The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-18
Democratic Platform "Appeases Non Interventonists

derfaken q comprehensive pro-
gram of defense industry train
ing. We shall continue to bring
Ia millions Of children, youths
and adults. the educational and
economic opportunities otherwise
beyond their reach.
We have launched q scundly
conceived plan Of loans and con-
tributions to rid America Of over
crowded slum dwellings that breed
disease and crime, and to replace
them by low-cost housing projects
within the means Of low-income
families. We will extend and &C
CELEBRATE this plan not only IN the
congested city districts, but also
in the small towns and farm areas,
and we will make it q powerful
arm Of national defense by supply
ing housing for the families OF en-
listed personnel and for workers
in areas where industry Is expand
ing to meet defense needs.
We are taking effective steps
to insure that in this period OF
stress, the cost Of living shall not
be. increased by speculation ana
llnjustif1ed price rises.
Negro Problem
Our Negro citizens have particle
pated actively in the economic
and social advances launched by
this administration, Including fair
labor standards, social security
benefits, health protection, work
relief projects, decent housing, aid
to education and the rehabilita-
ton of low income farm families.
We have aided more than half a
million Negro youths in vocational
training, education and employ
ment. We shall continue to- strive
for complete legislative safeguards
against discrimination in govern
ment service and benefits, and IN
the national defense forces. We
pledge to uphold due process and
the equal protection of the laws
for every citizen, regardless OF
race, creed or color.
We pledge to continue our pol
icy Of fair treatment Of Americas
war veterans and. their dependents.
Z in Just tribute to their sacrifices
and their devotion to the cause OF
liberty.
We favor and pledge the enact
ment Of legislation creating an
Indian claims commission for the
special purpose of entertaining
and investigating claims presented
by Indian groups, bands ana
tribes, in order that our Indian
citizens may have their claims
against the government consid-
cred adjusted and finally settled
at the earliest possible date.
Merit System
We pledge the immediate extern
sion of a genuine system Of merit
to all positions in the executive
branch Of the federal government
except actual bona fide policy
making positions The competitive
method Of selecting employees shall
be improved until experience and
qualification shall be the sole test
in determining fitness for employ
ment in the federal service. Pro-
motion and tenure In federal serv-
ice shall likewise depend upon fit
ness, experience and qualifica-
ton. Arbitrary and unreasonable
rules as to academic training shall
be abolished, all to the end that a
genuine system Of efficiency and
merit shall prevail throughout the
entire federal service.
We favor a larger measure Of
self-government leading to state
hood, for Alaska, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico. We favor the appoint
ment Of residents to office, and
equal treatment of the citizens Of
each Of these three territories. We
favor the prompt determination
and payment of any Just claims
by Indian and Eskimo citizens Of
Alaska against the United States.
We also favor the extension Of
the right OF suffrage to the people
of the District Of Columbia.
We pledge to continue to stand
guard on our true first line Of de-
fense-the security and welfare Of
the men, women and children Of
America.
Democracy is more than po-
ltical system for the government
of q people. 1t Is the expression
Of a peoples faith in themselves
as human beings. If this faith is
permitted 20 die, human progress
will die with it. We believe that a
mechanical existence, lacking the
spiritual quality Of democracy, is
intolerable to the free people OF
this country.
Pledge To Fight
We therefore pledge ourselves
to fight, as our fathers fought, for
the right of every American to en-
Joy freedom Of religion, speech,
press, assembly, petition, and Sc
curity in mis- home.
It Is Americas destiny in these
days of rampant despotism, to be
the guardian of the world heritage
of liberty and to hold aloft and
aflame the torch of Western civ
ilization.
The Democratic party rededi-
Gates itself to this faith in democ-
ras.Rnto the defense Of the Ameri-
can system OF government, the only
system under which men are
masters of their own souls, the only
system under which the American
people, composed Of many races
and creeds, can live and work, play
and worship in peace, security and
freedom.
Firmly relying upon a continue
ton of the blessings Of divine
Providence upon all our righteous
endeavors to preserve forever the
priceless heritage of American
liberty and peace, we appeal to
all the hberal-minded men and
women Of the nation to approve
this platform and 60 forward with
us by Fundamentally supporting
the candidates who subscribe to