1912 Republican Party Platform
(3,384 words, 8 pages)
The Republican Party, assembled by its representatives in national convention,declares its unchanging faith in government of the people, by the people,for the people. We renew our allegiance to the principles of the RepublicanParty and our devotion to the cause of Republican institutions establishedby the fathers.
It is appropriate that we should now recall with a sense of venerationand gratitude the name of our first great leader, who was nominated in thiscity, and whose lofty principles and superb devotion to his country arean inspiration to the party he honored, Abraham Lincoln.
In the present state of public affairs we should be inspired by his broadstatesmanship and by his tolerant spirit toward men.
The Republican Party looks back upon its record with pride and satisfaction,and forward to its new responsibilities with hope and confidence. Its achievementsin government constitute the most luminous pages in our history. Our greatestnational advance has been made during the years of its ascendancy in publicaffairs. It has been genuinely and always a party of progress, it has neverbeen either stationary or reactionary. It has gone from the fulfillmentof one great pledge to the fulfillment of another in response to the publicneed and to the popular will.
We believe in our self-controlled representative democracy which is agovernment of laws, not of men, and in which order is the prerequisite ofprogress.
The principles of constitutional government, which make provisions fororderly and effective expression of the popular will, for the protectionof civil liberty and the rights of man, and for the interpretation of thelaw by an untrammelled and independent judiciary have proved themselvescapable of sustaining the structure of a government which, after more thana century of development, embraces one hundred millions of people, scatteredover a wide and diverse territory, but bound by common purpose, common idealsand common affection to the constitution of the United States. Under theconstitution and the principles asserted and vitalized by it the UnitedStates has grown to be one of the great civilized and civilizing powersof the earth. It offers a home and an opportunity to the ambitious and theindustrious from other lands. Resting upon the broad basis of a people'sconfidence and a people's support, and managed by the people themselves,the government of the United States will meet the problems of the futureas satisfactorily as it has solved those of the past.
The Republican Party is now, as always, a party of advanced and constructivestatesmanship. It is prepared to go forward with the solution of those newquestions, which social, economic and political development have broughtinto the forefront of the nation's interest. It will strive, not only inthe nation but in the several states, to enact the necessary legislationto safeguard the public health, to limit effectively the labor of womenand children and to protect wage earners engaged in dangerous occupationsto enact comprehensive and generous workman's compensation laws in placeof the present wasteful and unjust system of employer's liability, and inall possible ways to satisfy the just demand of the people for the studyand solution of the complex and constantly changing problems of social welfare.
In dealing with these questions, it is important that the rights of everyindividual to the freest possible development of his own justly acquiredproperty, so far as those are compatible with the rights of others, shallnot be interfered with or destroyed. The social and political structureof the United States rests upon the civil liberty of the individual, andfor the protection of that liberty the people have wisely, in the nationaland state constitutions, put definite limitations upon themselves and upontheir governmental officers and agencies. To enforce these limitations,to secure the orderly and coherent exercise of governmental powers, andto protect the rights of even the humblest and least favored individualare the function of independent Courts of Justice.
The Republican Party reaffirms its intention to uphold at all times theauthority and integrity of the Courts, both State and Federal, and it willever insist that their powers to enforce their process and to protect life,liberty and property shall be preserved inviolate. An orderly method isprovided under our system of government by which the people may, when theychoose, alter or amend the constitutional provisions which underlie thatgovernment. Until these constitutional provisions are so altered or amended,in orderly fashion, it is the duty of the Courts to see to it that whenchallenged they are enforced.
That the Courts, both federal and state, may bear the heavy burden laidupon them to the complete satisfaction of public opinion, we favor legislationto prevent long delays and the tedious and costly appeals which have sooften amounted to a denial of justice in civil cases and to a failure toprotect the public at large in criminal cases.
Since the responsibility of the Judiciary is so great, the standardsof judicial action must be always and everywhere above suspicion and reproach.While we regard the recall of judges as unnecessary and unwise, we favorsuch action as may be necessary to simplify the process by which any judgewho is found to be derelict in his duty may be removed from office.
Together with peaceful and orderly development at home, the RepublicanParty earnestly favors all measures for the establishment and protectionof the peace of the world and for the development of closer relations betweenthe various nations of the earth. It believes most earnestly in the peacefulsettlement of international disputes and in the reference of all justiciablecontroversies between nations to an International Court of Justice.
Monopoly and Privilege
The Republican Party is opposed to special privilege and to monopoly. Itplaced upon the statute book the interstate commerce act of 1887, and theimportant amendments thereto, and the anti-trust act of 1890, and it hasconsistently and successfully enforced the provisions of these laws. Itwill take no backward step to permit the reestablishment in any degree ofconditions which were intolerable.
Experience makes it plain that the business of the country may be carriedon without fear or without disturbance and at the same time without resortto practices which are abhorrent to the common sense of justice. The RepublicanParty favors the enactment of legislation supplementary to the existinganti-trust act which will define as criminal offences those specific actsthat uniformly mark attempts to restrain and to monopolize trade, to theend that those who honestly intend to obey the law may have a guide fortheir action and those who aim to violate the law may the more surely bepunished. The same certainty should be given to the law prohibiting combinationsand monopolies that characterize other provisions of commercial law, inorder that no part of the field of business opportunity may be restrictedby monopoly or combination that business success honorably achieved maynot be converted into crime, and that the right of every man to acquirecommodities, and particularly the necessaries of life, in an open marketuninfluenced by the manipulation of trust or combination, may be preserved.
Federal Trade Commission
In the enforcement and administration of Federal Laws governing interstatecommerce and enterprises impressed with a public use engaged therein, thereis much that may be committed to a Federal trade commission, thus placingin the hands of an administrative board many of the functions now necessarilyexercised by the Courts. This will promote promptness in the administrationof the law and avoid delays and technicalities incident to court procedure.
The Tariff
We reaffirm our belief in a protective tariff. The Republican tariff policyhas been of the greatest benefit to the country, developing our resources,diversifying our industries, and protecting our workmen against competitionwith cheaper labor abroad thus establishing for our wage earners the Americanstandard of living. The protective tariff is so woven into the fabric ofour industrial and agricultural life that to substitute for it a tarifffor revenue only would destroy many industries and throw millions of ourpeople out of employment. The products of the farm and of the mines shouldreceive the same measure of protection as other products of American labor.
We hold that the import duties should be high enough, while yieldinga sufficient revenue, to protect adequately American industries and wages.Some of the existing import duties are too high, and should be reduced.Readjustment should be made from time to time to conform to changing conditionsand to reduce excessive rates, but without injury to any American industry.To accomplish this correct information is indispensable. This informationcan best be obtained by an expert commission, as the large volume of usefulfacts contained in the recent reports of the tariff board has demonstrated.
The pronounced feature of modern industrial life is its enormous diversification.To apply tariff rates justly to these changing conditions requires closerstudy and more scientific methods than ever before. The Republican Partyhas shown by its creation of a tariff board its recognition of this situation,and its determination to be equal to it. We condemn the democratic partyfor its failure either to provide funds for the continuance of this boardor to make some other provision for securing the information requisite forintelligent tariff legislation. We protest against the demo method of legislatingon these vitally important subjects without careful investigation. We condemnthe Democratic tariff bills passed by the House of Representatives of theSixty-second Congress as sectional, as injurious to the public credit, andas destructive to business enterprise.
Cost of Living
The steadily increasing cost of living has become a matter not only of nationalbut of worldwide concern. The fact that it is not due to the protectivetariff system is evidenced by the existence of similar conditions in countrieswhich have a tariff policy different from our own, as well as by the factthat the cost of living has increased while rates of duty have remainedstationary or been reduced.
The Republican Party will support a prompt scientific inquiry into thecauses which are operative, both in the United States and elsewhere to increasethe cost of living. When the exact facts are known, it will take the necessarysteps to remove any abuses that may be found to exist, in order that thecost of the food, clothing and shelter of the people may in no way be undulyor artificially increased.
Banking and Currency
The Republican Party has always stood for a sound currency and for safebanking methods. It is responsible for the resumption of specie paymentsand for the establishment of the gold standard. It is committed to the progressivedevelopment of our banking and currency systems. Our banking arrangementstoday need further revision to meet the requirements of current conditions.We need measures which will prevent the recurrence of money panics and financialdistrubances and which will promote the prosperity of business and the welfareof labor by producing constant employment. We need better currency facilitiesfor the movement of crops in the West and South. We need banking arrangementsunder American auspices for the encouragement and better conduct of ourforeign trade. In attaining these ends, the independence of individual banks,whether organized under national or state charters, must be carefully protected,and our banking and currency system must be safeguarded from any possibilityof domination by sectional, financial, or political interests.
It is of great importance to the social and economic welfare of thiscountry that its farmers have facilities for borrowing easily and cheaplythe money they need to increase the productivity of their land. It is asimportant that financial machinery be provided to supply the demand of farmersfor credit as it is that the banking and currency systems be reformed inthe interest of general business. Therefore, we recommend and urge an authoritativeinvestigation of agricultural credit societies and corporations in othercountries and the passage of State and Federal laws for the establishmentand capable supervision of organizations having for their purpose the loaningof funds to farmers.
The Civil Service
We reaffirm our adherence to the principle of appointment to public officebased on proved fitness, and tenure during good behavior and efficiency.The Republican Party stands committed to the maintenance extension and enforcementof the civil service law, and it favors the passage of legislation empoweringthe president to extend the competitive service as far as practicable. Wefavor legislation to make possible the equitable retirement of disabledand superannuated members of the civil service in order that a higher standardof efficiency may be maintained.
We favor the amendment of the Federal employer's Liability Law so asto extend its provisions to all government employees as well as to providea more liberal scale of compensation for injury and death.
Campaign Contributions
We favor such additional legislation as may be necessary more effectuallyto prohibit corporations from contributing funds, directly or indirectly,to campaigns for the nomination or election of the President, the Vice-President,Senators and Representatives in Congress.
We heartily approve the recent Act of Congress requiring the fullestpublicity in regard to all campaign contributions, whether made in connectionwith primaries, conventions, or elections.
Conservation Policy
We rejoice in the success of the distinctive Republican policy of the conservationof our National resources, for their use by the people without waste andwithout monopoly. We pledge ourselves to a continuance of such a policy.
We favor such fair and reasonable rules and regulations as will not discourageor interfere with actual bona-fide homeseekers, prospectors and minersin the acquisition of public lands under existing laws.
Parcels Post
In the interest of the general public, and particularly of the agriculturalor rural communities, we favor legislation looking to the establishment,under proper regulations, of a parcels post, the postal rates to be graduatedunder a zone system in proportion to the length of carriage.
Protection of American Citizenship
We approve the action taken by the president and the Congress to securewith Russia as with other countries, a treaty that will recognize the absoluteright of expatriation and that will prevent all discrimination of whateverkind between American citizens, whether native born or aliens and regardlessof race religion or previous political allegiance. The right of asylum isa precious possession of the people of the United States and it is to beneither surrendered nor restricted.
The Navy
We believe in the maintenance of an adequate navy for the national defenseand we condemn the action of the Democratic House of Representatives inrefusing to authorize the construction of additional ships.
Merchant Marine
We believe that one of the country's most urgent needs is a revived merchantmarine. There should be American ships, and plenty of them, to make useof the great American Inter-Oceanic canal now nearing completion.
Flood Prevention in the Mississippi Valley
The Mississippi River is the nation's drainage ditch. Its flood waters,gathered from thirty-one States and the Dominion of Canada, constitute anoverpowering force which breaks the levees and pours its torrents over manymillions of acres of the richest land in the Union, stopping mails, impedingcommerce, and causing great loss of life and property. These floods arenational in scope, and the disasters they produce seriously affect the generalwelfare. The States unaided cannot cope with this giant problem, hence,we believe the Federal Government should assume a fair proportion of theburden of its control, so as to prevent the disasters from recurring floods.
Reclamation
We favor the continuance of the policy of the government with regard tothe reclamation of arid lands, and for the encouragement of the speedy settlementand improvement of such lands we favor an amendment to the law that willreasonably extend the time within which the cost of any reclamation projectmay be repaid by the landowners under it.
Rivers and Harbors
We favor a liberal and systematic policy for the improvement of our riversand harbors. Such improvements should be made upon expert information andafter a careful comparison of cost and prospective benefits.
Alaska
We favor a liberal policy toward Alaska to promote the development of thegreat resources of that district, with such safeguards as will prevent wasteand monopoly.
We favor the opening of the coal lands to development through a law leasingthe lands on such terms as will invite development and provide fuel forthe navy and the commerce of the Pacific Ocean while retaining title inthe United States to prevent monopoly.
Philippine Policy
The Philippine policy of the Republican Party has been and is inspired bythe belief that our only toward the Filipino people is a national obligationwhich should remain entirely free from partisan politics.
Immigration
We pledge the Republican Party to the enactment of appropriate laws to giverelief from the constantly growing evil of induced or undesirable immigration,which is inimical to the progress and welfare of the people of the UnitedStates.
Safety at Sea
We favor the speedy enactment of laws to provide that seamen shall not becompelled to endure involuntary servitude, and that life and property atsea shall be safeguarded by the ample equipment of vessels with lifesavingappliances and with full complements of skilled, able-bodied seamen to operatethem.
Republican Accomplishment
The approaching completion of the Panama Canal, the establishment of a Bureauof Mines, the institution of postal savings banks, the increased provisionmade in 1912 for the aged and infirm soldiers and sailors of the republicand for their widows and the vigorous administration of laws relating toPure Foods and Drugs, all mark the successful progress of Republican administration,and are additional evidences of its effectiveness.
Economy and Efficiency in Government
We commend the earnest effort of the Republican administration to securegreater economy and increased efficiency in the conduct of government business;extravagant appropriations and the creation of unnecessary offices are aninjustice to the taxpayer and a bad example to the citizen.
Civic Duty
We call upon the people to quicken their interest in public affairs, tocondemn and punish lynchings and other forms of lawlessness, and to strengthenin all possible ways a respect for law and the observance of it. Indifferentcitizenship is an evil against which the law affords no adequate protectionand for which legislation can provide no remedy.
Arizona and New-Mexico
We congratulate the people of Arizona and New-Mexico upon the admissionof those states thus merging in the union in final and enduring form thelast remaining portion of our continental territory.
We retify (ratify) in all its parts the platform of 1908 respecting citizenshipfor the people of Porto Rico.
Republican Administration
We challenge successful criticism of the sixteen years of Republican administrationunder Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt, and Taft. We heartily reaffirm theindorsement of President McKinley contained in the platforms of 1900 andof 1904, and that of President Roosevelt contained in the platforms of 1904and 1908.
We invite the intelligent judgment of the American people upon the administrationof William H Taft. The country has prospered and been at peace under hisPresidency. During the years in which he had the co-operation of a RepublicanCongress an unexampled amount of constructive legislation was framed andpassed in the interest of the people and in obedience to their wish. Thatlegislation is a record on which any administration might appeal with confidenceto the favorable judgment of history.
We appeal to the American Electorate upon the record of the RepublicanParty, and upon this declaration of its principles and purposes. We areconfident that under the leadership of the candidates here to be nominatedour appeal will not be in vain that the Republican Party will meet everyjust expectation of the people whose servant it is, that under its administrationand its laws our nation will continue to advance, that peace and prosperitywill abide with the people, and that new glory will be added to the greatRepublic.