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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

"(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' whereever 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 retirement 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 continuance 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 extension by the Federal government of the same assistance and encouragement as is now given to agricultural training.

"We heartily commend our newly established Department of

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 conserved 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 tuberculosis 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 responsibility may be centered, expenditures standardized and made uniform, 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 purpose 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

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

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 American government should protect American citizens in their rights not only at home but abroad, and any country having a government 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 Federal 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 Democratic 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 declaration 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 protection below, and diversion, storage, and control of the flood waters above, and their utilization for beneficial purposes in the reclamation 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

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 waterways, 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 Democratic 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 splendid 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

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

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 international 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 members 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 defeated by 1812 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. Temporary and permanent chairman, Warren G. Harding, of Ohio. Overtures were received from the convention of the Progressive party, which at the same time was in session in Chicago, and a committee of conference was appointed.

Three ballots were taken for President. First ballot: Charles E. Hughes, 2532; John W. Weeks, of Massachusetts, 105; Elihu Root, 103; Albert B. Cummins, of Iowa, 85; Theodore E. Burton, of Ohio, 772; 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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