The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-03

several states shall be entitled to share in the fund, the area of any public lands therein.
 Inasmuch as the postal service has been extended by the democratic party to the door of practically every pro- ducer and every consumer in the conn- try (rural free delivery alone having been provided for six million additional patrons within the past eight years without material added cosD, we de- clare that this intrumen tality can ann will be used to the maximum of it's ca lpacity to improve the efficiency of dis tribution and reduce the cost of living to consumers while increasing the proti itable operations of producers.
 We strongly favor the increased use of the motor vehicle in the transporta- l ton of the mails and urge the removal of the restrictions imposed by the re- publican Congress on the use of motor devices in mail transportation in rural territories.
 MERCHANT MARINE We desire to congratulate the Ameri- can people on the rebirth of our mer- chant marine, which once more main- tains it's former place in the world. It was under a democratic administration that this was accomplished after sew enty ayears of indifference and neglect, 1 thirteen million tons having been con- structed since the act was passed in 1916 We pledge the policy of our party to the continued growth of our mer- chant marine under proper legislation so that American products will be car ried to all ports of the world by vessels built in American yards, flying the American flag.
 PORT FACILITIES
 The urgent demands of the war for i adequate transportation of war material, 1 as well as for domestic need, revealed the fact that our port facilities and l rate adjustment were such as to seri- ously affect the whole country in times | of peace as well 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 1 end that there might be adequate and | fair facilities and rates for the mobiliza- | ton of the products of the country of- | fered for shipment
 INLAND WATERWAYS l We call attention to the failure of the | republican national convention to rec ognize in any way the rapid develop ment of barge transportation on our in- | land waterways, which development is | the result of the constructive policies of | the democratic administration. And we l pledge ourselves to the further develop ment of adequate transportation facili- | ties on our rivers and to the further | improvement of our inland waterways | and we recognize the importance of con meeting the Great Lakes with the sea by way of the Mississippi River and it's tributaries, as well as by the St. Law 1 renee River. We favor an enterpris- 1 ing foreign trade policy with all na- | tions and in this connection we favor the full utilization of all Atlantic, gulf 4 and Pacific ports, and equitable dis tribution of shipping facilities between the various ports
 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 oi transportation by water is imperative We, therefore, favor liberal and ccm- prehensive policy for the development and utilization of our harbors and in- terior waterways
 FLOOD CONTROL
 We commend the democratic Congress for the redemption of the pledge cen tained in our last platform by the pas lsage of the flood control act of March | l1917 and point to the successful contro of the floods of the Mississippi river ano the Sacramento river California, unde' the policy of that law, for it's complete justification. We favor the extension o this policy to other flood control proo lems wherever the federal interest Tn ivolved justifies the expenditure required PROCLAMATION OF ARID LANDS | By wise legislation and progressive ad- minstration, we have transferred th' government reclamation projects repre- senting an investment of S100,00O0OO iron a condition of impending failure and loss of confidence in the ability of the go- ternment to carry through such large en' terprses to a condition of demonstrated | success Where formerly arid and wholly unproductive lands now sustain 100" prosperous families and have an annua lcrop production of over s70,00000O, not jn' cluding the crops grown on a million acres outside the projects supplied witi Istorage water from government works.
 We favor ample appropriations for th' continuation and extension of this grea work of homebuilding and internal i'm provement along the same general linc' to the end that all practical projects shai be built and waters now running t' waste shall be made to provide homes ant add to the food supply, power resources and taxable property, with the govern ment ultimately reimbursed for the en tire outlay.
 THE TRADE COMMISSION II The democratic party heartily in dorses the creation and work of thu federal trade commission in establish ing a fair field for competitive busi ness, free from restraints of trade ant monopoly, and recommends amplifica ton of the statutes governing its ac tivities so as to grant it authority t' prevent the unfair use of patents in re l straint of trade.
 LIVE STOCK MARKETS l ba of ipSnrinQ inst a fair treatment in the great interstat live stock market. and thus installing confidence in growers through whicl production will be stimulated and tn price of meats to consumers be ulti mately reduced, we favor the enact ment of legislation for the supervision of such markets by the national gov ernment.
 MEXICO
 1 The United States is the neighbo and friend of the nations of the thre Americas. In very special sense, ou international relations in this hemis phere should be characterized by good will and free from any possible sus picion as to our national purpose
 The administration remembering al ways that Mexico is an independen nation and that permanent stability il her government and her institution could come only from the consent o her own people to the government o their own making, has been unwill ing either to profit by the misfortune [ of the people of Mexico, or to enfeebl their future by imposing from the out side rule upon their temporarily dis