The Rice belt journal., 1920-07-10
DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL
PLATFORM

san FRANCISCO, July Z.-Ine reSOIu"
tions committee draft of the platform
was adopted by the Democratic nation
al convention without change. The
document is as follows:
The Democratic party, in its national
convention now assembled sends greet
ings to the president of the United States,
Woodrow Wilson, and halls with patriotic
pride the great achievements for country
and the world wrought by Democratic
administration under his leadership.
1t SaluteS the mighty people or tnlS
great republic, emerging with imperish-
able honor from the severe tests and
grievous strains of the most tragic war
In history having earned the plaudlts
and gratitude Of all free nations.
1t declares its adherence to the funda-
mental progressive principles OF social
economic and industrial justice and ad-
vance and purposes to resume the great
work of translating these principles into
effective laws, begun and carried far by
the Democratic administration and inter-
rupted 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 suTest, If not
the only, practicable means of maintain
ing the permanent peace of the world
and terminating the inSufferable burden
of great military and naval establish
ments. 1t was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to crush q
colossal scheme of conquest.
1t was upon this basis that the presi-
dent of the United States, in prearrange-
ysN 4
pension of hOstilities against the imperial
German government; the armistice was
granted and treaty of peace negotiated
upon the definite assurance to Germany, as
well as TO the powers pitted against Ger
many, that "a general association of ma
tons must be formed, under specific COW
enants, for the purpose of affording mu-
tual guarantees of political independence
and territorial integrity to great and
small states alike"
Hence we not only congratulate the
president on the vision manifested and
the Vigor exhibited in the prosecution Of
the war, but We felicitate him and his
associates on the exceptional achieve
ments at Paris involved in the adoption
OF league and treaty so near akin to
previously expressed American ideals and
so intimately related to the aspirations
of civilized peoples everywhere.
We commend the president for his cour-
age and his high conception Of good faith
in steadfastly standing for the covenant
agreed TO by all the associated and allied
nations at war with Germany, and we
the Republican senate for its
refusal to ratify the treaty merely be-
cause it was the product of Democratic
craftsmanship, thus interposing partisan
envy and personal hatred in the way Of
the peace and renewed prosperity Of the
world.
BY every accepted standard Of inter-
morality the president Is justi-
ned in asserting that the honor OF the
country is involved in this business; and
we point to the accusing fact that, before
1t was determined to initiate political an
tagonism to the treaty the now Repub-
lican chairman Of the senate foreign re-
ladons committee himself publicly pro-
claimed that any proposition for a sepa-
rate peace with Germany, such as he
and his party associates thereafter re-
ported to the senate, would make us
guilty Of the blackest crime
On May Is last the Knox substitute for
Republican senate; and this convention
can contrive no more fitting characterize
ton OF its obloquy than that made In the
Forum Magazine Of December, 1913, by
Henry Cabot Lodge when he said:
III we send our armies and young men
abroad TO be killed and wounded in north
ern France and Flanders with no result
but this, our entrance into war with such
an intention was crime which nothing
can Justify"
The intent Of congress and the intent
Of the president was that there could be
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war as this could recur.
We cannot make peace except In COM
pany with our allies. 1t would brand US
with everlasting dishonor and bring ruin
to us also II we undertook to make a sep
arate Deace"