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1932
Prohibition Party Platform
Preamble
We, the representatives of the National Prohibition
Party in National Convention
assembled at Indianapolis, July 6, 1932, devoutly recognize the supreme
authority and just government of Almighty God in the affairs of men and
nations
and declare that, only by obedience to the principles enunciated by the
Prince
of Peace, can our Country hope for deliverance from the tribulations now
upon
us as a people or upon this basis we make the following declarations:
Prohibition
The liquor traffic never willingly obeyed any
restrictive measures before prohibition,
has not obeyed the law under prohibition, nor can it be expected to
obey any restrictive measures should the Eighteenth Amendment be repealed
or modified.
The difficulty of enforcing any such restrictive measures would be greater
than that now experienced.
We unequivocally oppose the repeal or weakening
of the Eighteenth Amendment or
of the laws enacted thereunder, and insist upon the strengthening of such
laws.
Being unanimously agreed upon the principle, having within our ranks no
voter
opposed thereto, this party if placed in power by voters of like mind,
can
and will co-ordinate all the powers of Government, Federal, State and
local,
strictly to enforce, by adequate and unescapable punishment of all violators,
this wise and beneficent law. Concurrently with such enforcement activities
a constructive and comprehensive educational campaign will be conducted,
stressing the evil effects of alcoholic beverages.
We indict and condemn the Republican and Democratic
parties for the continued nullification
of the Eighteenth Amendment and their present determination to repeal
that amendment on the excuse that it cannot be enforced, and reiterate
that
adequate enforcement cannot be had from a party dependent on pro-liquor
votes
for success at the polls.
Economic
Relief
The country finds itself in the depths of the
most severe depression in its history.
As a result of unemployment, the orgy of gambling on the stock exchanges,
bank failures and consequent loss of confidence, millions of dollars have
been withdrawn from banks and hoarded. The banks, in their turn are hoarding
untold millions in their vaults, refusing to lend even on prime security.
Thus a severe contraction of the currency actually in circulation, and
of credit based thereon, has taken place with the consequent fall in prices
and general business
stagnation usually following such contraction. To stop this
contraction, now constantly growing greater, and to restore the amount
of money
in actual circulation to normal proportions, with consequent expansion
of credit,
we advocate the purchase by the government of legally issued bonds of
States
and subdivisions thereof, now unable to market same through banks and
bank-controlled
agencies, to an amount sufficient to accomplish this purpose, paying
therefore by the issue of legal-tender treasury notes, directly to the
people
through such States and subdivisions without the intermediary of the banking
system, such bonds to be gradually retired by repayment to the government.
Would
Set Up Council.
To further restore and maintain normal prosperity,
an economic council will be
created to be composed of the best and most sincere leaders in the fields
of economics,
agriculture, labor, finance, commerce, and industry, for the consideration
and development of further measures such as:
- Regulation of stock
exchange and boards of trade;
- Rehabilitation of
wage schedules and hours of labor;
- Revision of tariff
schedules;
- Revision of the
banking system to assure safety of deposits;
- Development of a
comprehensive economic plan to stabilize industry;
- Relief of the destitute
and unfortunate;
- Governmental unemployment
and other insurance;
- The revaluation
of all utilities, transportation systems and basic industries
in order to
disclose actual values so that earnings may
be freed to pay
a just schedule of
wages and increase employment;
- Any other related
measures designed to assure economic security.
Taxation
We pledge an economical administration of government.
Waste, extravagance, duplication
in public office, unnecessary commissions and bureaus, padded payrolls
and graft cost more than the amount required to pay the soldiers' bonus
and feed the poor. We condemn the plan of the old political parties to
raise
revenue on beer, wine and whisky as being a scheme to tax the poor and
exempt
the rich. Vast increase in revenue can be obtained by compelling the payment
of taxes on huge amounts of property now escaping taxation.
Agriculture
To aid
agriculture, we favor the principle of the equalization fee, or such other
measure as may be agreed upon by the leading farm organizations of the
United
States.
Conservation
We condemn the prodigal waste and criminal
exploitation of the nation's coal, timber,
oil, water power and other natural resources by private interests. All
such
remaining resources should be utilized and developed under government
control
for the benefit of all the people.
Reform
of Judicial Procedure
We pledge a comprehensive reform in judicial
procedure to eliminate legal technicalities
and to secure speedy and substantial justice, and the abolition of
unjust injunctions.
Foreign
Representatives
All representatives of the United States Government
in foreign nations should
be required to observe the principles of the Eighteenth Amendment, and
we
condemn the negligence of the present administration in not requiring
such observance.
We also demand that representatives of foreign nations in this country
shall not be permitted liquor concessions denied to American citizens.
Motion
Pictures
We favor Federal control at the source of the
output of the motion picture industry
to prevent the degrading influence of immoral pictures and insidious propaganda
connected therewith.
Unjust
Ballot Laws
We denounce the enactment by the Republican
and Democratic parties in many States
of unjust and discriminatory election laws that make it almost impossible
for minor parties to retain their place on the official ballot, or for
new parties to be formed.
Peace
We declare our abhorrence of war and favor
continued efforts for peaceful settlement
of international differences, the reduction of military armaments and
the entrance of our country into the World Court.
Alien
Representation
Representation in State and Federal legislative
bodies should be based on citizenship
and not on population.
Free
Institutions
We reiterate our position in favor of free
speech and a free press.
Child
Labor
We favor the abolition of all child labor in
mills, factories, and other industries,
that their places may be taken by adult laborers.
Public
Utilities
We favor the governmental ownership of all
public utilities which can be owned
and operated by the Federal government, all proceeds above the cost of
operation
to be applied to the support of the Federal government.
Conclusion
On these principles the national Prohibition
party invites all those who favor
suppression of the liquor traffic, the enforcement of law, honesty and
efficiency
in administration, and the building of a better citizenship to join with
us in a new political alignment to achieve these great objectives.
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