additions. betterments and
improvements. Economies enabled OBJ
GRAFTON without the rate raises that
private control would have found
Necessary. and labor was treated
with an exact justice that secured the
enthusiastic cooperation that victory
demanded. The fundamental purpose
or federal control was achieved fully
and splendidly and at far less cost
TO the taxpayer than would have
been the case under private operation
investments In railroad properties were
not only saved by government operation
but government mana cement returned
these properties vastly improved in ev-
cry physical and executive detail. A great
task was greatly discharged.
The presidents recommendation Of re-
turn to private ownership gave the Re
publican majority fun year in which
10 enact the necessary legislation. The
house took six months 10 formulate its
Ideas and another six months was con-
sumed by the Republican senate in equal
ly vague debate. AS a consequence. the
Esch- Cummins bill went, to the president
in the closing hours OF congress, and he
was forced 10 choice between the chaos
OF veto and acQuiescence in the meas
ure submitted, however grave may have
been his objections to it.
There should be a fair and complete
test OF the law until careful and mature
action by congress may cure its defects
and insure 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 but
also to agricultural life. The federal road
act Of 1916, enacted by a Democratic con-
greSS, represented the 1lrSt systematic Ell
fort OF the government to insure the
building OF an adequate system OF roads
In this country. The act as amended, has
resulted in placing the movement for i'm
proved highways in progressive and
substantial basis in every state in the
Union and in bringing under actual con-
struction more than 1900 miles OF roads
suited to the traflc needs Of the COM
munities in which they are located
We favor a continuance Of the present
federal aid plan under existing federal
and state agencies. amended so as to in
clude as one Of the elements In deter
lining the ratio In which the several states
shall be entitled to share in the fund.
the area Of public lands therein.
Rural Free Delivery.
Inasmueh az the postal service has been
extended by the Democratic party to the
door OF practically every producer and
delivery alone having been provided for
5000, 900 additional patrons within the past
eight years without material added cost.
We declare that this fundamentally can
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 II was under
Democratic administration that this
was accomplished after seventy years OF
having been CONSTRUCTED since the act
was passed In 1915 We pledge the policy
of our party 10 the continued growth of
our merchant marine under proper iegis-
iation 90 that American products will be
carried TO all ports of the world by YES
sells built in american yards. flying the
American nag
Inland Waterway.
We call attention to the failure of the
Republican national convention to recog.
niEe 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
ouate TRANSPORTATION facilities on our riv-
ers and to tho further 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 its tributaries, as we'll
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 for distribution by rail
are inadequate and the promotion OF
transportation by water Is imperative.
We therefore favor a liberal and compre-
hensive policy for the development and
utilization Of our harbors and interior
waterways
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
lev of that law, for its complete justinca-
ton. We favor the extension of this pol
icy to other flood control problems wher
ever the federal interest involved tusti-
fes the expenditure required.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
Rv wise LEGISLATION and progressive ad-
ministration, We have transformed the
government reclamation projects. repre-
senting an investment OF S00,0000O0. from
a condition of impending failure and loss
of confidence in the ability OF the govern
ment TO carry through such large enter
prises to a condition of demonstrated sue
cess, whereby formerly arid and wholly
unproductive lands now sustain 1000 pros
perous families and have an annual crop
PRODUCTION of over sc. 000. 00O 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
he 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.
Tho Trade Commission.
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
amplifcation OF the statutes governing its
| activities 80 as to grant II authority to
| prevent the unfair use of patents in re-
| straint of trade.