the maintenance of American standards of living. We propose that in the competitive struggle that is about to come the American workingman shall not suffer. The Republican Party is not a sectional party. It thinks and plans nationally. Its policies are for the promotion of the prosperity of every part of the country-South, East, North and West. It is not simply a question of a wise adjustment of the tariff in accordance with sound principle, but there is also the need in other respects for stable conditions for commercial and industrial progress. If we are to meet effectively the conditions which will arise after the war is over, we must put our house in order. Let it be understood that the public right is to be maintained without fear or favor. But let us show that we can do this without impairing the essential agencies of progress. There is no forward movement, no endeavor to promote social justice which in the last analysis does not rest upon the condition that there shall be a stable basis for honest enterprise. This subject has several important phases to which at this time I can allude only briefly. We should place our transportation system on a sure footing. We should be able wisely to adjust our regulative powers so that the fundamental object of protecting the public interest can be fully secured without uncertainties or conflicts and without hampering the development and expansion of transportation facilities. This national end may be accomplished without the sacrifice of any interest that is essentially local, or without weakening public control. Our present system is crude and inadequate. COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, SHIPPING. Moreover, in the severe economic struggle that is before us, and in seeking, as we should, to promote our productive industries and to expand our commerce-notably our foreign commercewe shall require the most efficient organization quite as efficient as that found in any nation abroad. There must be no unnecessary wastes and no arbitrary obstructions. We have determined to cut out, root and branch, monopolistic practices, but we can do this without hobbling enterprise or narrowing the scope of legitimate achievement. Again, we must build up our merchant marine. It will not aid to put the Government into competition with private owners. That, it seems to me, is a counsel of folly. A surer way of destroying the promise of our foreign trade could hardly be devised. It has well been asked: Does the Government intend to operate at a porfit or at a loss? We need the encouragement and protection of Government for our shipping industry, but it can not afford to have the Government as a competitor. We stand for the conservation of the just interests of labor. We do not desire production, or trade, or efficiency in either for its own sake, but for the betterment of the lives of human beings. We shall not have any lasting industrial prosperity unless we buttress our industrial endeavors by adequate means for the protection of health; for the elimination of unnecessary perils to life and limb; for the safeguarding of our future through proper laws for protection of women and children in industry; for increasing opportunities for education and training. We should be solicitious to inquire carefully into every grievance, remembering that there are few disputes which can not easily be adjusted if there be an impartial examination of the facts. We make common cause in this country, not for a few, but for all; and our watchword must be cooperation, not exploitation. No plans will be adequate save as they are instinct with genuine democratic sympathy. FEDERAL COMPENSATION LAW. I stand for adequate Federal workmen's compensation laws, dealing not only with the employees of Government, but with those employees who are engaged in interstate commerce and are subject to the hazard of injury, so that those activities which are within the sphere of the constitutional authority of Congress may be dealt with under a suitable law. We propose to promote by every practicable means our agricultural interests, and we include in the program an effective system of rural credits. We favor the wise conservation of our natural resources. We desire not only that they shall be safeguarded, but that they shall be adequately developed and used to the utmost public advantage. We turn to other considerations of important policy. One of these is our attitude toward the Philippines. That, I may say, is not a question of self-interest. We have assumed international obligations which we should not permit ourselves to evade. A breach of trust is not an admissible American policy, though our opponents -have seemed to consider it such. We should administer government in the Philippines with a full recognition of our international duty, without partisanship, with the aim of maintaining the highest standards of expert administration, and in the interest of the Filipinos. This is a matter of national honor. FAVORS VOTES FOR WOMEN. I indorse the declaration of the platform in favor of woman suffrage. I do not consider it necessary to review the arguments usually advanced on the one side or the other, as my own convictions proceed from a somewhat different point of view. Some time ago a consideration of our economic conditions and tendencies, of the position of women in gainful occupations, of the nature and course of the demand, led me to the conclusion that the granting of suffrage to women is inevitable. Opposition may delay, but in my judgment. can not defeat, this movement. Nor can I see any advantages in the delay which can possibly offset the disadvantages which are necessarily incident to the continued agitation. Facts should be squarely We shall have a constantly intensified effort and a distinctly feminist movement constantly perfecting its organization, to the subversion of normal political issues. We shall have a struggle increasing in bitterness, which I believe to be inimical to our welfare. If women are to have the vote, as I believe they are, it seems to me. entirely clear that in the interest of the public life of this country the contest should be ended promptly. I favor the vote for women. Confronting every effort to improve conditions is the menace of incompetent administration. It is an extraordinary notion that democracy can be faithfully served by inexpertness. Democracy needs exact knowledge, special skill, and thorough training in its servants. I have already spoken of the disregard of proper standards in numerous instances in appointments to the diplomatic service. Unfortunately there has been a similar disregard of executive responsibility in appointments to important administrative positions in our domestic service. Even with respect to technical bureaus the demands of science have been compelled to yield to the demands of politics. THE CIVIL-SERVICE LAWS. We have erected against importunities of spoilsmen the barriers of the civil-service laws, but under the present administration enactments providing for the creation of large numbers of places have been deliberately removed from the merit system. The principles of our -civil-service laws have been shamelessly violated. We stand for fidelity to these principles and their consistent application. And, further, it is our purpose that administrative chiefs shall be men of special competence eminently qualified for their important work. Our opponents promised economy, but they have shown a reckless extravagance. They have been wasteful and profligate. It is time that we had fiscal reform. We demand a simple, businesslike budget. I believe it is only through a responsible budget, proposed by the Executive, that we shall avoid financial waste and secure proper administrative efficiency and a well-balanced consideration of new administrative proposals. We live in a fateful hour. In a true sense the contest for the preservation of the Nation is never ended. We must still be imbued with the spirit of heroic sacrifices which gave us our country and brought us safely through the days of civil war. We renew our pledge to the ancient ideals of individual liberty, of opportunity denied to none because of race or creed, of unswerving loyalty. We have a vision of America prepared and secure; strong and just; equal to her tasks; an exemplar of the capacity and efficiency of a free people. I indorse the platform adopted by the convention and accept its nomination. DETAILED INFORMATION CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE-SCREW STEEL COLLIER NO. 1 LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR TRANSMITTING DETAILED INFORMATION IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT CON- AUGUST 5, 1916.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed, with illustrations WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE |