The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-07
LaFOllette Group Demands
Tax on Excess Profits,
Stock Dividends, Etc.
FOR MARKET AGENCY
F'avOrs Creation of Govern
ment- Owned Agency as an
Agricultural Aid
Text of the platform adapted at
the Cleveland convention which NOM
mated Senator LaFoilette follows:
Preamble


the service of all and to prevent the
establishment of a government for
the mastery of the few. Free men OF
every generation must combat re-
newed efforts Of organized force and
greed to destroy liberty. Every gen
Grafton must wage new war Tor
freedom against new forces that seek
through new devices to enslave man
kind.
racy the people protect their l'ber-
ties through their public agents.
The test of public officials and pub
lie policies alike must be: Will they
serve US 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 de-
cisions on the masses Of their weaker
brethren.
The progressive, on the contrary,
contends for less autocracy and more
democracy in government and Tor less
power Of privilege and greater obi
cation of service.
Under the principle Of ruthless
individualism and competition, that
government is deemed best which
offers to the few the greatest chance
of individual gain.
Under the progressive principle of
cooperation that government is
deemed best which offers to the
many the hi/est of average happi-
ness and we'll being.
1t is our faith that we all go up or
down together-that class gains are
temporary decisions and that eternal
laws of compensation make every
man his brothers keeper.
Program
In that faith we present our pro-
gram of public force:
/. 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 assemblage.
3. Public ownership of the nations
water power and creation of public
superpower system. Strict pubic
control and permanent conservation
of all natural resources, including
coal, iron and other ores, oil and
timber lands, in the interest Of the
people. Promotion of public works
in times of business depression.
4. Retention of surfaces on swoi-
len incomes, restoration of the tax
on excess profits, taxation of stock
dividends, profits undistributed to
evade taxes, rapidly progressive taxes
on large estates and inheritances, and
repeal of excessive tariff duties, es-
pecially on trust-cOntrolled necessl'
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
costs, and to provide the fund:
for adjusted compensation solemn!
pledged to the veterans of the Worle
war.
S. Reconstruction of the Fedora
Reserve and Federal Farm Loan sys
TENS to provide for direct public con
troll of the nations money and credi
to make it available on fair terms t
all. and national and state Legislation
to permit and promote cooperative
banking.
6. Adequate laws to guarantee t.
farmers and industrial workers tn
right to organize and bargain col
lectively through representatives O
their own choosing for the mairten
ance or improvement of their stand
ards of life.
7. Creation of government mar
keting corporation to provide direc
route between farm producer and cit
consumer and to assure farmers tai
prices for their products, and protec
consumers from the pr0fiteers i
foodstuffs and other necessaries
life. Legislation to control the meat
packing industries.
8. Protection and aid of cooper
alive enterprises by national an
state legislation.
9. Common international action t
effect the economic recovery Of tn
world from the effects of the WOrl
-
war.
10. Repeal of the Esch Cummin
law. public ownership of railroad
with democratic operation, wit
definite safeguards against burea,
cratic control.
IL. Abolition of the tyranny an
usurpation of the courts, includin
the practice Of multiplying legislatio
in conflict with the political, social I
economic theories Of the judge
- Abolition Of injunctions in labor di
putes and of the power to punish f
contempt without trial by jury. Ele
ton Of all federal judges witho'
party designation for limited terms
II. Prompt ratification of the chi
labor amendment and subsequent e.
actmsnt Of federal law to prote
children in industry. Removal of
sal determinations against women
nsessures not prejudieial to legisl
tion necessary for the protection
women and for the advancement
social welfare. !.
IS. i deep Waterway from q
Great Lakes to the SEA.
IL. We dsnounee the mercena
sSvstem Of degraded foreign poll
nnser recent admipistrations in {
iItsrSsfs Of hnaAcisl impsrialists,
4 Isnopolists ana {gtefpstionai ban
III 49, si u "a 4
~ ASDaftmAnt 11em 10 ~