USA > New York > History of the state of New York, political and governmental, Vol. VI > Part 34
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secure advances of money, have been passed by the House of Representatives, have been favorably reported to the Senate, and will probably become law during the present session of the Con- gress. Both houses have passed a Good Roads measure which will be of far-reaching benefit to all agricultural communities. Above all, the most extraordinary and significant progress has been made, under the direction of the Department of Agriculture, in extending and perfecting practical farm demonstration work which is so rapidly substituting scientific for empirical farming. But it is also neces- sary that rural activities should be better directed through coopera- tion and organization, that unfair methods of competition should be eliminated, and the conditions requisite for the just, orderly, and economical marketing of farm products created. We approve the Democratic administration for having emphatically directed attention for the first time to the essential interests of agriculture involved in farm marketing and finance, for creating the Office of Markets and Rural Organization in connection with the Depart- ment of Agriculture, and for extending the cooperation machinery necessary for conveying information to farmers by means of demon- strations. We favor continued liberal provision, not only for the benefit of production, but also for the study and solution of prob- lems of farm marketing and finance and for the extension of exist- ing agencies for improving country life.
"12. Good Roads .- The happiness, comfort, and prosperity of rural life, and the development of the city, are alike conserved by the construction of public highways. We therefore favor national aid in the construction of post roads and roads for military pur- poses.
"13. Government Employment .- We hold that the life, health, and strength of the men, women, and children of the nation are its greatest asset, and that in the conservation of these the Federal govern- ment, wherever it acts as the employer of labor, should, both on its own account and as an example, put into effect the following princi- ples of just employment :
"(i.) A living wage for all employes.
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"(ii.) A working day not to exceed eight hours, with one day of rest in seven.
"(iii.) The adoption of safety appliances and the establishment of thoroughly sanitary conditions of labor.
"(iv.) Adequate compensation for industrial accidents.
"(v.) The standards of the 'Uniform Child Labor law' where- ever minors are employed.
"(vi.) Such provisions for decency, comfort, and health in the employment of women as should be accorded the mothers of the race.
"(vii.) An equitable retirement law providing for the retire- ment of superannuated and disabled employes of the civil service, to the end that a higher standard of efficiency may be maintained.
"We believe also that the adoption of similar principles should be urged and applied in the legislation of the States with regard to labor within their borders, and that through every possible agency the life and health of the people of the nation should be conserved.
"14. Labor .- We declare our faith in the Seamen's act, passed by the Democratic Congress, and we promise our earnest continu- ance of its enforcement.
"We favor the speedy enactment of an effective Federal Child Labor law, and the regulation of the shipment of prison-made goods in interstate commerce.
"We favor the creation of a Federal Bureau of Safety in the Department of Labor, to gather facts concerning industrial hazards and to recommend legislation to prevent the maiming and killing of human beings.
"We favor the extension of the powers and functions of the Federal Bureau of Mines.
"We favor the development, upon a systematic scale, of the means, already begun under the present administration, to assist laborers throughout the Union to seek and obtain employment, and the exten- sion by the Federal government of the same assistance and encourage- ment as is now given to agricultural training.
"We heartily commend our newly established Department of
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Labor for its fine record in settling strikes by personal advice and through conciliating agents.
"15. Public Health .- We favor a thorough reconsideration of the means and methods by which the Federal government handles questions of public health, to the end that human life may be con- served by elimination of loathsome diseases, the improvement of sanitation, and the diffusion of a knowledge of disease prevention.
"We favor the establishment by the Federal government of tuber- culosis sanitariums for needy tubercular patients.
"16. Senate Rules .- We favor such alteration of the rules of procedure of the Senate of the United States as will permit the prompt transaction of the nation's legislative business.
"17. Economy and the Budget .- We demand careful economy in all expenditures for the support of the government, and to that end favor a return by the House of Representatives to its former practice of initiating and preparing all Appropriation bills through a single committee chosen from its membership, in order that respon- sibility may be centered, expenditures standardized and made uni- form, and waste and duplication in the public service as much as possible avoided. We favor this as a practicable first step toward a budget system.
"18. Civil Service .- We reaffirm our declarations for the rigid enforcement of the Civil Service laws.
"19. Philippine Islands .- We heartily endorse the provisions of the bill recently passed by the House of Representatives further promoting self-government in the Philippine Islands, as being in fulfillment of the policy declared by the Democratic party in its last national platform, and we reiterate our endorsement of the pur- pose of ultimate independence for the Philippine Islands, expressed in the preamble of that measure.
"20. Woman Suffrage .- We recommend the extension of the franchise to the women of the country by the States upon the same terms as to men.
"21. Protection of Citizens .- We again declare the policy that the sacred rights of American citizenship must be preserved at home and abroad, and that no treaty shall receive the sanction of our
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government which does not expressly recognize the absolute equality of all our citizens irrespective of race, creed, or previous nationality, and which does not recognize the right of expatriation. The Amer- ican government should protect American citizens in their rights not only at home but abroad, and any country having a govern- ment should be held to strict accountability for any wrongs done them, either to person or to property. At the earliest practical opportunity our country should strive earnestly for peace among the warring nations of Europe and seek to bring about the adoption of the fundamental principle of justice and humanity, that all men shall enjoy equality of right and freedom from discrimination in the lands wherein they dwell.
"22. Prison Reform .- We demand that the modern principles of prison reform be applied in our Federal penal system. We favor such work for prisoners as shall give them training in remunerative occupations so that they may make an honest living when released from prison; the setting apart of the net wages of the prisoner to be paid to his dependent family or to be reserved for his own use upon his release; the liberal extension of the principles of the Fed- eral Parole law, with due regard both to the welfare of the prisoner and the interests of society; the adoption of the probation system, especially in the case of first offenders not convicted for serious crime.
"23. Pensions .- We renew the declarations of recent Demo- cratic platforms relating to generous pensions for soldiers and their widows, and call attention to our record of performance in this particular.
"24. Waterways and Flood Control .- We renew the declara- tion in our last two platforms relating to the development of our waterways. The recent devastation of the lower Mississippi valley and several other sections by floods accentuates the movement for the regulation of river-flow by additional bank and levee protec- tion below, and diversion, storage, and control of the flood waters above, and their utilization for beneficial purposes in the reclama- tion of arid and swamp lands and development of water-power, instead of permitting the floods to continue as heretofore agents of destruction. We hold that the control of the Mississippi River
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is a national problem. The preservation of the depth of its waters for purposes of navigation, the building of levees and works of bank protection to maintain the integrity of its channel and prevent the overflow of its valley resulting in the interruption of interstate commerce, the disorganization of the mail service, and the enormous loss of life and property, impose an obligation which alone can be discharged by the national government.
"We favor the adoption of a liberal and comprehensive plan for the development and improvement of our harbors and inland water- ways, with economy and efficiency, so as to permit their navigation by vessels of standard draft.
"25. Alaska .- It has been and will be the policy of the Demo- cratic party to enact all laws necessary for the speedy development of Alaska and its great natural resources.
"26. Territories .- We favor granting to the people of Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico the traditional Territorial government accorded to all Territories of the United States since the beginning of our government, and we believe that the officials appointed to administer the government of these several Territories should be qualified by previous bona fide residence.
"27. Candidates .- We unreservedly endorse our President and Vice-President, Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, and Thomas Riley Marshall, of Indiana, who have performed the functions of their great offices faithfully and impartially and with distinguished ability.
"In particular, we commend to the American people the splen- did diplomatic victories of our great President, who has preserved the vital interests of our government and its citizens and kept us out of war.
"Woodrow Wilson stands to-day the greatest American of his generation.
"28. Conclusion .- This is a critical hour in the history of America, a critical hour in the history of the world. Upon the record above set forth, which shows great constructive achievement in following out a consistent policy for our domestic and internal development; upon the record of the Democratic administration, which has maintained the honor, the dignity, and the interests of
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the United States, and at the same time retained the respect and friendship of all the nations of the world; and upon the great policies for the future strengthening of the life of our country, the enlargement of our national vision, and the ennobling of our inter- national relations, as set forth above, we appeal with confidence to the voters of the country."
The twentieth resolution, expressing favor for the cause of woman suffrage, was objected to by a minority of the committee on resolutions composed of the mem- bers from Georgia, New Jersey, Indiana, and Texas, who offered a substitute plank in which no mention of the subject of woman suffrage was made and it was declared that the States alone had power to prescribe the qualifications of voters. The substitute was de- feated by 1811/2 ayes to 8881/2 nays (not voting, 22), and the platform as reported was then adopted.
Republican Party
Convention held in Chicago, June 7-10, 1916. Tem- porary and permanent chairman, Warren G. Harding, of Ohio. Overtures were received from the conven- tion of the Progressive party, which at the same time was in session in Chicago, and a committee of confer- ence was appointed.
Three ballots were taken for President. First bal- lot :- Charles E. Hughes, 2531/2 ; John W. Weeks, of Massachusetts, 105; Elihu Root, 103; Albert B. Cum- mins, of Iowa, 85; Theodore E. Burton, of Ohio, 771/2; Charles W. Fairbanks, 741/2 ; Lawrence Y. Sherman, of Illinois, 66; Theodore Roosevelt, 65; Philander C. Knox, of Pennsylvania, 36; Henry Ford, of Michigan,
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32; Martin G. Brumbaugh, of Pennsylvania, 29; Robert M. LaFollette, 25; William H. Taft, 14; Cole- man du Pont, of Delaware, 12; Frank B. Willis, of Ohio, 4; William E. Borah, of Idaho, 2; Samuel W. McCall, of Massachusetts, 1 ; absent, 21/2. The second ballot, taken immediately, showed 32812 for Hughes, while no one of the other candidates had as high as 100 votes. The convention then adjourned until the next day, June 10.
During the recess the nomination of Hughes was decided on by the leading men of the convention. Meantime the conferees of the Republican and Pro- gressive conventions had met; the Progressives uncom- promisingly demanded the choice of Roosevelt, but the Republican party was in no mood to accept him. After the agreement of the Republican leaders on Hughes, the Republican conferees sent a communication to the Progressives recommending Hughes. This communi- cation was read to the Republican convention upon its reassembling on the morning of June 10, together with a message from Roosevelt (addressed to the Progres- sive conferees) in which the nomination of Henry Cabot Lodge, as a compromise candidate, was pro- posed. Mr. Roosevelt's suggestion, however, did not find favor. The names of Weeks, Sherman, Burton, Fairbanks, and Root were withdrawn, and Hughes was nominated on the third ballot by the following vote :- Hughes, 9491/2 ; Roosevelt, 181/2 ; Lodge, 7; du Pont, 5; LaFollette, 3; Weeks, 3; absent, 1.
Former Vice-President Charles W. Fairbanks was
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nominated for the Vice-Presidency on the first ballot, having 863 votes to 120 for five others ; not voting, 4.
Platform :
"In 1861 the Republican party stood for the Union. As it stood for the Union of States, it now stands for a united people true to American ideals, loyal to American traditions, knowing no allegiance except to the Constitution, to the government, and to the flag of the United States.
"We believe in American policies at home and abroad.
"Protection of American Rights .- We declare that we believe in and will enforce the protection of every American citizen in all the rights secured to him by the Constitution, by treaties, and the laws of nations, at home and abroad, by land and sea. These rights, which, in violation of the specific promise of their party made at Baltimore in 1912, the Democratic President and the Democratic Congress have failed to defend, we will unflinchingly maintain.
"Foreign Relations .- We desire peace, the peace of justice and right, and believe in maintaining a strict and honest neutrality · between the belligerents in the great war in Europe. We must perform all our duties and insist upon all our rights as neutrals without fear and without favor. We believe that peace and neu- trality, as well as the dignity and influence of the United States, cannot be preserved by shifty expedients, by phrase-making, by per- formances in language, or by attitudes ever changing in an effort to secure groups of voters. The present administration has destroyed our influence abroad and humiliated us in our own eyes. The Republican party believes that a firm, consistent, and courageous foreign policy, always maintained by Republican Presidents in accordance with American traditions, is the best, as it is the only true way, to preserve our peace and restore us to our rightful place among the nations.
"We believe in the pacific settlement of international disputes, and favor the establishment of a world court for the purpose.
"Mexico .- We deeply sympathize with the fifteen million people of Mexico who for three years have seen their country devastated,
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their homes destroyed, their fellow-citizens murdered, and their women outraged by armed bands of desperadoes led by self-seeking conscienceless agitators who when temporarily successful in any local- ity have neither sought nor been able to restore order or establish and maintain peace.
"We express our horror and indignation at the outrages which have been and are being perpetrated by these bandits upon American men and women who were or are in Mexico by invitation of the laws and of the government of that country and whose rights to security of person and property are guaranteed by solemn treaty obligations. We denounce the indefensible methods of interference employed by this administration in the internal affairs of Mexico and refer with shame to its failure to discharge the duty of this country as next friend to Mexico, its duty to other powers who have relied upon us as such friend, and its duty to our citizens in Mexico, in permitting the continuance of such conditions, first by failure to act promptly and firmly, and second by lending its influence to the continuation of such conditions through recogni- tion of one of the factions responsible for these outrages.
"We pledge our aid in restoring order and maintaining peace in Mexico. We promise to our citizens on and near our border, and to those in Mexico, wherever they may be found, adequate and absolute protection in their lives, liberty, and property.
"Monroe Doctrine .- We reaffirm our approval of the Monroe doctrine, and declare its maintenance to be a policy of this coun- try essential to its present and future peace and safety and to the achievement of its manifest destiny.
"Latin America .- We favor the continuance of Republican policies which will result in drawing more and more closely the commercial, financial, and social relations between this country and the countries of Latin America.
"Philippines .- We renew our allegiance to the Philippine policy inaugurated by Mckinley, approved by Congress, and consistently carried out by Roosevelt and Taft. Even in this short time it has enormously improved the material and social conditions of the islands, given the Philippine people a constantly increasing participation in
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their government, and, if persisted in, will bring still greater benefits in the future.
"We accepted the responsibility of the islands as a duty to civiliza- tion and the Filipino people. To leave with our task half done would break our pledge, injure our prestige among nations, and imperil what has already been accomplished.
"We condemn the Democratic administration for its attempt to abandon the Philippines, which was prevented only by the vigorous opposition of Republican members of Congress, aided by a few patriotic Democrats.
"Right of Expatriation .- We reiterate the unqualified approval of the action taken in December, 1911, by the President and Con- gress, to secure with Russia, as with other countries, a treaty that will recognize the absolute right of expatriation and prevent all dis- crimination of whatever kind between American citizens, whether native-born or alien, and regardless of race, religion, or previous political allegiance. We renew the pledge to observe this principle and to maintain the right of asylum, which is neither to be sur- rendered nor restricted, and we unite in the cherished hope that the war which is now desolating the world may speedily end, with a com- plete and lasting restoration of brotherhood among the nations of the earth and the assurance of full equal rights, civil and religious, to all men in every land.
"Protection of the Country .- In order to maintain our peace and make certain the security of our people within our own borders the country must have not only adequate but thorough and complete national defenses ready for any emergency. We must have a suffi- cient and effective regular army and a provision for ample reserves, already drilled and disciplined, who can be called at once to the colors when the hour of danger comes.
"We must have a navy so strong and so well proportioned and equipped, so thoroughly ready and prepared, that no enemy can gain command of the sea and effect a landing in force on either our west- ern or our eastern coast. To secure these results we must have a coherent and continuous policy of national defense, which even in
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these perilous days the Democratic party has utterly failed to develop, but which we promise to give to the country.
"Tariff .- The Republican party stands now, as always, in the fullest sense for the policy of tariff protection to American industries and American labor, and does not regard an anti-dumping provision as an adequate substitute.
"Such protection should be reasonable in amount but sufficient to protect adequately American industries and American labor and so adjusted as to prevent undue exactions by monopolies or trusts. It should, moreover, give special attention to securing the industrial independence of the United States, as in the case of dye-stuffs.
"Through wise tariff and industrial legislation our industries can be so organized that they will become not only a commercial bulwark but a powerful aid to national defense.
"The Underwood Tariff act is a complete failure in every respect. Under its administration imports have enormously increased in spite of the fact that intercourse with foreign countries has been largely cut off by reason of the war, while the revenues of which we stand in such dire need have been greatly reduced.
"Under the normal conditions which prevailed prior to the war it was clearly demonstrated that this act deprived the American pro- ducer and the American wage-earner of that protection which enabled them to meet their foreign competitors, and but for the adventitous conditions created by the war would long since have paralyzed all forms of American industry and deprived American labor of its just reward.
"It has not in the least degree reduced the cost of living, which has constantly advanced from the date of its enactment. The wel- fare of our people demands its repeal and the substitution of a meas- ure which in peace as well as in war will produce ample revenue and give reasonable protection to all forms of American production in mine, forest, field, and factory.
"We favor the creation of a Tariff commission with complete power to gather and compile information for the use of Congress in all matters relating to the tariff.
"Business .- The Republican party has long believed in the rigid
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supervision and strict regulation of the transportation and of the great corporations of the country. It has put its creed into its deeds, and all really effective laws regulating the railroads and the great industrial corporations are the work of Republican Congresses and Presidents. For this policy of regulation and supervision the Demo- crats, in a stumbling and piecemeal way, are within the sphere of private enterprise and in direct competition with its own citizens, a policy which is sure to result in waste, great expense to the tax- payer, and in an inferior product.
"The Republican party firmly believes that all who violate the laws in regulation of business should be individually punished. But prosecution is very different from persecution, and business success, no matter how honestly attained, is apparently regarded by the Democratic party as in itself a crime. Such doctrines and beliefs choke enterprise and stifle prosperity. The Republican party believes in encouraging American business, as it believes in and will seek to advance all American interests.
"Rural Credits .- We favor an effective system of rural credits as opposed to the ineffective law proposed by the present Democrat- ic administration.
"Rural Free Delivery .- We favor the extension of the rural free- delivery system and condemn the Democratic administration for cur- tailing and crippling it.
"Merchant Marine .- In view of the policies adopted by all the maritime nations to encourage their shipping interests, and in order to enable us to compete with them for the ocean-carrying trade, we favor the payment to ships engaged in the foreign trade of liberal compensation for services actually rendered in carrying the mails, and such further legislation as will build up an adequate American mer- chant marine and give us ships which may be requisitioned by the government in time of national emergency.
"We are utterly opposed to the government ownership of vessels as proposed by the Democratic party, because government-owned ships, while effectively preventing the development of the American merchant marine by private capital, will be entirely unable to pro-
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