EPUBLICAN PLATFORM 
 
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 1912 
 
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 Adopted by the 
 
 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 
 
 At Chicago 
 
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 JUNE 22, 1912 
 
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 JUL 1 0 1924 
 
 • JmVERSITY Of iLLINOIS 
 
 W. J. HARTMAN CO. 
 
 Printers apd Binders tea Chicaifo, Illinois 
 

 ' p.iiii 10 1924 
 
 JNlVtRSlTY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 ■Republican Platform 
 
 1912 
 
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 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 Republican Party and our devotion to the 
 cause of Republican institutions established by the fathers. 
 
 ^ It is appropriate that we should now recall with a sense of 
 
 veneration and gratitude the name of our first great leader, who was 
 nominated in this city and whose lofty principles and superb devo¬ 
 tion to his country are an inspiration to the party he honored— 
 Abraham Lincoln. In the present state of public affairs we should 
 be inspired by his broad statesmanship 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 achievements in government constitute the most 
 luminous pages in our history. Our greatest national advance has 
 been made during the years of its ascendency in public affairs. It 
 has been genuinely and always a party of progress; it has never been 
 ^ either stationary or reactionary. It has gone from the fulfillment of 
 
 one great pledge to the fulfillment of another in response to the 
 public need and to the popular will. 
 
 * We believe in our self-controlled representative democracy, 
 
 wlirich is a government of laws, not of men, and in which order is 
 the pi-^pequisite of progress. 
 
 ^ The principles of constitutional government which make pro¬ 
 vision for orderly and effective expression of the popular will, for 
 the protection of civil liberty and the rights of men, and for the 
 
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 interpretation of the law by an untrammelled and independent judi¬ 
 ciary, have proved themselves capable of sustaining the structure of 
 a government which, after more than a century of development, 
 embraces one hundred millions of people, scattered over a wide and 
 diverse territory, but bound by common purpose, common ideals 
 and common affection to the Constitution of the United States. 
 Under the Constitution and the principles asserted and vitalized by 
 it, the United States has grown to be one of the great civilized 
 and civilizing powers of the earth. i It offers a home and an oppor¬ 
 tunity to the ambitious and the industrious from other lands. Rest¬ 
 ing upon the broad basis of a people’s confidence and a people’s 
 support, and managed by the people themselves,^the Government of 
 the United States will meet the problems of the future as satis-' 
 factorily as it has solved those of the past. 
 
 Proposed Legislation 
 
 The Republican Party is now, as always, a party of advanced 
 and constructive statesmanship. It is prepared to go forward with 
 the solution of these new questions which social, economic and 
 political development have brought into the forefront of the nation’s 
 interest. It will strive, not only in the nation, but in the several 
 States, to enact the necessary legislation to safeguard the public 
 liealth; to limit effectively the labor of women and children, to pro-' 
 tect wage-earners engaged in dangerous occupations, to enact com¬ 
 prehensive and generous workmen’s compensation laws in place ol 
 the present wasteful and unjust system of employers’ liability, and 
 in all possible ways satisfy the just demand of the people for the 
 study and solution of the complex and constantly changing problems 
 of social welfare. 
 
 In dealing with these questions it is important that the rights 
 of every individual to the freest possible development of his own 
 powers and resources, and to the control of his owm justly acquired 
 property, so far as those are compatible with the rights of others, 
 shall not be interfered with or destroyed. The social and political 
 
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 structure of the United States rests upon the civil liberty of the 
 individual, and for the protection of that liberty the people have 
 wisely, in the National and State Constitutions, put definite limita¬ 
 tions upon themselves and upon their governmental officers and 
 agencies. To enforce these limitations, to secure the orderly and 
 coherent exercise of governmental powers and to protect the rights 
 of even the humblest and least favored individual, are the function 
 of independent courts of justice. 
 
 To Uphold Courts 
 
 The Republican Party reaffirms its intention to uphold at all 
 times the authority and integrity of the courts, both State and 
 Federal, and it will ever insist that their powers to enforce their 
 process and to protect life, liberty and property shall be preserved 
 inviolate. An orderly method is provided under our system of gov¬ 
 ernment by which the people may, when they choose, alter or amend 
 the constitutional provisions which underlie that government. Until 
 these constitutional provisions are so altered or amended, in orderly 
 fashion, it is the duty of the courts to see to it that when challenged 
 they are enforced. 
 
 That the courts, both Federal and State, may bear the heavy 
 burden laid upon them to the complete satisfaction of public opinion, 
 we favor legislation to prevent long delays and the tedious and 
 costly appeals which have so often amounted to a denial of justice 
 in civil cases, and to a failure to protect the public at large in criminal 
 cases. 
 
 Since the responsibility of the judiciary is so great, the standards 
 of judicial action must be always and everywhere above suspicion 
 and reproach. While we regard the recall of judges as unnecessary 
 and unwise, we favor such action as may be necessary to simplify 
 the process by which any judge who is found to be derelict in his 
 duty may be removed from office. 
 
 Together with peaceful and orderly development at home, the 
 Republican Party earnestly favors all measures for the establishment 
 
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 and protection of the peace of the world, and for the development 
 of closer relations between the various nations of the earth. It 
 believes most earnestly in the peaceful settlement of interantional 
 disputes and in the reference of all justifiable controversies between 
 nations to an internatioanl court of justice. 
 
 Monopoly and Privilege 
 
 The Republican Party is opposed to special privilege and 
 monopoly. It placed upon the statute books the Interstate Com¬ 
 merce Act of 1887, and the important amendments thereto, and the 
 Anti-Trust Act of 1890, and it has consistently and successfully 
 enforced the provisions of these laws. It will take no backward step 
 to permit the re-establishment in any degree of conditions w^hich 
 were intolerable. 
 
 Experience makes it plain that the business of the country may 
 be carried on without fear or without disturbance, and at the same 
 time without resort to practices which are abhorrent to the common 
 sense of justice. The Republican Party favors the enactment of 
 legislation supplementary to the existing Anti-Trust Act which will 
 define as criminal offences those specific acts that uniformly mark 
 attempts to restrain and to monopolize trade, to the end that those 
 who honestly intend to obey the law may have a guide for their 
 action and that those who aim to violate the law may the more 
 surely be punished. The same certainty should be given to the law 
 prohibiting combinations and monopolies that characterizes other 
 provisions of commercial law, in order that no part of the field of 
 business opportunity may be restricted by monopoly or combination; 
 that business success honorably achieved may not be converted into 
 crime, and that the right of every man to acquire commodities, and 
 particularly the necessaries of life, in an open market uninfluenced 
 by the manipulation of trust or combination may be preserved. 
 
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 Federal Trade Commission 
 
 In the enforcement and administration of Federal laws govern¬ 
 ing interstate commerce and enterprises impressed with a public use 
 engaged therein, there is much that may be committed to a federal 
 trade commission, thus placing in the hands of an administrative 
 board many of the functions now necessarily exercised by the courts. 
 This will promote promptness in the administration of the law and 
 avoid delays and technicalities incident to court procedure. 
 
 The Tariff 
 
 We reaffirm our belief in a protective tariff. The Republican 
 tariff policy has been of the greatest benefit to the country, develop¬ 
 ing our resources, diversifying our industries and protecting our 
 workmen against competition with cheaper labor abroad, thus estab¬ 
 lishing for our wage-earners the American standard of living. The 
 protective tariff is so woven into the fabric of our industrial and 
 agricultural life that to substitute for it a traiff for revenue only 
 would destroy many industries and throw millions of our people out 
 of employment. The products of the farm and of the mine should 
 receive the same measure of protection as other products of Amer¬ 
 ican labor. 
 
 We hold that the import duties should be high enough, while 
 yielding a sufficient revenue to protect adequately American indus¬ 
 tries 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 changed conditions and to reduce excessive 
 rates, but without injury to any American industry. To accomplish 
 this correct information is indispensable. This information can best 
 be obtained by an expert commission, as the large volume of useful 
 facts contained in the recent reports of the tariff board has demon¬ 
 strated the pronounced feature of modern industrial life is its enor¬ 
 mous diversifications. To apply tariff rates justly to these changing 
 conditions requires closer study and more scientific methods than 
 
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 ever before. The Republican Party has 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 Party for its failure 
 either to provide funds for the continuance of this board or to make 
 some other provision for securing the information requisite for 
 intelligent tariff legislation. We protest against the Democratic 
 method of legislating on these vitally important subjects without 
 careful investigation. 
 
 We condemn the Democratic tariff bills passed by the House of 
 Representatives of the Sixty-second Congress, as sectional, as in¬ 
 jurious to the public credit and as destructive of business enterprise. 
 
 ' The Cost of Living. 
 
 The steadily increasing cost of living has become a matter not 
 only of national, but of world-wide concern. The fact that it is not 
 due to the protective tariff system is evidenced by the existence of 
 similar conditions in countries which have a tariff policy different 
 from our own, as well as by the fact that the cost of living has in¬ 
 creased, while rates of duty have remained stationary or been re¬ 
 duced. 
 
 The Republican Party will support a prompt scientific inquiry 
 into the causes which are operative, both in the United States and 
 elsewhere to increase the cost of living. When the exact facts are 
 known it will take the necessary steps to remove any abuses that 
 may be found to exist, in order that the cost of the food, clothing 
 and shelter of the people may in no Avay be unduly or artificially 
 increased. 
 
 Banking and Currency 
 
 The Republican Party has always stood for a sound currency 
 and for safe banking methods. It is responsible for the resumption 
 of specie payments, and for the establishment of the gold standard. 
 It is committed to the progressive development of our banking and 
 currency system. Our banking arrangements to-day need further 
 revision to meet the requirements of current conditions. We need 
 
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 measures which will prevent the recurrence of money panics and 
 financial disturbances, and which will promote the prosperity of 
 
 business and the welfare of labor by producing constant employment. 
 
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 We need better currency facilities for the movement of crops 
 in the West and South. We need banking arrangements under 
 American auspices for the encouragement and better conduct of our 
 foreign 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 possibility of domination by sectional, finan¬ 
 cial or political interests. 
 
 It is of great importance to the social and economic welfare 
 of this country that its farmers have facilities for borrowing easily 
 and cheaply the money they need to increase the productivity of their 
 land. It is as important that financial machinery be provided to 
 supply the demand of farmers for credit, as it is that the banking 
 and currency systems be reformed in the interest of general business. 
 Therefore we recommend and urge an authoritative investigation 
 of agricultural credit societies and corporations in other countries, 
 and the passage of State and Federal laws for the establishment and 
 capable supervision of organizations having for the purpose the 
 loaning of funds to farmers. 
 
 The Civil Service 
 
 We reaffirm our adherence to the principle of appointment to 
 public office based on proved fitness and tenure during good behavior 
 and efficiency. 
 
 The Republican Party stands committed to the maintenance, 
 extension and enforcement of the civil service law, and it favors the 
 passage of legislation empowering the President to extend the com¬ 
 petitive service so far as practicable. We favor legislation to make 
 possible the equitable retirement of disabled and superannuated 
 members of the civil service, in order that a higher standard of 
 efficiency may be maintained. 
 
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 We favor the amendment of the Federal employees’ liability law 
 so as to extend its provisions to all Government employees as well 
 as to provide a more liberal scale of compensation for injury and 
 death. 
 
 Campaign Contributions 
 
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 We favor such additional legislation as may be necessary more 
 
 effectually to 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 Con¬ 
 gress. 
 
 We heartily approve the recent act of Congress, requiring the 
 fullest publicity in regard to all campaign contributions whether 
 made in connection with primaries, conventions or elections. 
 
 Conservation Policy 
 
 We rejoice in the succes's of the distinctive Republican policy of 
 the conservation of our national resources, for their use by the people 
 without waste and without monopoly. We pledge ourselves to a 
 continuance of such a policy. 
 
 We favor such fair and reasonable rules and regulations as will 
 not discourage or interfere with actual bona fide home-seekers, pro.s- 
 pectors and miners in the acquisition of public lands under existing 
 laws. 
 
 In the interest of the general public, and particularly of the 
 agricultural or rural communities, we favor legislation looking to the 
 establishment, under proper regulations, of a parcels post, the postal 
 rates to be graduated under a zone similar in proportion to the 
 length of carriage. 
 
 Protection of Americaii Citizenship 
 
 We approve the action taken by the President and the Congress 
 to secure with Russia, as with other countries, a treaty that will 
 recognize the absolute right of expatriation, and that will prevent 
 
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 all discrimination of whatever kind between American citizens, 
 whether native born or aliln, and regardless of race, religion or 
 previous political allegiance. The right of asylum is a precious pos¬ 
 session of the people of the United States and is to be neither sur¬ 
 rendered nor restricted. 
 
 The Navy 
 
 We believe in the maintenance of an adequate navy for the 
 national defence, and we condemn the action of the Democratic 
 House of Representatives in refusing to authorize the construction 
 of additional ships. 
 
 Merchant Marine 
 
 We believe that one of the country’s most urgent needs is a 
 revived merchant marine. There should be American ships, and 
 plenty of them, to make use of the great American inter-oceanic canal 
 now nearing completion. 
 
 Flood Prevention in the Mississippi - 
 
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 The Mississippi river is the nation’s drainage ditch. Its flood 
 waters, gathered from thirty-one States and the Dominion of Canada, 
 constitute an overpowering force which breaks the levees and pours 
 its torrents over many million acres of the richest land in the Union, 
 stopping mails, impeding commerce, and causing great loss of life 
 and property. These floods are national in scope and the disasters 
 they produce seriously affect the general welfare. The States, un¬ 
 aided, cannot cope with this giant problem; hence we believe the 
 Federal Government should assume a fair proportion of the burden 
 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 to the reclamation of arid lands, and for the encouragement 
 of the speedy settlement and improvement of such lands we favor 
 
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 an amendment to the law that will reascpably extend the time within 
 which the cost of any reclamation project may be repaid by the land 
 owners under it. 
 
 Rivers and Harbors 
 
 We favor a liberal and systematic policy for the improvement 
 of our rivers and harbors. Such improvements should be made upon 
 expert information and after a careful comparison of cost and pros¬ 
 pective benefits. 
 
 Alaska 
 
 We favor a liberal policy toward Alaska to promote the develop¬ 
 ment of the great resources of that district, with such safeguards 
 as will prevent waste and monopoly. 
 
 We favor the opening of the coal lands to development through 
 a law leasing the lands on such terms as will invite development and 
 provide fuel for the navy and the commerce of the Pacific ocean,, 
 while retaining title in the United States to prevent monopoly. 
 
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 Porto Rico 
 
 We ratify in all its particulars the platform of 1908 respect¬ 
 ing citizenship for the people of Porto Rico. 
 
 Philippine Policy 
 
 The Philippine policy of the Republican Party has been and is 
 inspired by the belief that our duty toward the Filipino people is a 
 national obligation which should remain entirely free from partisan 
 politics. 
 
 Immigration 
 
 We pledge the Republican Party to the enactment of appro¬ 
 priate laws to give relief from the constantly growing evil of induced 
 or undesirable immigration, which is inimical to the progress and 
 welfare of the people of the United States. 
 
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 Safety at Sea 
 
 We favor the speedy enactment of laws to provide that seamen 
 shall not be compelled to endure involuntary servitude, and that life 
 and property shall be safeguarded by the ample equipment of vessels 
 with lifesaving appliances and with full complements of skilled, 
 able-bodied seamen to operate them. 
 
 Republican Accomplishment 
 
 The approaching completion of the Panama Canal, the estab¬ 
 lishment of a bureau of mines, the institution of postal savings 
 banks, the increased provision made in 1912 for the aged and infirm 
 soldiers and sailors of the Republic and for their widows, and the 
 vigorous administration of the 1 aws relating to pure food and drugs, 
 all mark the successful progress of Republican administration, and 
 are additional evidence of its effectiveness. 
 
 Economy and Efficiency in Government 
 
 We commend the earnest effort of the Republican administra¬ 
 tion to secure greater economy and increased efficiency in the con¬ 
 duct of government business. Extravagant appropriations and the 
 creation of unnecessary offices are an injustice to the taxpayer and 
 a bad example to the citizen. 
 
 Civic Duty 
 
 We call upon the people to quicken their interest in public 
 affairs, to condemn and punish lynchings and other forms of law¬ 
 lessness, and to strengthen in all possible ways a respect for law and 
 the observance of it. Indifferent citizenship is an evil from which 
 the law affords no adequate protection, and for which legislation can 
 provide no remedy. 
 
Arizona and New Mexico . 
 
 We congratulate the people of Arizona and New Mexico upon 
 the admission of those States, thus merging in the Union in final 
 and enduring form the last remaining portion of our continental 
 territory. 
 
 Republican Administration 
 
 We challenge successful criticism of the sixteen years of Re- 
 publican administration under Presidents McKinley, Roosevelt and 
 Taft. We heartily reaffirm the endorsement of President McKinley, 
 contained in the platforms of 1900 and of 1904, and that of Presi¬ 
 dent Roosevelt, contained in the platforms of 1904 and 1908. 
 
 We invite the intelligent judgment of the American people upon 
 the administration of William H. Taft. The country has prospered 
 and been at peace under his presidency. During the years in which 
 he had the co-operation of a Republican Congress, an unexampled 
 amount of constructive legislation was framed and passed in the 
 interest of the people and in obedience to their wish. That legisla¬ 
 tion is a record on which any administration might appeal with con¬ 
 fidence to the favorable judgment of history. 
 
 We appeal to the American electorate upon the record of the 
 Republican Party and upon this declaration of its principles and 
 purposes. We are confident that under the leadership of the can¬ 
 didates here to be nominated our appeal will not be in vain; that 
 the Republican Party will meet every just expectation of the people 
 whose servant it is; that under its administration and its laws our 
 nation will continue to advance, that peace and prosperity will abide 
 with the people and that new glory will be added to the great 
 Republic. 
 
3 0112 072641878 
 
 
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 Jill. 1 0 1924 
 
 DIVERSITY OF \LUNO>S 
 
 
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