LaFollette Platform

Here is the platform which Mr. LaFollette presented to the C. P. P. A. in Cleveland, which was adopted with a roar. Unlike the Republican and Democratic platforms of some 6,000 words each, the LaFollette document, in its entirety, is composed of less than 1,000 words. Excerpts are given from the prologue and peroration; the 14 planks appear in full text:

Every generation must wage a new war for freedom against new forces that seek through new devices to enslave mankind. . . .

Under the principle of ruthless individualism and competition, that government is deemed best which offers to the few the greatest chance of individual gain.

Under the progressive principle of cooperation, that government is deemed best which offers to the many the highest level of average happiness and wellbeing. . . .

In that faith we present our program of public service:

1) The use of power of the Federal Government to crush private monopoly, not to foster it.

2) Unqualified enforcement of the constutional guarantees of freedom of speech, press and and assemblage.

3) Public ownership of the Nation's water power and creation of a public superpower system. Strict Strict public control and permanent conservation of all national resources, including coal, iron and other ores, oil and timber lauds,in the interest of the people. Promotion of public works in times of business depression.

4) Retention of surtaxes on swollen incomes; restoration of the tax on excess profits, on stock dividends, profits undistributed to evade estates and taxes; rapidly progressive taxes on large estates and inheritances and repeal of excessive tariff duties, especially on trust-controlled necessities ot life, and of nuisance taxes on consumption, to relieve the people of the present unjust burden of taxation and compel those who profited by the War to pay their share ot the War costs and to provide the funds for adjusted compensation solemnly pledged to the veterans ot the World War.

5) Reconstruction of the Federal Reserve and Federal Farm loan systems to provide lor direct public control of the Nation's money and credit to make it available on fair terms to all, and National and State Legislatures to permit and promote cooperative banking.

6) Adequate laws to guarantee to farmers and industrial workers the right to organize and bargain collectively, through representatives ot their own choosing, for the maintenance or improvement of their standards of life.

7) Creation of Government marketing corporation to provide a direct route between farm producer and city consumer, and to assure farmers fair prices for their products and protect consumers from the profiteers in foodstuffs and other necessaries of life. Legislation to conduct the meat-packing industry.

8) Protection and aid of cooperative enterprises by National and State legislation.

9) Common international action to effect the economic recovery of the world from the effects of the World War.

10) Repeal of the Cummins-Esch law. Public ownership of railroads, with democratic operation with definite safeguards against bureaucratic control.

11) Abolition of the tyranny and usurpation of the courts, including the practice of nullifying legislation in conflict with the political, social or economic theories of the Judges. Abolition ot injunctions in labor disputes and of the power to punish for contempt without trial by jury. Election of all Federal Judges without party designation for limited terms.

12) Prompt ratification of the Child Labor Amendment and subsequent enactment of a Federal law to protect children in industry. Removal of legal discrimination against women by measures not prejudicial to legislation necessary for the protection of women and for the advancement of social welfare.

13) A deep waterway from the Great Lakes to the sea.

14) We denounce the mercenary system of foreign policy under recent Administrations in the interests of financial imperialists, oil monopolists and international bankers, which has at times degraded our State Department from its high service as a strong and kindly intermediary of defenseless Governments to a trading outpost for those interests and concession-seekers engaged in the exploitation of weaker nations, as contrary to the will of the American people, destructive of domestic development and provocative of war. We favor an active foreign policy to bring about a revision of the Versailles Treaty in accordance with the terms of the Armistice, and to promote firm treaty agreements with all nations to outlaw wars, abolish conscription, drastically reduce land, air and naval armaments, and guarantee public referendums on peace and war.

"The Nation may grow rich in the vision of greed. The Nation will grow great in the vision ot Service."