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We, the representatives of the Prohibition
Party, assembled in national convention at Indianapolis, Indiana, November
13, 14, and 15, 1951, recognizing Almighty God as the source of all just
government and with faith in the teachings of the Prince of Peace, do
solemnly promise that, if our party is chosen to administer the affairs
of this nation, we will use all the powers of our administration to serve
the people of the United States. We reaffirm our loyalty to the Constitution
of the United States. We have supreme confidence in this form of Government
to meet all changing national and world conditions. Constitutional
Government We are strongly opposed to atheistic communism
and every other form of totalitarianism. We deplore their infiltration
throughout the nation. We challenge all loyal citizens to work against
this menace to civilization. We are convinced that the best safeguard
against these dangerous doctrines is to protect the rights of our citizens
by enforcing the provisions of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Governmental
Economy Extravagant spending has set an example of
wasteful governmental operation. We believe it is unjust for any government
to take nearly one-third of the total income of its citizens to pay the
expense of government. We believe that government ought not to do for
the people what they can do for themselves. We promise to reorganize the
federal government, abolishing all departments and bureaus that cannot
qualify when measured by this principle. Taxes The constant increase in taxation is approaching
the point of confiscation and economic bankruptcy. With proper economy,
governmental costs will be lowered, making it possible to reduce the public
debt and lighten the tax load for the average citizen. World
Peace and Order We believe in World Peace. Having united with other nations to restore
world order and preserve world peace, our nation should lead in subordinating
selfish interests for the common good. The leadership to be entrusted with this
task should be men whose dependence for wisdom and guideance is upon Almighty
God. Religious
Liberty We believe in religious liberty. By religious liberty we mean the freedom
of individual worship and fellowship and the right to evangelize, and
educate, and establish religious institutions. When religious liberty
is lost political liberty perishes with it. Universal
Military Training Believing that compulsory military training
in peacetime in our country would not represent a safeguard for world
peace, would be contrary in principle to our American way of life, would
place an unnecessary burden upon our peacetime economy, would lead only
to military dictatorship, and would, under existing conditions, lead to
the moral and spiritual deterioration of our youth, we declare our opposition
to any program of peacetime compulsory military training. Public
Morality and Law Enforcement Moral and spiritual considerations should
be primary factors in determining national policies. We will strengthen
and enforce laws against gambling, narcotics, and commercialized vice,
now so openly violated and nullified by the inaction of the parties in
power, and thus prevent further disintigration of the public morals. We oppose the present nullification of law by non-enforcement and
will maintain the integrity of democracy by enforcing the Constitution
and the laws enacted under it. Honesty
in Government There is a law of cause and effect which
rules in the affairs of men. With the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment
there has been a rapid decline in the moral standards of the nation, culminating
in such revelations as those made by the Senate Crime Investigating Committee.
We pledge ourselves to break this unholy alliance between organized crime
and those in positions of trust in the government at all levels. Free
Enterprise We deplore the current trend toward a socialistic
state, with its increasing emphasis upon governmental restraint of free
enterprise, regulation of our economic life, and federal interference
with individual freedom. We declare ourselves in favor of freedom of opportunity,
private industry financed within the structure of the present anti-trust
laws, and an economic program based upon sound business practice. Labor
and Industry Labor organizations are entitled to great
credit for improving the status of the workers and for their constructive
contributions to the general welfare. It is our purpose to give the public
welfare paramount consideration. Neither capital nor labor can be permitted
to dominate at the expense of the other or of the common good. We favor
the compulsory arbitration of labor disputes. Social
Security and Old Age Pensions We endorse the general principle of social
security, including all employed groups. We deplore, however, the widespread
current abuses of its privileges and the maladministration of its provisions
for political ends, and pledge ourselves to correct these evils. Money The Constitution provides that Congress shall
have the power to 'coin money' and 'regulate the value thereof.' This
is a sound and feasible monetary policy which we promise to re-establish
and enforce. No
Racial Discrimination Recognizing that 'God created of one blood
all nations to dwell upon the face of the earth,' we declare in favor
of full justice and equal opportunity for all people, regardless of race,
creed, or national origin. Marriage
and Divorce We favor the enactment of uniform marriage
and divorce laws as a help toward maintaining the sanctity of the home. Separation
of Church and State The American principle of separation of Church
and State must be maintained. We are opposed to the appropriation of public
money for any sectarian purpose. Ballot
Law Reform We demand the repeal of the many state ballot
laws which have been enacted to make the two-party system a bipartisan
political monopoly by keeping minor parties off the ballot, thus denying
to independent voters and minority groups the fundamental right of free
political expression. Prohibition As the result of the repeal of the Eighteenth
Amendment the government now endorses an industry whose product deranges
the mind of the user and whose propaganda perverts the judgement of its
citizens. We do not believe that our nation can long
survive if this trend continues. No other political issue confronting our
citizens compares in magnitude with the necessity for suppressing the
alcohol beverage traffic. The present liquor conditions, which are
far worse than ever before, are due in large measure to the action of
the two major parties when they adopted platform planks designed to destroy
the Eighteenth Amendment. The moral forces have to contend with the
liquor power which is well financed, competently organized, and is creating
an ever-growing appetite for its products among youth and adults through
its promotion of the sale of alcoholic beverages. This power dominates
our politics and government. It controls large numbers of voters. Every
saloon or tavern is a center for mobilizing and controlling votes. Both
parties are subservient to the liquor power. As long as good citizens
continue to give their votes to the liquor parties, as long as they continue
to be yoked by party membership with the liquor interests and the underworld,
they will be incapable of making moral principles prevail. What is needed is a re-alignment of voters
and the union of good citizens in a party unitedly committed to prohibition. We summon the voters of America to help elect
the Prohibition Party to power. We will then marshal the resources of
the government — executive, legislative and judicial — to
overthrow the liquor traffic and usher in a new day for America. |