VOL. X - NO 40
LINCOLNTON. B. C. THURSDAY FTERN0ON. JUNE 22 1916
ONE DOLLAR PER TEAR
FIERCE BATTLE FOUGHT; LOS
SES ON BOTH SIDES AMERI
CANS AND CARRANZA TROOPS
IN CLASH LATTER REPORT
THEIR VICTORY BLAME UNI
TED STATES TROOPS FOR AF
FRAY AND CLAIM SUCCESS
THEIRS OFFICERS OF ARMY
DONT BELIEVE IT EL PASO
PEOPLE THINK MEXICANS
MUST HAVE BEEN TO BLAME
EXCITEMENT SPREADS IN
AMERICAN TOWN JUAREZ
REMAINS QUIET THOUGH EVA
CUATION IS SAID TO BE PLAN-
; NED. . - -.'
El Paso, Texas, June 21---Anierican
and Carranza troops fought a san
guinary battle today on the Santo Do
mingo ranch, near the town of Car
rizul, and tonight it had not been
learned with which aide rested the
victory.
The nuth'uer of dead, American or
Mexican, was not definitely known
here, but nearly a score of Gen.
Pershing's men are said to have been
killed and the Mexicans are said to
have lost more than 40. Seventeen
Americans are declared by Mexican
officers to have been captured and
to have been hurried to Chihuahua
City under adequate guard. A ma
chine gun used by the Mexicans is
reported to have done heavy execu-
tion. .
The scene of the fight was just nine
miles southwest of Villa Ahumada,
the Mexican field headquarters in
northern Chihuahua, and the clash
occurred only a few hours after-Pres-.
ident Wilson's 6,000 word note warn
ing Carranza that the "gravest con
sequences" would follow an attack
upon American troops had gone for
ward. Tenth Cavalrv Engaged.
The Americans engaged are thought
to have been members of a troop from
the Tenth cavalry, a negro regiment,
returning from s scouting .rip to Gui
man. The size of the Mexican force,
whose commander. Gen. Felix Gomez,
was killed, is not known.
News of the battle was received in
Juarez early this afternoon by Gen.
Francisco Gonzales. Carranza com
mander of the military zone of the
border. For. some reason Gen, Gon
zales kept the story a secret until late
in the afternoon when an American,
J. C. Hubble, returning to the border
from the interior, brought to El Paso
the news that he had seen numbers
of Mexicans dead along the Mexican
Central railroad tracks at Villa Ahu-
- mada, and had been told that, there
" had been an encounter.
Gen. Gonzales' first step after con
firming the news was to issue a state
ment placing the blame on the Ameri
can commander. He charged that the
American troops- fired first on the
Mexicans ana inm meir snout werv
directed at the courier who had just
presented to them a request that they
retire.
Think MtTlnni Rptran If
American army officers declared ab
solute disbelief tonight in Gen. Gon
: zales' assertions. The opinion was ex
pressed that if the Americans fired on
the messenger they did so because it
was necessary in order to insure their
own safety.
Gen. Trevino's recent warning to
Gen. Pershing not to send his troops
east, south or west of their positions
was recalled.
Excitement spread in El Paso as ex
tras were issued and the news became
Tcnown, in view of Gen. Bell's frequent
admonitions that his soldiers could
take care of any situation that might
arise. While awaiting instructions
from headquarters at San Antonio,
Gen. Bell kept his entire force in
readiness for instant action. . -
In the meantime, however, word
came from Juarez that all was quiet,
srtnougn we news oi me oauie was
widespread there. ' ' '
Early tonight the only official de
tails of the engagement received here
came from the Mexican side of the
river. Gen. Gonzales said that his in
formation was transmitted to him
from Villa Ahumada by Col. Genoveso
Rivas, who commanded the Mexicans
after their leader, Gen. Gomez, was
slain. Gen. Gonzales also gave the
Mexican explanation oi now me two
forces came in contact.
According to Gen. Gonzales he was
informed by Gen. Gomez at Villa
Ahumada last night of the presence of
the Americans westward between Vil
la Ahumada and Ellevalle.He said he
immediately ordered Gen. Gomel to
proceed to the: Santo Domingo ranch
' "in unknown force" and advise their
commander to retire to their camp.
Would not Retire.
This, he says, Gen, Gomez did this
morning. The American commander
whose name was not given by Gen.
Gomez is said to have replied that he
was instructed to proceed to Villa
Ahumada and must do bo.
The statement issued by the Juarez
commander read;
"Immediately upon learning of the
-presence of the American troops in the
mm.
vicinitv of Carrizul. Gen. Felix Gomez
' despatched a messenger with a request
that the American commander with
draw his camp. When the American
troops remained motionless, he sent a
second disptach bearer who was fired
upon by tna American troops after he
I had delivered his message. The Amer
icans immediately moved forward and
attacked Gen. Gomez's command.
"All the prisoners admitted that the
blame should be put on the American
commander for having ordered the
attack. The prisoners were sent to
Chihuahua with the customary pro
tection." Gen. Gonzales said that the report
of the engagement was made to nim
by Lieut Col. Genoveso Rivas, who
succeeded to the command of the
Carranza troops with the fall of Gen.
Gomez.
Whichever side began the engage
ment the Mexicans had the advantage
for they provided themselves with a
machine gun and this, is supposed to
have done deadly execution in the
ranks of the . Americans. That the
latter were not inefficient, however,
was proved by the number of Mexi
can dead ana wounded removed to
Villa Ahumada and seen by Ameri
cans coming north on a train bounj
for Juarez.
I Short But Bloodv
The battle began at 10:30 a. m., and
lasted not more than an hour. It ap
parently ended with both sides with
drawing.! The failure of Gen. Per
shing to report on it indicated that
the American survivors had not yet
returned to their base early tonight.
A story brought to El Paso by J.
C. Hubble, an American, who has
been employed by the Compania Agri
cola at Bouquilfo. bears out several
of the details of the engagement pre
sented by Gen. Gonzales. Bubble's
story was corroborated by James
Maxey, another American, who also
was on his way to El Paso from the
interior. Hubble and Maxey said that
while their train was stopping at Villa
Ahumada. they noticed numbers of
dead and wounded being brought in
and were told by a Carranza captain
that a battlo had taken place. The
captain informed them that said,
that a number of American prisoners
had been locked in a cattle car and
were being taken tQ Chihuahua City
to be hanged.
They met Mexican soldiers who told
them that several hundred Americans
and 120 Mexicans had been engaged.
"The Mexican officers at Villa
Ahumada treated us with the great
est courtesy," said Mr. Hubble. "They
answered our Questions quietly and
with no show of antipathy or excite
ment. "According to the story they told
us the Mexican command was con
cealed in the underbrush when it dis
covered the American cavalrymen
riding toward them over the sand.
Gen. Felix Gomez the Mexican com
mander, immediately sent a courier
asking for a parley under a flag of
truce with the American commander.
The parley was arranged and as the
Mexican leader and two aides started
forward the Americans suddenly de
ployed in a semi-ciimlar skirmish
line.
J'Gcn.. Gomez apparently believing
he was about to be attacked, raised
his arm and signaled a machine gun
in the roar to open fire on the Amer
icans. The machine gun swept the
cavalry ranks, causing heavy losses.
"Immediately, however ,a detain
ment of American troopars dashed for
ward under heavy fire, to the centre
of the field where Gen. Gomez and
his staff were sitting on their horses.
In the resultant encounter one of the
cavalrymen killed the Mexican leader
with his pistol while the remainder
of the Carranza party escaped to their
own lines."
Hubble and Maxey said some of the
Mexicans openly boasted that the
Americans had been drawn .into an
ambush.
The two Americans said their infor
mation was that the American dead
numbered 17 and that the Mexicans
had taken 40 prisoners. Neither Maxey
nor Hubble was able to learn wheth
er the Mexicans had retreated, it be
iru pointed out that all of the Mex
icans with whom they, talked appar
ently left the field before the engage
ment had been completed. '
Late tonight preparations appar
ently were under way for the peace
ful evacuation of Juarez. Several
troop trains were pulled into the
railroad yards; Andreas Garcia, Mex
ican consul in El Paso.crossed the Rio
Grande after the first reports of the
engagement and remained with Gen.
Gonzales through the night. He kept
in touch with Gen. Bell on the Amer
ican side by telephone, however,
Neither the 'Consul nor the Mexican
military authorities would discuss the
report of the proposed evacaution.
A large number of citizens of the
town were busy loading their house
hold goods on vans and other vehi
cles ostensibly to transport them to
the south.
Numerous persons gathered about
the plaza immediately when news of
the battle became public but there
were no demonstrations.
Mexicans apparently confined
'themselves to speculation as to tho
consequences. Heavy patrols were
thrown into the streets with instruc-j
tions to put down any disorders.
At Gen. Gonzalos' headquarters a '
victory for Mexico wai being claimed. I
The scene in the front room of the
Commandancia where tho younger
officers were gathered- was holiday
like. Several of them, speaking of
the battle sa'd, "We won.
They remained composed how
ever, and made little reference to
the incident.
Juarez first lamed of the fieht in
a vague form in the early afternoon.
The civilian population then began
to pack.
Many already had left for interior
points by a morning train in inticipa-1
tion of the trouble. Others crossed
to El Paso later in tho day. I
A curious 3cene of the late day was '
a procession of civilians carrying ;
arms. In age they ranged from Email 1
boys, not as tall as their guns, to old
men. Most of them were in the ragged
dress of the peon but so mo belonged
to the better elaes. I
Warlike activity was first noted at.
the. railway yard where a number of
men were employed in stowing sacks
of beans and flour, forage and other
army supplies into freight cars bear-
ing the name of the f.rmy, corps of the
north. Late in the afternoon a rather
large body of Mexican cavalry paused
through the town towards the hills, j
Grave Apprehension Over Newest De
velopment in Mexican Situation. ,
Washington, June 21-Reports that
American and Carranza troopers had
clashed, aroused gravest apprehension I
here tonight for future relations be
tween the United States and the Mexi
can de facto government, already
strained almost to the breaking point.
Officials decHned to make any
phophecy as to the next . step of the .'
Washington government, saying that!
until details of the incident had been''
cleared up it could not be determined
whether a crisis had been precipitat
ed. They made no effort to conceal i
their anxiety but were not ready to .
abandon hope that an official account
of what happened at Carrizal would I
remove the more threatening elements
of the situation.
San Antonio, June 20. Facing!
(..arranza s army in Northern Mexico
there will be stationed along the Rio
Grande within a week or ten days an
American force that will total, it was
stated today almost 70,000 men.
General Funston has requested the
War Department to send him as
quickly as possible a large part of
the National Guardsmen and advices
reveived late today indicated that en
training of the first troops would be
begun tomorrow. Some of them will
be brought to San Antonio and held
as a reserve but others will be with
in sight of Mexico when they get off
the trains.
General Funston did not announce
how many men he has asked for but
it is known that he expects not less
than 28,000 men will be sent.
Already the border army, made up
of regulars and the militiamen - of
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.com
prises more than 40,000,
Army officers here do not" regard
the quiet prevailing all along the line
today as indicative of any improved
condition. - ' -
Reports continue to indicate that
bandits are operating just south of
the international line and that new
incursions may be expected at any
time.
The quartermaster department will
probably advertise tomorrow for bids
on horses and mules for which the
Army must pay at the prevailing mar
ket price, more than $10.000,000. . In
structions that were received today
announced that the Army was in the
market for 26,600 cavalry horsos; 16,
100 artillery horses, 8,000 wheel
mules, 8,100 lead mules and 8,000
pack mules.
Army officers here believe it not
improbable that Carranza could equip
150,000 men, and the best estimates
obtainable indicate his army now is
about 100,000.
In the northern States the Mexican
force was estimated at approximately
45,000 the greater part of which is
within striking distance of General
Pershing's column. Additional details
about the bandit attack on the San
Ignacio garrison were contained in
General Mann's weekly report to
General Funston. . . Revised . figures
showed that nine bandits were killed,
four wounded and five captured. The
Americans killed six horses, captured
an equal number, and took 16 rifles
When the outlaws were driven off they
abandoned 32 bombs and 45 pounds
of dynamite near camp. All of the
Mexicans killed were found to have
100 pounds of ammunition in their
belts.
Foreign Governments Thought To B
Influencing Mexico.
Washington, June 21. While Gen.
Carranza is studying the American
note rejecting his demand for with
drawal of Pershing's expedition, Euro
pean diplomats are exerting pressure
on the first chief to prevent him from
going to war with the United States,
it was learned here today. Some inti
mation as to what - Curranza's next
step will be was expected hourly to
night at the state department.
Special Agent Rodgers reported to
day that the Mexican cabinet had un
der consideration the A merican note
but was unable to forecast ' what
action would be taken. His message
threw little light on what was going
on in the Mexican capital.
From other sources, however, came
the news that the entente allies are
particularly anxious that nothing
should occur at this time to shut off
the oil supplies for "the French and
British navies from tho Tampico fields
and are bringing pressure to bear to
prevent a break.
.. Allied diplomatic representatives in
Mexico believe, too, that German In
fluences have been- working on Car
ranza in an effort to create a situa
tion that might. embarrass the ene
mies of the central powers.
. They have asserted that German
agencies have been active in stirring
up feeling against the United States
not only in Mexico but throughout
South and Central America to prevent
this country from securing trade for
merly controlled by German mer
chants. ;
STATE. TROOPS WILL MOVE TO
MOREHEAD CITY CAMP
SATURDAY.
Raleigh dispatches state that that
city is making en effort to have some
of the State soldiers encamp at Ral
eigh, but there has been no change
from the first order for all to go in
camn at Morehead.
General Young' says the full five
days from the date' of the call to
arms will elapse before there is any
movement of troops for mobilization,
the time being necessary to clear up
matters oi equipment ana tor enlist
ment to war strength at the home
stations. The first movement to camp
will be by the First' Infantry ot Sat
urday. From all the companies called
out there corne reports of gratifying
progress in enlistments with enthu
siastic response to the call by mem
bers of the companies. Col. J. T. Gard
ner, Col. W. & Rodman and Col. W,
E. Minor, of- tho three Yegiments here
along with Paymaster General J. E.
Peterson, giving their personal at
tention to mutters in preparation for
the mobilization movements. Many
railroad men are here looking after
the proposals for the movement of
troops to the concentration point.
Orders, issued lute tonight provide
for the mobilization movement to be
gin Saturday whea the companies of
the First Regiment will be transport
ed from their home stations to Camp
Glenn. The Secotjd and Third Regi
ments will follow M interval of three
days each. Adjutant General Young
says mobilization preliminaries are
moving splendidly with rapid enlist
ment to war stprngth.
BRIDE OF SIX WEEKS
OFFERS HER SERVICE.
Fayetteville, June 20. Perhaps the
first woman in North Carolina to vol
unteer for service as a nurse in Mex
ico is Mrs. A. B. Breece, of this city,
a bride of six weeks, whose husband
is a member of, company F, second
regiment, North, -Ci-oliwi,, national
guard.' Mrs.' Brcocb, a (trained nurse,
has offered her services to Mai. J. V.
McGougan, chief surgeon of the sec
ond regiment medical corps, and says
that she is willing to go anywhere
that the second regiment goes.
Her husband, A. B. Breece, is also
placed in an unusual position bv the
call to arms. Mr. Breece is a candidate
for the legislature from Cumberland
county.
Wheeling, W. Va., June 20. The
services of the Uniform rank of the
Junior Order United American Me
chanics in the event of war with Mex
ico, was tendered today by the grand
council in session here.
GERMAN BANKER UNDER
DETENTION AT EL PASO.
El Paso, Tex,, June 20. Frederick
Griese, a German .br.nker of Mexico
City, was under detention by agents
o the department of justice here to
day charged with violation of the
United Mates neutrality laws, uricse
was prevented last night from cross
ing into Mexico.
Agents from the department of jus
tice are maintaining secrecy regard
ing - the exact allegations . against
Griese pending investigation. It is
said, however, that this detention is
an outcome of various reports regard
ing- the- spreading of r.nti-Amcricun
propoganda in Mexico.
County s Young
hood Put To Test
The Nation Calls Its Young Men
To Rally To Its Defense.
WILL LINCOLN COUNTY YOUNG MEN MEET THIS
ISSUE AS DID THEIR FOREFATHERS? IF SO,
ENLIST IN TROOP A, 1ST N. C. CAVALRY. THIS
IS THE UNIT THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED
HERE FOR YOU.
Fifty More Men
WANTED
The Need !Is Urgent
Apply At Armory
IT IS UP TO THIS COUNTY TO DO
ITS DUTY TO THE NATION.
W. A. FAIR. Capt.,
Comdg. Troop A.
SHORTi NEWS ITEMS
In less than 24 hours after he heard
that he had been re-elected mavor of
Martinsville, Va., for the next two
years, H. B. Hundley went into a lit
I tie room over his hardware store and
l committed suicide. Business affairs
are said to be involved and he was
blue, but in good health.
( Virginia cities experienced a mildly
"blue Sunday' 'under the new ouster
law. Soft drink stands were closed
in many places, gasoline sales . pro
hibited in some, cigar and tobacco
sales were greatly curtailed and in
Newport News and Norfolk the law
has resulted in the abolishment of the
segregated districts.
The woman suffragists didn't get
what , they wanted from either the
Democrats or the Republicans. They
want an amendment to the Federal
constitution providing for equal suf-
trage and ooth conventions referred
the suffrage question to the States.
Some of the women boast that they
have 4,000,000 women voters and
$500,000 in cash to give somebody
trouble.
The estate of the late Dr. T.
W. Long of Newton is estimated to
be worth $35,000 to $40,000 or per
haps more. He owned valuable town
and country property, bank stock, etc.
The Chimney Rock motor drive,
costing $20,000 and leading to the
foot of the famous chimney, will be
formally opened July 4.
Mrs. Madalaine Force Astor, young
widow of John Jacob Astor, the mil
lionaire who lost his life in tho wreck
of the Titanic was married yesterday
at Bar Harbor, Me., to W. K. Dick,
a friend of her childhood. Under the
term of the will of her late husband
Mrs. Astor by the marriage loses the
income of $5,000,000 given her in the
Astor will and the right to live in the
Astor Fifth Avenue mansion, one of
the most palatial homes in New York.
She retains the property Astor gave
her at the time of "their marriage.
Thirty American residents of La
redo, Texas, Thursday led Leo. D.
Walker, a Mexican and managing ed
itor of El Progreso, a Mexican news
paper published at Laredo, into Mex
ico at the point of revolvers and or
dered him iiot to return. El Progrcso
has recently contained editorials
abusing the United States govern
ment. The committee notified other
attaches of the El Progeso to cease
publication immediately.
The Burke County Good Roads;
Association is planning for a good
roads rally at Morganton July 4th.
Col. J. T. Gardner of Shelby, com
manding the first N. C. regiment has
been sued for $10,000 by J. R. Aiken
of Lexington who alleges he was ar
rested and locked up U Charlotte May
20. on orders of the colonel, who
acted illegally and bevond his author
ity. During the cheering following the
nomination of the president Thursday
night a phone wire was connected with
the white house and the president
plainly heard the cheering in St.
Louis.
There are now 1,533 patients in
the Morganton hospital for the insane,
and the place is crowded. A new
building for 100 women patients will
be ready in the fall. Tlie rata of ap
plications for admission has been in
creasing steadily.
V. G. Beckham of Hiddenite writes
The Statesville Landmark that it has
been 100 years since a supreme court
judge had the nerve to run for presi
dent and names the judges of that
court who have been beaten Rich
ard H. Harrison of Maryland, 1789;
John Jay, chief justice, ran three
times; Judge James Iredell of North
Carolina ran in 1796; John Marshall
ran in 1816 for vice president and
was beaten. He was the last supreme
court justice to try national politics.
If history repeats itself, Justice
Hughes is doomed to defeat.
One of the funniest things that
have been printed recently is the
characterization by Uncle Joe Cannon
of .Mr.. Wilson as a czar. Think of
Joe Cannon calling any one a czar.
Man
THE NATIONAL
State
DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM
Principal Planks in Party's Declara
tion In St. Louie Convention The
Record of Achievement and Prom
ises For The .Future On What It
Has Done and What It Proposes
To Do, the Party Appeals to The
Country For a Vote of Confidence.
The prinicipal planks in the plat
form of the national Democratic par
ty, adopted at St. Louis, are given
herewith:
: Record of Achievement.
We indorse the administration of
Woodrow Wilson. .
We challenge comparison of our
record, our keeping of pledges and
our constructive legislation, with
those of any party of any time. :
Uur archaic banking and currency
system, prolific of panic and disaster
under Republican administrations
long the refuge of the money trust
has been supplanted by the Federal
reserve act, a true democracy of
credit under government control, al
ready proved a financial bulwark in
a world crisis, mobilizing our re
sources, placing abundant credit at
the disposal of legitimate industry.
and making a currency panic impos
sible.
We have created a Federal trade
commission to accommodate the per
plexing questions arising under the
anti-trust laws so that monopoly
may be strangled at its birth ana le
gitimate industry encouraged. Fair
competition in business is now as
sured. Wo have effected an adjustment of
the tariff adequate for revenue under
peace conditions and fair to the con
sumer and to the purchaser. We have
adjusted the burdens of taxation so
that swollen incomes bear their equit
able shares. Our revenues have been
sufficient in times of world stress,
and will largely exceed the expendi
tures tor the current hscal year.
We have lifted human labor from
the category of commodities, and
have secured to the workingman the
right of voluntary association for his
protection and welfare. We have
protected the rights of the laborer
against the unwarranted issuance of
writs of injunction, and have guar
anteed to him the right of trial by
jury cases of alleged contempt
committed outside the presence of the
court.
- We have advanced the parcel post
to genuine efficiency, enlarged the
postal savings system, added 10,000
rural delivery routes and extension,
thus reaching two and one-half mil
lions additional people, improved the
postal service in every branch, and
for the first time in oui history,
placed the postoffice system on a
self-supporting basis, with actual
surpluses in 1913, 1914 and 1916.
Tariff.
We affirm our belief in the doctrine
of a tariff for the purpose of pro
viding sufficient revenue for the oper
ation of the government economically
administered and unreservedly in
dorse the Underwood tariff law as
truly exemplifying that doctrine.
Two years of a war which has di
rectly involved most of the chief in
dustrial nations of the world, and
which has indirectly affected the life
and industry of all nations.are bring
ing ubout economic changes more va
ried and far-reaching than the world
has ever before experienced. In or
der to ascertain just what those
changes may be, the Democratic Con
gress is providing for a non-partisan
tariff commission to make impartial
and thorough study of every econom
ic fact that may throw light either
upon our past or upon our future fis
cal policy, with regard to the impo
sition Of taxes on imports or - with
regard to the changed and changing
conditions under which our trade is
carried on. We cordially indorse
this timely proposal and declare our
selves in sympathy with the principle
and purpose of shaping legislation
within that field in accordance with
clearly established facts rather than
in accordance with trade demands or
selfish interests or upon information
provided largely, if not exclusively,
by them.
Americanism.
The part that the United States
will play in tho new day of interna
tional relationship which is now up
on us will depend upon our prepara
tion and our character. The Demo
cratic party therefore recognizes the
assertion and triumphant demonstra
tion of indivisibility and coherent
strength of the nation, as the su
preme issue of this day, in which the
whole world faces the crisis of mani
fold change. It summons all men, of
whatever origin or creed, wno would
count themselves Americans, to Join
in makine clear to all the world the
unity and consequent power of
America.
This is an issue of patriotism. To
taint it with partisanship would be to
defile it. In this day ot test America
lvuiKt show itself, not a nation Of par
tisans, but a nation of patriots. There
is gathered here in America the best
of the blood, the industry and the
genius of the whole world, the ele
ments of a great race and a magnin
cent society to be melted into i
mierhtv and splendid nation.
Whoever .actuated by the purpose
to promote the interest of a foreign
power in disregard of our own coun
try s welfare or to mjuro tnis govern
ment m its foreign relations or crip
pie. or destroy its industries at home
and whoever, by arousing prejudices
of a racial, religious or other nature
creates discord and strife among our
people so as to obstruct the whole
some process of unification, is faith
less to the trust which the privilege
of citizenship repose in him, and dis
loyal to his country.
we therefore condemn, as suriver
sive of this nation's unity and integ
rity, and as destructive of its wel
fare, the activities and designs of ev
ery group or organization, political or
otherwise, that has for its object the
advancement of the interest of a for
eign power, whether such object
promoted by intimidating the govern-
, ... party, or represen-
ol the people, or which is cal-
culatod and tends to divide our people
into antagonistic groups and thug to
destroy that complete agreement and
solidarity of the people and that uni
ty of sentiment and national purpose
so essential to the perpetuity of the
nation, and its free institutions.
We condemn all alliances and com
binations of individuals in this coun
try, of whatever nationality or de
scent, who agree and couspire togeth
er for the purpose of embarrassing or
weakening our government or of im
properly influencing or ccercing our
public representatives in dnp.ling or
negotiating with any foreign power,
We charge that such conspiracies
among a limited number exist and
have beon instigated for the purpose
of advancing the interests of foreign
countries to the prejudice und detri
ment of our own country. We con
demn any political party which in
view of the activity of such conspira
tors surrenders its integrity or mod
ifies its policy.
Preparedness.
- We favor the maintenance of an
army fully adequate to the require
ments of order, of safety and of the
protection of the nation's rights, the
fullest development of modern meth
ods of seacoast defence and the main
tenance of an adequate loserve of cit
izens trained to arms and prepared
to safeguard the people and territory
of the Unitod States against any
danger of hostile action which may
unexpectedly arise, and a fixed nolicv
for the continuous development, of a
navy worthy to support the great
naval traditions of the United States
and fully equal to the international
tasks which the United States hopes
and. expects to take a part in per
forming. The plans and enactments
of the present Congress afford sub
stantial proof of our own purpose in
this exigent matter.
International Relations.
The Democratic administration has
throughout the present war scrupu
lously and successfully held to the
aid paths of neutrality and of the
peaceful pursujt of tho legitimate ob
jects of oui' national fife, which
statesmen of all parties and creed
have prescribed for themselves in
America since the beginning of our
history.
We believe that every peoplo has
the right to choose the sovereignty
under which it shall live; that tho
small States of the world have a right
to enjoy from other nations the same
respect for their sovereignty and for
their territorial integrity that great
and powerful nations expect and in
sist upon; and that the world has a
right to be free from every disturb
ance of its peace that has its origin
in aggression or disregard of the
rights of peoples and nations; and we
believe that the time has come when
it is the duty of the United States to
join with the other nations of the
world in any feasible association that
will effectively serve these princi
ples, to maintain inviolate the com
plete security of the highway of the
seas for the common and unhindered
use of all nations.
The present administration : has
consistently sought to act upon and
ealize in its conduct ot the foreign
affairs of the nation the principle
that should be the object of any as
sociation of the nations formed to se
cure the peace of the world and the
maintenance of national and individ
ual rights. It has followed the high
est American traditions. It has
preferred respect for the fundamen
tal rights of smaller States even to
property interests and has secured
the friendship of the people of the
States of the United States by refus
ii.g to make a mere material interest
an excuse for the assertion of our
superior power against the dignity of
their sovereign independence.
It has regarded the lives of its citi
zens and the claims of humanity as of
greater moment than material
rights and peaco as the best basis for
the just settlement of commercial
claims. It has made the honor and
ideals of the United States its stand
ard alike in neeotiations and action.
Mexico.
The Monroe doctrine is reasserted
as a principle of Democratic faith.
leh want of a stable, responsible
government in Mexico, capable of
repressing and punishing marauders
taken lives, and seized and destroyed
tho property of American citizens in
that country, but have insolently in
vaded our soil, made war upon and
murdered our people thereon, has
rendered it necessary temporarily to
occupy, by our armed forces a por
tion of the territory of that friendly
State. Until, by the restoration of
law and order therein, a repetition of
such incursions is improbable, t he
necessity for their remaining will
continue.
Intervention, implying as it does.
military subjugation, is revolting to
the people of the United States, not
withstanding the provocation to that
course has been great, and should be
resorted to, if at all only as a last re
sort. The stubborn resistance of tho
President and his advisers to every ,
demand and suggestion to enter upon
it, is creditable alike to them and to
the people in whose name they speak,
woman sunrage.
We recommend the extension of the
a -: 1
by the States upon the same terms as
to men. . .
The suffrage plank submitted by
the minority, which was rejected
reads:
The Democratic party has always
stood for the sovereignty of tho sev
eral States in the control and regula
tion of elections. We reaffirm the
historic position of our party in this
regard and favor tho continuance of
that wise provision of tho Federal
constitution which vests in the sever
al States of the Union the power to
prescribe the qualifications of their
electors; which said last quoted pro
vision was voted down in said com
mittee by a vote of 26 to 17, and we
hereby tender said provision as a mi
nority report and ask, its adoption Dy
this convention."
- , Labor.
We declare our faith in the sea-
mens' act, passed by the Democratic
Congress and we promise our earr
est continuance of its enforcement.
We favor the speedy enactment ot
an effective Federal child labor law
Continued oa Uat peg