The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-19

submit the question to a national refer. endum of the American people at a special election to be divorced from any political election where candidates are to be chosen so that the people may have ample opportunity to discuss the questions involved and decide for them selves what our national policy shall be
 "In a democracy like ours, no policy can be made effective unless it is SUD- ported by public opinion. There is one way to ascertain public opinion in such matter and that is by a special refe- rendum of the kind I have in view. A referendum is practicable and the neces- sary machinery for it can be readily provided"
 Federal Reserve
 The federal reserve plank reads: ''To take the grip of Wall street off the treasury department and off the federal reserve system to restore to the people democratic control of these great financial instrumentalities and to have them operated in the interest of the people instead of in the interest of privilege as has been notoriously done for the past four years.
 No Wall street representative by residence or proxy will be put at the head of the treasury department, or at the head of the federal reserve board"
 The railroad policy should be de- signed ito bring about prompt railroad reforms and to settle the leilroad prob lem so that essential transportation shall be furnished at reduced freight and passs nger rates," the platform de- ,clares.
 Railroad Reform
 "rhe railroad influence must be put out of the government. Railroad reform can be accomplished, in the in- tercst of all the people while at the same tims justice can be done and must be done to railroad labor and those who. have honest investments in railroad properties. The obnoxious features of. the Esch- Cummings bill must be re-. pealed. These railroad reforms must be brought about promptly"
 ''"To do something instead of talk for agriculture" was the summary of the. farm relief policy presented. :.
 This great industry is now pros. lrated by the false and deceptive poli-. cies of the republican party. The farmers have been bilked under the Fordney -McCumber tariff law, under the Esch-Cummings railroad law, and under the false international policy of the administration which has deprived them of foreign markets for their sur plus products. These things must be corrected promptly"
 For Tax Reduction
 The taxation plank in full:
 To reduce internal revenue tax to the lowest point compatible with gov ernment honesty, efficiency and eco- nomically conducted"
 For tie welfare of labor, the cardi. date pledged: ;. ITO secure legislation setting mp labor code, establishing 8 decent living wage standard and appro- priate tribunals for maintaining peace in industry. The child labor and mini mum wage amendments to the consti- tuition should be adopted"
 Coupled with plea to "clean out the veterans bureau and to administer it honestly and efficiently" Mir. McAdoo recommended that Justice must be done to the veterans of the great war by reasonable adjustment of their com pensation of service actually per formed" -
 The tariff plank suggested substitu- tlon of the present law by sound and just tariff measure which will re- duce the cost of living, equitably dis tribute the burdens and benefits of government, and reopen to our farm CTS the foreign markets of the world"
 Charging that the prohibition unit of the federal government now "is honeycombed with corruption and in- efficiency" the bone dry plank suggest ed the wisdom of a presidential order ito put the prohibition force under civil service rules"
 This ought to have been done long ago instead of making this service the spoil of corrupt politics."