Evening star., 1924-07-06


CLEVELAND. July 5.-The text of
the platform of the Conference for Pro-
gressive Political Action follows:
For 14S years the American peo-
pie have been seeking to establish
government for the service of all and
to prevent the establishment of
government for the mastery of the
must combat renewed efforts of Or
ganized force and greed to destroy
liberty. Every generation must wage
new war for freedom against new
forces that seek through new devices
to enslave mankind.
Under our representative Democ-
racy the people protect their liberties
through their public agents.
THE test Of public officials and pub
lie policies alike must be: VIII they
serve or will they exploit the COM
mon need?
The reactionary continues to put
his faith in mastery for the solution
of all problems. He seeks to have
what he calls the strong men and
best minds rule and impose their
decisions upon the masses of their
Wants Greater Service.
THE progressive, on the contrary,
contends for less autocracy and more
democracy in government and for
less power of privilege and greater
obligations of service.
Under the principle of ruthless in
dividualism and competition that gov
eminent is deemed best which offers
la o ha Of in
dividuaI gain.
Under the Progressive principle of
cooperation that government is
deemed best which offers to the many
the highest level of average happi-
ness and well being.
Laws of Compensation.
1T is our faith that We all go up
are temporary delusions. and that
eternal laws of compensation make
every man his brothers keeper.
In that faith we present our pro-
gram of public service:
""G) The use of the power of the
federal government to crush private
monopoly, not to foster it.
"(2) Unqualified enforcement of
the constitutional guarantees of
freedom of speech. press and as
semblage.
"(3) Public. ownership OF the ma
public superpower system. Strict
public control and permanent con-
servation of all natural resources.
including coal. iron and other ores,
oil and timber lands, in the inter-
est of the people. Promotion of pub
lie works in times of business de-
preston.
Retention of Surtaxes.
"(D Retention of surtaxes on
auy
tax on excess profits, taxation OF
to evade taxes, rapidly progressive
taxes on large estates and inher-
itances and repeal of excessive tariff
duties. especially on trust-controlled
necessities of life and of nuisance
taxes on consumption to relieve the
people of the present unjust burden
Of taxation and compel those who
profited by the war to pay their
share of the wars cost, and to pro-
vide the funds for adjusted compen-
Grams of the world war.
"(5) Reconstruction of the federal
reserve and federal farm loan sys-
TENS to provide for direct public
control of the nations money and
credit to make it available on fair
terms to ali, and national and state
legislation to permit and promote
cooperative banking.
Right to Organise.
"(6) Adequate laws to guarantee
to farmers and industrial workers
the right to organize and bargain
collectively through representatives
of their own choosing for the main
tenance or improvement of their
standards of life.
"T) Creation Of government
marketing corporation to provide a
direct route between farm producer
and city consumer and to assure
farmers fair prices for their products
and protect consumers from the
profiteers in foodstuffs and. other
necessaries of life. Legislation to
control the meat packing industry.
"(S) Protection and aid of CO.
operative enterprises by national and
state legislation.
"(9) Common international action
to effect the economic recovery OF
the world from the effects Of the
world war.
"Uo) Repeal Of the Cummins-
Esch law. Public ownership OF rail-
roads. with democratic. operation.
with safeguards against bureau
cratic control.
"(11) Abolition Of the tyranny and
usurpation Of the courts, including
the practice of nullifying legislation
in conflict with the political, social
or economic theories of the judges.
Abolition of injunctions in labor dis
putes and of the power to punish
for contempt without trial by jury.
Election of all federal judges with
out party designation for limited
terms.
"Q2) Prompt ratification of the
child labor amendment and subse-
Quent enactment Of q federal law to
nrotect children In tnduttrK Re.