The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-25
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

following interesting comment re-
garding the Democratic platform that
will be adopted next week in San
Francisco:
No one is in position to announce in
advance the subjects that will be
treated in the Democratic platform to
be written at San Francisco, but |
venture to submit an outline with the
reasons that lead me to believe that
the subjects mentioned will receive
consideration.
First-The national administration
will be endorsed and the splendid &C.
onomic reforms secured will be enum-
Grated and emphasized. They consti-
tute an unparalleled record of ac-
complishment. The conduct of the
war will be praised. Mistakes of
course were made, but they were over
Swallowed by colossal achievements
that astounded Europe, and even as
founded ourselves.
Second--The treaty will present an
issue. The party stood together in
favor of ratification without reserva-
tons, as long as that seemed posi-
BILE. When it was demonstrated that
ratification without reservations was
impossible, the Democratic Senators
divided into two groups--the mem
bers of one group, % in number, more
interested in the treaty and the
League of Nations than in the phrase
ology of the reservations, joined with
81 Republicans to secure ratification
with reservations, while 20 Democrats,
preferring defeat of the treaty and
the League of Nations, or at least de-
lay, to acceptance of the proposed
reservations, joined II irreconcilable
foes of the treaty to prevent ratfica-
ton. Unless a compromise is reach
ed before June 28, the convention will
endorse the course pursued by the
%, or the course pursued by the 20.
The overwhelming opposition to the
policy of ratification without reserva-
tons, as shown by the vote at the
primaries, will probably defeat any eff
the campaign. An easy way out is to
pledge the party to an amendment to
the constitution providing for ratifi- |
cation of treaties by a MAJORITY |
vote. The Republicans would un-
doubtedly support such an amend
ment, and, both parties accepting it, |
the Senate could ratify the treaty
with reservations already agreed up |
on, and take it out of the campaign, |
leaving any needed changes to be
made afterward in the League.
Third--In this connection, it is like
ly that the convention will declare in
favor Of cloture rule in the Senate
g majority to close debate
and proceed to vote. 1t was a plat
form declaration by the Democratic
of 1908 that put an end to
Cannonism in the House of Represen-
tatives, and it is time to take another
step toward democracy.
Fourth-The convention is quite
sure to declare against universal COM
pulsory military training. The Demo-
cratic caucus in the House condemned |
it by vote of LOG to II, and a poll |
of the Senate showed nearly as large |
a percentage of the Democrats of |
that body against it.. The demand for |
economy, growing more and more in
sistent, strengthens the opposition to
the expenditure of seven hundred mil
lions year in preparations for war,
while the peace sentiment of the coun-
try revolts against a system based on
the theory that war is a necessary
part Of civilization.
Fifth-The profiteer will receive
particular attention, especially if the
issue is accentuated by failure of the
to deal with the question
satisfactorily. Some party must take
the peoples side against the middle
men, and the Democratic party is in
a better position than the Republican
party to do so, because the latter con-
tains most of the profteers.
The following remedies have been
increasing in severely:
First, A trade commission in each
state and each community empowered
10 investigate; second, the disclosure
Of profit on each article sold, and,
third limitation of profits, as in the
,ase of interest on loans.
The convention is likely to deal with
he profiteer also in dealing with the
soldiers bonus, which can be most cas-
ly collected by tax on war profits.
Sixth-The convention will have to
leal with the subject of private mo-
iopoiy.
1t is the most permanent. domestic
ssue and the beneficiaries of all the
,avor-seeking corporations are mass
ng under Republican leadership to
oppose government ownership in any
ind every form. The Democratic par
y must ultimately become the cham
,ion of government ownership of all
NATURAL MONOPOLIES but the
controlled press has so
grossly misrepresented the experience
# the government under war control
hat the opponents OF, private monop-
'ly may have to content themselves
With holding the ground already oc-
upied, leaving the advance to be made
" future conventions. But the Demo-
ratio convention will at least reiter-
tie the doctrine already embodied in
our national platforms; namely, that
private monopoly is indefensible and
ntolerable.
Seventh--The labor question will
'eceive the attention due it. The
Democratic party will insist upon the
oilers right to equal treatment. He
S not only a citizen but he is an in
mart of our industrial ma