1936 Prohibition Party Platform

Preamble

  After three and a half years of Republican administration, and three and a half years of Democratic administration since the depression, we find our gravest problems unsolved, the morals of the people greatly undermined and the national morals broken down to an incredible extent.

  It is plain that the crass materialism of our dominant parties; their abandonment of moral precepts; their flouting of the majesty of the law; their double dealing; their supreme self interest must be replaced by a return to the early American principles of dependence upon Almighty God as the source of all just government and to a following of the principles of the Prince of Peace.

  The conclusion is inevitable that the prosperity and progress of the nation can come only through the spiritual and moral regeneration of the people manifested in government.

Prohibition

  We denounce the bipartisan conspiracy by which the Eighteenth Amendment was removed from the Constitution and the nation reopened to the exploitation of the people by a legalized liquor traffic.

  Respect for this great moral provision of our Constitution had been weakened by the maladministration to which it was subjected by the two old parties. Both parties are organically incapable of effective enforcement by reason of the two-sided `wet-dry' character of each party and their dominmant leadership.

  Eighty years' history of non-partisan prohibition in three great prohibition waves has demonstrated that the great obstacles to the maintenance and effectiveness of prohibition has been the lack of a united party behind it.

  We seek to unite the opponents of the liquor traffic and then marshal all the powers of government for the complete suppression of that traffic.

  We present a sane, liberal and comprehensive program on the great problems of our time.

World Peace

  We pledge ourselves to use every possible means to promote world peace and the settlement of international misunderstandings by arbitration.

Taxes

  Must be reduced. Unnecessary governmental functions must be curtailed and the multitude of political jobs abolished. Taxes should be levied in accordance with ability to pay.

  Assessments should be uniform and without favor. There should be no tax exemptions.

Crime

  We seek to diminish crime, first by suppressing the traffic in alcoholics and other narcotics, which pervert the brains of the people; second, by bringing about a re-alignment of politics which shall unite the anti-crime voters and overcome the alliance of the underworld with the political machines; third, by effective enforcement of the law, and fourth, by the reform and modernization of antiquated and outmoded system of judicial procedure.

Old Age Pensions

  Our party was the first party to declare for old age pensions. We acknowledge the responsibility of government to adequately care for those handicapped by advanced age or other disabilities.

Unemployment

  We must continue to accept responsibility for taking care of the unemployed until such time as industry is able to re-employ them.

Distribution

  We seek a better distribution of economic goods so that the increased consumption of the products of factory and farm may produce complete employment of labor without interruption.

Currency

  The privately owned Federal Reserve Banks should no longer have the special privilege of issuing the currency of the United States and of profiting financially thereby. Congress should resume the exercise of its constitutional right to coin money and fix the value thereof.

  We favor a sound legal tender currency, issued directly by the United States government to the people, through the several States and subdivisions thereof, in exchange for an equal amount of legally issued bonds of such States and subdivisions, the funds thus obtained to be used partially for the construction of necessary public works, but chiefly in retiring present tax exempt bonds, as soon as the same shall become due and callable. To prevent undue expansion of bank credit based on such increased emission of currency, we favor a proportionate increase in the cash reserve requirements behind such credit. No further tax exempt securities whatever should be issued, and all those now outstanding whether Federal, State or local, should be retired and cancelled as soon as practicable.

  Thus we would substitute for the present irredeemable paper money a sound currency redeemable dollar for dollar in good and valid bonds, the interest on which would furnish the Treasury most, if not all, the revenues needed for the ordinary expenses of government, economically administered. This would greatly lessen the burden of Federal taxation. Furthermore, because the holders of present tax exempt securities would have to seek some other way to earn an income from their capital, this would contribute in large measure to increased employment and business recovery.

Movie Censorship

  We stand for federal supervision of the creation of motion picture films at the source of production so that the public effect may be beneficial and uplifting.

Gambling

  We are opposed to the legalization of lotteries, gambling and all other forms of exploitation of the people.

Constitution

  We stand for loyalty to the principles of the Constitution and for the preservation of our system of government against the assaults of communism and of fascism, and the subversive influence exerted by the alliance of the old parties with predatory wealth, organized crime and the liquor power.

  We invite the support of all patriotic Americans to help build a political party united in its loyalty to the best interests of the nation.

Resolution

  Adopted by the National Prohibition Convention. We appeal to the youth of the land with their idealism and enthusiasm to meet the challenge of the hour, and join with us in the solving of the great problems involving the preservation and integrity of American institutions.