The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-07-04

| Republican Administration has proved
| itself unwilling or unable to redress.
The Democratic party pledges itself
to the following program:
Honest Government
We pledge the Democratic party 10
| drive from public places all who make
barter of our national honor. it's re-
sources or the administration Of its laws;
| to punish those guilty of these offenses.
To put none but the honest in public
| office; to practice economy in the expen-
diture Of public money; to reverence and
respect the rights of all under the Con-
stitution.
To condemn and destroy government
by the spy and the blackmailer. as by
this Republican Administration was both
encouraged and practiced.
League of Nations
The Democratic party pledges all it's
energies to the outlawing of the whole
war system. We refuse to believe that
the wholesale slaughter of human beings
on the battlefield Is any more necessary
to mans highest development than Kill.
ing by individuals.
The only hope for world peace and
for economic recovery lies in the organ
lied efforts of nations combining to re-
move the cause Of war and substituting
law and order for violence.
Under Democratic leadership prac-
teal plan was devised under which thir-
ty-four nations are now operating and
have been for the last four years, while
the United Gtates government for tne
last four years has had no foreign policy
and consequently has delayed the r9sto--
alton Of political and economic conditions
in the world. which has impaired self
y - - A..kE 80.
abroad; has curtailed foreign commerce
and ruined agriculture.
| It is Of supreme Importance to civiliza-
ton and mankind that America be plac-
ed on the right side Of the greatest moral
question Of all times. The Democratic
party declares its principle Of rendering
assistance in the high purpose Of estab-
fishing world peace through the League
of Nations and the world court OF justice.
which 1t recognizes as institutions repre-
senting the supreme effort Of statesman
ship.
Therefore, the Democratic party de-
clares the purpose of the next Admin
istration to do al, in Its power to secure
that moral leadership in the family Of
nations which. in the providence OF COD.
we are called upon to assume.
There is no substitute for the League
Of Nations as an agency operating for
world peace. Therefore we declare. IN
the interest Of peace, that we will es-
tablish a permanent foreign policy under
which these supreme questions may De
settled, not subject to change.
It Is desirable and wise and necessary
to lift this question out of partisan poll
tics and that we take census OF the
American people by referendum cleo
ton. advisory to the Congress, to be
held officially under action of Congress
and free from all contentious political
questions.
Shall the United States become men,
Der of the League Of Nations under such
reservations to the covenant Of the league
as the United States may care to estab-
fish? Immediately upon an affirmative
vote we will carry out such mandate.
Tariff and Taxation
The Fordney- McCumber tariff act is the
most unjust. unscientifc and dishonest
tariff measure ever enacted in our history.
It is class legislation, which defrauds all
the people for the benefit of few. 1t
heavily increases the cost of living. pena-
Lies agriculture, corrupts the govern
ment, fosters paternalism, and in the
long run does not benefit the very inter-
ests for which it was enacted.
We denounce the Republican tariff
laws, which are written in great part
in aid of monopolies, and thus prevent
that reasonable exchange of commodities
which would enable foreign countries to
| buy our surplus agricultural and manu-
| featured products. with resultant benefit
| to the toilers and producers Of America.
| Trade interchange, on the basis OF re-
| ciprocal advantages to the countries par
| ticipating, Is a time-honored doctrine of
Democratic faith. We declare our party s
position to be in favor Of a tax on COM
modities entering the custom houses that
will promote effective competition, protect
against monopoly and at the same time
produce fair revenue to support the
| government.
The greatest contributing factor in the
| increase and unbalancing Of prices is
unscientifc taxation. After having in
| creased taxation and the cost of living
| by two billion dollars. under the Fordney-
McCurnber tariff, all that the Republican
| party could suggest in the way Of relief
was cut of $S00, 000, 900 In direct taxes;
| and that was to be given principally to
those with the largest incomes.
Although there was no evidence Of q
| lack OF capital for investment to meet
the present requirements Of all legitimate
industrial enterprises, and although the
| farmers and general consumers were
bearing the brunt Of tariff favors already
granted to special interests, the Admin
istration was unable to devise any plan
except one to grant further aid to the
| few.
Fortunately this plan of the Admins
tration failed, and, under Democratic
leadership. aided by progressive Republic
cans, a more equitable one was adopted,
which reduced direct taxes by about four
hundred and fifty million dollars.
| The issue between the President and
the Democratic party is not one of tax
| reduction or of the conservation of cap
ital. 1t is an issue of the relative bur-
den of taxation AID of the .,,uLon
of capital as affected by the taxation of
income. The President still stands on
the so-called Mellon plan, which his party
has just refused to indorse or mention in
| its platform.
The income tax was intended as a tax
| upon wealth. 1t was not intended to
take from the poor any part of the neces-
| saries Of life. We hold that the fairest
tax with which to raise revenues for the
Federal government Is the income tax
We favor a graduated tax upon in
comes, so adjusted as to lay the burdens
of government upon the taxpayers In
proportion to the benefits they enjoy and
their ability to pay.
We oppose the so-called nuisance taxes
sales taxes and all other forms of taxa
ton that unfairly shift to the consumer
the burdens of taxation.
We refer to the Democratic revenue