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Preamble We, the representatives of the Prohibition
Party, assembled in national convention at Winona Lake, Indiana, June
26, 27, 28, 1947, 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 power of our administration to serve the people of
the United States. World
Peace and Order We believe in World peace, and universal
brotherhood. Having united with other national groups
to restore world order and preserve world peace, our nation should lead
them all in submerging selfish interests for the common good of all. This is a severe test for American statesmen
and the men to be intrusted with the task should be men whose dependence
is upon a Higher Power for wisdom and guidance. Atomic
Energy We favor the development of a constructive
plan for the international control of atomic energy, involving a system
of international inspection of the manufacture of atomic energy and punishment
for violation of regulations. Universal
Military Training Believing that peacetime military training
in our country does not represent a safeguard for world peace, that it
is contrary in principle to our American way of life, that it places an
unnecessary burden upon our peacetime economy, that it could lead only
to military dictatorship and that it would, under existing conditions,
lead to the moral and spiritual deterioration of our youth, we declare
our opposition to any program of peacetime military conscription. Constitutional
Government We renew our loyalty to the Constitution
of the United States and have supreme confidence in this form of government
to meet ever-changing national and world conditions. We are opposed to Nazism, Communism and Fascism
and all other forms of totalitarianism. We are convinced that the best
and only safeguard against these dangerous doctrines is to protect the
rights and guard the welfare of our citizens. War spending has set an extravagant example
of wasteful government operation. The time is here for rigid curtailment.
We believe that for any government to take nearly one-third of its citizens'
incomes to pay the expenses of government is a most unjust, immoral act.
We believe the only way to materially reduce the cost of government is
to reduce the number of functions performed by government. Hence, in accordance
with the principle which we believe to be the basis of all sound government
— namely, that government ought not to do what the people, without
government intervention, can do. We promise, if elected to power, to reorganize
the federal government in accordance with this principle, discarding all
departments, bureaus or other unnecessary personnel that cannot qualify
as legitimate when measured by this principle. Taxes With proper economy, government will cost
less and thus make it possible to steadily reduce the public debt and
gradually lift the tax load from the average citizen. In the states we favor the effort to limit
the tax rate whenever possible to one percent of full value of property,
in order to prevent foreclosure and confiscation, and assist the home
owner, farmer, and others to preserve their property. Enforcement
of Law We are opposed to nullification of
law by non-enforcement, and will maintain the integrity of democracy by
enforcing the Constitution and the laws enacted under it by elected representatives
of the people or by popular vote. Ballot
Law Reform Church
and State The Constitutional separation of Church and
State must be maintained. We will not tax church or religious activities,
except those operated for profit. We are opposed to the appropriation
of public money for any sectarian purposes. Monopoly Because monopolies, whether by capital, labor
or any other group or individual are harmful in result, wrong in principle
and tend to dictatorship, we shall enact and enforce laws to break them
up and prevent their operations. Public
Morality 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 disintegration of the public morals. Money The Constitution provides for the issuance
of money and the determination of the value thereof by Congress. This
is a sound and feasible monetary policy, which we shall 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, whatever their religion,
or racial or national origin. Marriage
and Divorce To maintain the sanctity of the home we favor
the enactment of uniform marriage and divorce laws. 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
good paramount consideration. Neither capital nor labor can be permitted
to dominate at the expense of the other or the public welfare. Social
Security and Old Age Pensions We will extend the Social Security Act so
as to include all employed groups in its provisions. We will also develop
a system of annuity insurance for aged persons and so administer it as
to preserve the incentives of initiative and thrift. Home
Ownership We greatly deprecate the fact that so many
ex-servicemen are without sufficient housing facilities for themselves
and families. It should be possible for every American
family that desires to do so to own its own house. We favor such legislation
as may facilitate the realization of this objective. Co-operatives Co-operatives and profit sharing enterprises
are a natural outgrowth of democracy. Government under our administration
will encourage such enterprises. A
Party of Service, Not Spoils The two dominant parties are committed to
the spoils system and when in office have prostituted government to serve
their own selfish party interests instead of serving the whole people.
That policy has led to excessive government expenditures, and higher taxes.
We pledge ourselves to an honest, efficient and economical administration. Prohibition No self-governing nation can survive the
mass alcoholization of its voters and the mass perversion of the judgements
of its citizens. As the result of the repeal of the 18th Amendment
our government has authorized and empowered the liquor traffic to derange
the minds and pervert the judgement of a multitude of American citizens
both young and old. No 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 directly to the joint action of the
two major parties when they adopted platform planks to destroy the 18th
Amendment. The moral forces have to contend with the
liquor power which is highly capitalized, strongly organized, and is promotintg
liquor sales by every possible means to create an ever-growing appetite
in youth, men and women. This power dominates our politics and government.
It controls large numbers of votes. Every saloon is a center for mobilizing
and controlling voters, Both parties are subservient to the liquor power.
So long as good citizens continue to give their votes to liquor parties,
so long as they continue to be yoked by party membership with the liquor
interests and the underworld, so long will they 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 the principles
of Prohibition — a party not dependent upon votes wielded and delivered
by the liquor power. American government is party government. There are
constitutional reasons why this is so. To overcome the liquor power it
is necessary to employ the agency of a political party unitedly committed
to Prohibition. We summon the voters of America to help elect
the Prohibition Party to power. We will then marshal the resouces of the
government, legislative, executive and judicial, to overcome the liquor
power. |