Evening star., 1924-06-11
Return of Government to People
Demanded in La Toilette Platform
Public OiUnerstp of Rails and Waterp0,cer, Curb
on Courts, ReUision of Peace Treaty
Are Urged.

cleaning in the Department of Jus
/ tice, the Department OF the Interior
and the other executive departments.
We demand that the power OF the
| federal government be used to crush
private monopoly, not to foster it
2. We pledge recovery of the NaVy's
oil reserves and all other parts of
ifraudulently or illegally passed, or
otherwise wrongfully transferred, to
the control of the private interests;
vigorous prosecution of all public Of
icials, private citizens and corpora
tions that participated in these trans
actions; complete revision of the
| water-power act the general leasing
act and all other legislation relating
to the public domain. We favor pub
lie ownership of the nations water
power and the creation and develop
ment of a national superwater power
system, and strict public control and
permanent conservation Of all the ma
uon's resources, including coal, iron
and other ores, oil and timber lands
in the interest of the people.
| 5. We favor repeal of the ESch-
ICummins' railroad law and the fixing
OF railroad rates upon the basis of
actual, prudent investment and cost
of service. We declare for public
ownership of railroads with definite
Safeguards against bureaucratic con-
troll as the only final solution of the
transportation problem.
Favor Tax Reduction.
4. We favor reduction of federal
! taxes upon individual incomes and
legitimate business, limiting tax ex-
actions strictly to the requirements
of the government administered with
rlgld economy, particularly by cur
tallment of the $500, 0,000,0 900 now an
nually expended for the Army and
Navy in preparation for future wars;
by the recovery of the hundreds of
millions stolen from the Treasury
through fraudulent war contracts
and the corrupt leasing OF the public
resources, and by diligent action to
collect the accumulated interest upon
the $l1,000,0 200, 900 owing US by for
efgn governments.
We denounce the Mellon tax plan
as a device to relieve nulti-mil-
lianaires at the expense Of other tax
payers and favor a taxation policy
providing for immediate reductions
upon moderate incomes. large in
creases in the inheritance tax rates
upon large estates to prevent the
indefinite accumulation by inheritance
or great fortunes in few hands;
taxes upon excess profits to penalize
9nder proper safeguards, of all
| federal tax returns.
b. We favor submitting to the
people for their considerate judgment
a CONSTITUTIONAL amendment provid-
statute make it effective over a
| judicial veto.
We favor such amendment to the
constitution as may be necessary TO
provide for the election of all federal
judges, without party designation,
for fixed terms not exceeding ten
years. by direct vote of the people.
9. We favor drastic reduction of
provided in the ney-McCumber
tariff legislation, the prohibiting of
gambling by spectators and prof
lteers in agricultural products: the
reconstrucuon of the federal reserve
and federal farm loan systems, so as
TO eliminate control by usurers,
SPECTATORS and international finan-
ciers, and to make the credit of the
nation available upon fair terms to
business men. farmers and home
builders. We favor such further
legislation as may be needful or
helpful in promoting and protecting
cooperative enterprises, and demand
that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission proceed forthwith to reduce
by an approximation to pre-war
levels the, present freight rates on
agricultural products. including live
stock, and upon the materials re-
quired upon American farms for
agricultural purposes.
Z. We favor abolition Of the use of
in1unctlons in labor disputes and de-
right of farmers and industrial work.
ers to organize, bargain collectively.
and conduct without hindrance CO.
prompt ratification Of the th pendioF IaHoe
child labor amendment to the Consti-
tuition.
8. We favor adjusted compensation
for the veterans of the late war, not
as charity, but as a matter of right
and we demand that the money nee
essary to meet this obligation of the
government be raised by taxes laid
upon wealth in proportion to the
ability to pay, and declare our opposi-
tion to the sales tax or any other
device to shift this obligation onto
the backs of the poor in higher prices
and increased cost of living.
9. We favor a deep waterway from
the great lakes to the sea. The gov
ernment should, in conjunction with
Canada, take immediate action to
give the northwestern states an out
change in bulk. thus making the pri-
mary markets on the great lakes
equal TO those of New York.
10. Over and above constitutions
is the supreme sovereignty of the
people, and with them should rest
the final decision of all great ques-
tions of national policy. We favor
such amendments to the federal Con-
stitution as may be necessary to
provide for the direct nomination and
election Of the President. to extend
the initiative and referendum to the
federal government and to insure
popular referendum for or against
war except in cases of actual in
.vasion.
IL. We denounce the mercenary
system of degraded foreign policy
under recent administ rations in the
interests of financial impe rialists oil
monopolists and international bank
ers which has at times degraded our
Department Of State from it's high
service as a strong and kindly in
termediary Of defenseless govern
ments to a trading outpost for those
interests and concession seekers en-
gagged in the exploitation of weaker
nations, as contrary to the will OF
the American people, destructive Of
domestic development and provoca-
tive of war We favor active for
eign policy to bring about a revision
of the Versailles treaty in accordance
with the terms of the arnistice and
to promote firm treaty agreements
with all nations to outlaw wars,
abolish conscription. drastically re-
ducc, land, air and naval, armaments.
and guarantee public refere ndum Oh
peace and war.