The Washington herald., 1920-07-03
Democratic Platform Indorses
Party Record and Promises
Continuation Of Wilson's Policy
coxrrSu,D FROM PAGE SIX.

bring profiteers before the bar OF
criminal justice.
The Tariff.
we realize the traditional policy
of the Democratic party In favor OF
tariff for revenue only and 10
confirm the policy of basing tarin
reyisions upon the intelligent re-
search of a nonpartisan commis-
sion. rather than upon the demands
of selfish interests. Temporarily
held in allegiance.
Budget.
Tn the interest Of economy and
good administration, we FAVOR the
creation of an effective budget sys,
tenn that will function In accord
with the principles Of the Consttu-
tion The reform should reach poth
the executive and legislative aspeets
Of the question. The supervisor
ara nreparation of the budget should
he vested in the Secretary OF the
treasury as the representative OF the
President. The budget. as sucn'
should not be increased by the Con
rress except by a two-thirds vote
each house, however, being iree 70
exercise its constitutional privilege
OF making appropriations tnrousn
independent bills. The appropria-
tIon bills should be considered oy
s;na,s committees of the House and
senate. The audit system should be
consolidated and its powers expand
cd so as to pass upon the wisdom
of a. we'll as the authority for ex-
penditures-
"A budget bill was passed In the
closing days of the second session
OF the Sixty-sixth Congress which.
invalidated by plain Constitutional
defects and defaced by considera-
tions of patronage. the President
WAS Obliged to veto. ThI House
, amended the bill to meet the execu-
, tive objection. We condemn the Re
publican Senate for adjourning with
out passing the amended measure
when by devoting an hour or two
more to this urgent public business
a budget system could nave Deen
provided.
senate Rules.
We favor such alteration OF tne
rules of procedure OF the senate OF
the United States as will permit the
nromn, transaction Of the nations
legislative business.
Agricultural Interests.
To the great agricultural inter-
ests of the country the Democratic
party does not fnd IL necessary 10
max, romises. 1t already. is rich
in its records of things actually ac-
complished. For nearly hsh CEN
tury of Republican rule not SEN
tence was written into the Federal
statutes affording one dollar OF
bank credits to the farming inter-
ests of America. In the first term
oA nj iGfrafi0n
the national bank act was so al
tered as TO authorize loans of five
years maturity on improved farm
lands. Later was established a sys-
tenn of farm loan banks, from which
the borrowings already exceed s3OO,-
O0O, 600, and under which the inter-
est rate to farmers has been so ma
terially reduced as to drive out or
business the farm loan sharks who
formerly subsisted by extortfon
upon the great agricultural inter-
ests OF the country.
Thus. IL was a Democratic Con-
gress in the administration of a
Democratic President which enabled
the farmers of America for the first
time to obtain credit upon reason
able terms and insured their oppor-
tunity for the future development
of the nations agricultural re-
sources. Tied up in Supreme Court
proceedings in a suit by hostile in
terests, the Federal farm loan sys-
tenn. originally opposed by the Re-
publican candidate for the Presi-
dency, appealed in vain to a Re-
publican Congress for adequate
financial assistance to tide over the
interim between the beginning and
the ending of the current year,
awaiting a final decision of the
highest court on the validity of the
contested act. We pledge prompt
and consistent support and effective
measures to sustain, amplify and
perfect the rural credits statutes
and thus to check and reduce the
growth and course OF farm tenancy.
Not only did the Democratic
party put into effect a great farm
loan system of land mortgage banks
but 1t passed the Smith-Lever agri-
cultural extension act, carrying to
every farmer in every section of the
country, through the medium of
trained experts and by demonstra-
ton farms, the practical knowledge
acquired by the Federal Agricultu-
raj Department in all things relating
ito agriculture, horticulture and ami
NAL life; il established the bureau
OF markets, the bureau of farm
management and passed the cotton
futures act, the grain grades bill,
the cooperative farm administra-
tion act and the Federal warehouse
act.
The Democratic party has vastly
improved the rurai mail system and
has built up the parcel post system
to such an extent as to render it's
activities and It's practical service
indispensable to the farming COM
munity. 1t was this wise encourage
ment and this effective concern of
the Democratic party for the farm
ers Of the United States that en-
abled this great interest to render
such essential service in feeding the
armies of America and the allied
nations of the war and succoring
starving populations since armistice
day.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders
at Washington have failed utterly
to propose one single measure to
make rural life more tolerable. They
have signalized their fifteen months
OF congressional power by urging
schemes which would strip the
farms of labor; by assailing the
prfnsiples OF the farm loan system
and seeking to impair its efficiency:
by covertly attempting to destroy
the great nitrogen plant at Muscle
Snoals, upon which the government
has expended 100000 to supply
% American farmers with fertilizers at
reasonable cost; by ruthlessly Grip
ping nearly every branch of agri-