8"
TIIE MOttNING- OTlEGOI AN, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1920
DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDS ON ITS RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT
tv "We Insist That the Forward Course Is the Only Righteous Course," Says. Chairman Cummings, Addressing San Francisco Contention. .':.
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SAN FRANCI!
Associated
of Homer ;
I AN FRANCISCO, June 23. (By the.
Press.) The" address
S. Cnmmlngrs as tem
porary chairman of the democratic
convention follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the convention:
At this hlsh hour when the destinies not
only of political parties but of peoples are
a t etalcc ; w hen social un rest is every
v here apparent; when exlftitlnff forms of
frovernment are being challenged, and
their very foundations disturbed or swept
away, it is well for us, here In America,
to pau for a period of solemn delibera
tion. We, who assemble in this great con
vention, counsel together, not merely as
members of a party, but as children of
the republic. Love of country and devo
tion to human service should purge our
hearts of all unworthy or misleading mo
tives. Let us ferevently pray for i divine
blessing upon all that we do or undertake.
Let us pledge ourselves anew to equality
of opportunity; the unity of our country
above the Interests of groups or classes:
and the maintenance of the high honor of
America in her dealings with other
nations.
The people will shortly determine which
political Instrumentality Is best suited to
their purposes, most responsive to their
needs. They will have before them many
platforms and many promises. In what
ilirection will they turn? There is no
better way of judging the future than by
the past. We ask, therefore, that the
people turn from the passions and the
prejudices of the day to the consideration
t a record as clear as it is enduring.
Republican Leadership.
The republican party was un .successful
rn the election of 31)12 because it had per
sistently served special Interests and had
lost touch with the spirit of the time.
Those who had controlled Us destiny de
rived their political Inspiration from "the
roo1 old days of Mark HaTtna' and neither
desired a new day nor were willing to
recognize a new day when it had dawned.
To each pressing problem,, they sought
merely to reapply the processes of an
tiquity. There were elements in the republican
party which were intolerant of .its mental
s-lnth and moral Irresponsibility. These
influences sought to gain party control in
1 912 and again, in 1016. They renewed
the hopeless etrungie at the convention
recently held at Chicago.
Despite these efforts, the leaders who
have manipulated the party mechanism
for more than a generation, are still in
undisputed control.
The republican platform, reactionary and
provincial. Is the very apotheosis of polit
ical expediency. Filled with premeditated
slrtndcrs and vague promises, it wi.'I be
searched in vain for one constructive sug
gestion for the reformation of the condi
tions which it criticises and deplores. The
oppressed peoples of the earth will look
to it in vain. It contains no message of
hop for Ireland ; no word of m:cy for
Armenia; and It conceals a sword for
Mexico. It Is the work of men concerned
more with material things than with
human riphts. It contains no thought, no
.. purpose which can give Impulse or thrill
those who love liberty and hope to make
the world a safer and happier, place for
the average man.
.Democratic Achlejreoients
The democratic party is an unentangled
party a free party owing, no allegiance
to any class or grouf of special Interest.
We were able to take up and carry through
to success the great prosresaive pro
gramme outlined In. our platform of 3112.
During the months which intervened be
tween March 4, 1913, and the outbreak of
the world war, wo placed upon the statute
hooks of our country more effective, con
structtve and remedial, legislation than the
republican party had placed there in a
generation. ;
The income tax was made a permanent
part of the revenue producing agencies of
the country, thereby relieving out law of
the reproach of being -unjustly burdensome
to the poor. The extravagances and in
equities of the tariff' system were re
moved and a non-partisan tariff Commis
sion was established so that future re
visions might be made in the tight- of
Accurate information, m scientifically and
Impartially obtained." Van-Americanism
was encouraged ; and the bread thus cast
upon the international Waters came back
to us many fold. . -The great reaches of
Alaska were opened up to commerce and
development. Dollar diplomacy was de
stroyed. A corrupt lobby was driven from
the national capitol. An ' effective sea
man's act was adopted, , .ThA federal trade
commission was created. . Child labor leg
islation was enacted. The parcel post and
the rural free delivery were developed. A
good roads bill and a rural credits act
were passed. A secretary. joI . labor was
given a eat In the cabinet of the presi
dent. Kight-hour laws were adopted. The
Clayton amendment to the Sherman anti
trust act was passed, freeing American
labor and taking it from the category of
commojijties. The Smith-Lever bill for
the. improvement of agricultural conditions
was enacted. A corrupt practice act was
adopted. A well considered warehouse act
was passed. Federal employment bureaus
w ere created. Farm loan banks, postal
savings banks and the federal reserve sys
tem were established.
These enactments, and many other pro
visions of a remedial character, had a
cleansing and quickening effect- upon the
KEYNOTE SOUNDER AT SAN FRANCISCO'.
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HOMER S. CIM.MIXGS.
Photo by Underwood.
tlon of General Per.hlng as leader of our
forces, and no military commander In his
tory was ever given a freer hand or more
unflagging supports The1 policy of select
ing officers through training camps avoid
ed the use of political favorites and guar
anteed competent leadership for the youth
of the land. Ten million men were reg
istered within three months from the
declaration of war and 32 c,mp cities,
complete In every municipal detail,, were
built in 00 days.
In France we had to construct our own
docks; railroad lines, storage depots, hos
pitals and ordnance bases. We had to cut
down the forests for ' our barracks. ' In
June, two months after the declaration of
war, our fighting men Were in France; In
October, Americana were on the firing line;
In scarcely more than a year we had 2.000,-
000 men in France, had whipped the enemy
t Bel le a u wood, beaten them back at
Chateau Thierry, wiped out the St. Mihiel
salient and delivered the terrific hammer
blow at Sedan that virtually ended the
war.
Less than two years ago General' Halg,
with the bluntness of a soldier, said: "The
British army is" fighting with its back' to
bhe wall"; Lloyd George was crying: "It
Is a race between. .WUspn .and,
burg" ; and France ciung like a drowning
man to the Rock of Verdun, turning agon
ized eyes toward America. And .America
came. We challenge .the critics pf.the ad
ministration to point out how, within the
limits of human possibility, tne war couia
have been, won more promptly or with less
loas. of .American, ife. . . . .t . t .... i
1 1 was not by mere chance that these
things were accomplished. To readjust the
processes of peace so as to serve the activi
ties of war required leadership of unex-
tmpled skill. Petty criticism of- minor
defects and individual officials may tor a
time attract a superficial attention, but
the significant things, tba grsat outstand
ing facts plead eloquently for the demo
cratic cause.
Let no one misunderstand us. These
-d
which overtook the proceedings frustrated
the initial purpose. In more senses than
one, the recent Chicago convention has left
the, democratic party as the sole custodian
of the honor of the country.
The Cost of the War.
There are men so small in spirit, ao
pitifully cramped in soul that they sug
gest that the war cost too much. The re
publican . platform, echoes this complaint.
It was Indeed, an expensive war' War is
the most wasteful thing in the world.
But Is money to be measured against the
blnnd of American ifaldier!"? Would It not
be better to spend a "tfllfoh dollars for
shells that were never- exploded, than to
have one American boy on the firing line
minus an essential cartridge? "Was it not
better to prepare for a long war and make
It short, than to prepare for a short war
and make it long? When criticism Is made
of the expense of war, let us not forget
that we bought with it the f redom and
the safety of the civilization of the world.
Preparedness.
Again, they say that we were not pre
pared for war. " In a strict military sense,
a. demncrflpv In nsver oreDnred; for war:
Jl;nden- DUt Ajnerlca. made ready in a way that
was lar more eirective man Dy maintain
ing, at enormous cost, great armaments,
which neither party advocated and which
our people would never approve.
Wars are not fought by armies alone.
They are fought, by nations. It 1
measuring of the economic strength of
nations. - The front . line trench is no
stronger than the forces which lie behind
the trench. The line of communication
reaches back to every village, farm
counting house, factory and home. America
of opposition, ' making it Imperative that,
he take up In his own country, a struggle '
for the preservation of that which had
been won at such Incalculable cost. Fol- ,
lowing the superhuman labors of seven
years of unexampled service, this meant
the wreck of . Ms health", sickness for
months upon a bed of pain, and worse
than the physical sickness, the sickness of
heart which comes from the knowledge
that political adversaries, lost to the larger
sense of things, are savagely 'destroying
not merely the work of men's hands, but
the world's hope of settled peace. This
was the affliction this the crucifixion.
, As he lay stricken In the White House,
the relentless hand of malice beat upon
the door of the sick chamber. The ene
mies of the president upon the floor of the
senate repeated every slander thafr envy
could Invent, and they could scarcely con
trol the open manifestation of their glee
when the great man was stricken at last.
The congress was Jn session for months
while the president lay in the White House,
struggling with a terrifying Illness and, at
times, close to the point of death. He had
been physically wounded. Just as surely as
were; Garfield and McKinley and Lincoln,
for. It is but -a difference . of degree be
tween fanatics and partisans. The con
gress, durfng all this peried, when the
whole heart of America ought to have
been flowing put. In love and sympathy,
did not find time, amid their bickerings,
to pass one resolution of generous Import
or extend one kindly inquiry as to the
fate of the president of their own coun
try. -
And what was his offense? Merely this
that he strove to redeem the word that
America had given to the world; that he
sought to rave a future generation from
the agony through which this generation
had passed; that he had taken seriously
the promises that all nation had made
that they would unite at the end of the
war in a compact to preserve the peace of
the world; and that he relied upon the
good faith of his own people. If there was
any mistake, it was that he made a too
generous estimate of mankind, that be be
Heved that the idealism which had mad-e
the war a great spiritual victory, could be
relied upon to secure the legitimate fruit
of the war the reign of universal peace.
In one sense, it Is quite immaterial what
people say about the president. Nothing
we can say can add or detract from the
fame that will flow down the unending
channels of history. Generations yet un
born will look back to this era and pay
their tribute of honor t6 the man who led
people through troublous ways out of
the valleys of selfishness up to the moun
tain tops of achievement and honor, and
there showed them the promised land of
freedom and safety and fraternity.
Whether history records that they en
tered in or turned their backs upon the
vision, Jt is all one with him he is immortal.
. The Requirement of Honor.
There are men who seem to bi annoyed
when we suggest chat American honor Is
bound up in this contest, and that .good
faith requires that we should enter the
league of nations. The whole republican
case is based upon the theory. that we may,
with honor, do as we please about this
matter and that we have made no prom
ises which it is our duty to redeem. Let us
turn again to- the record. "
The republican party in Its platform in
1916 had declared for a world count, "for
the pacific settlement of international dis
putes." The progressive party in lt12 and
in 1919 had likewise declared . tor an ar
rangement between nations to make peace
permanent. The democratic party in. 1916
had specifically declared In favor-of the
establishment of a league of naions. : The
if.T0"!;.!1 .1ur S?"-'"'!?; "he. timulu .of. American, patriotism, .up-
ported by the courage and the spirit of our
was freed from the deadening effects" of
usurious financial control. Labor was given
its Magna Charta of liberty. Business and
finance were released from the thraldom
of uncerta'nty and hazard. The economic
life of A merica was refreshed by the
Vitalizing breath of economic freedom.
This extraordinary narration sounds like
a platform of promises. The sober fact Is
that It is an Inadequate recital of actual
performance. It constitutes democracy's
response to the demands of social justice.
It is our answer to the antiquated slander
that the democratic party is unable to
understand the great affairs of the conntry,
The Federal Reserve (System.
Tf the democratic party had accom
plished nothing more than the passage of
1 he federal reserve act, tt would be en-
titled to the enduring gratitude of the ha
t;on. This act supplied the country with
an elastic currency controlled by th
American people. Panics the recurring
phenomena of disaster which the re pub
Itcan party could neither control nor ex
riain are now but a memory. Under the
republican system, there was an average
of one bank failure for every I'l days for
a period of nearly 40 years. After the
passage of the federal reserve system there
mere. In 10l.", four bank failures; In 1916
end 1017, three bank failures; in 191S, one
bank failure, and In 19-0, no bank failures
at all. The federal reserve system, passed
over the opposition of the leaders of the
republican party, enabled America
withstand the strain of war without shock
or panic; and ultimately made our country
tne great creditor nation or the world.
Achievements in TV'ar. '
And then the great war came on. TJlti
mat fly, by the logical steps of necessity.
our peace-loving nation was drawn into
the cont 1 let. The necessary war lcgisla
lion was quickly supplied
A war finance corpora. tion was Created.
W ar risk insurance was provided. KhiP'
building laws re-established America's
supremacy upon the teas. The office of
alien property custodian was created. A
wax industries board was established. A
war trado board was created. Food and
fuel regulations were formulated. Vast
loans were successfully floated. Vocational
training was provided. A national council
of defense was created. Industry was sue
cei.;s fully mobilized.
A imoKt over night the factories of the
nation were made a part of the war ma
chine, and tho miraculous revival of the
shipping Industry filled the ocean lanes
with our transports.
Our fleet laid the North sea mine bar
rage. We ent fighting craft to every sea.
and brought hew courage and Inventive
genlut to the crucial fight against the
U-boat.
In transporting our troops to France we
never lost a man in a ship convoyed by
the American navy.
One of the first decisions was between
the "volunteer system" and the selective
draft. Many patriotic citizens strongly
deprecated conscription and dreaded Its
possibilities. The administration, however.
tj laced its influence behind the measure,
recured Its pasag and made possible the
winning of the war.'
It proved a democratic system, assuring
equal service, equal danger and eqfcal op
portunity. At one stroke of trre pen,
bounty Jumping, and the hired substitutes
that had disgraced the -management of the
civil war were made Impossible. The selec
tion of men to go to the front Was placed
not merely in the hands of civil author!
t:cs, but actually in the hand of the
friends and neicrvbors of the men eligible
for servlc. No fundamental law was ever
administered with such scrupulous honor.
;ot one breath ol scanaai toucnea thii
legislation: and so cheerfully was it ac
cented that today, the term 'draft aodgr
Js an epithet of reproach in any com
munity.
Pfcrttsanfthip Put Anlde
rsxtlsaoshJp was put . aside m the ocl&c-
senate itself, on August 8, JOluby uanan-
imous vote, passed a measure requesting
the president to take the lead in such a
world movement.
On December 18. 1916. the president ad
dressed an identic note to the nations at
war, requesting them to state the terms
upon which they would deem it possible
to make peace. In this note he proposed
the creation of a league of nations, saying:
In the measures to be taken to' secure
the future peace of the world, the people
and government of the L'nited States are
as vitallv and directly Interested as the
governments now at war. . . . iney
irtand ready and even eager to co-operate
in the accomplishment of these ends when
the war is over with every influence and
resource at their command
This was four months before America
entered the war.
To this identic note the central powers
answered evasively, but the antes, in their
reply dated at Paris, January 10, 1317,
declared :
Their whole-hearted agreement wtn
the proposal to create a league of nations
which shall assure peace ana jusuce
thrnuchout the world.
dressed the senate with reference to these
reDlles.- and said
'In every discussion of the peace that
must end this war It is taken for granted
that the peace must be followed by some
definite concert of power which shall make
It virtually impossible that any euc-n ca
tastrnnhe shall overwhelm us again."
Speaking of tne legaue or peace wnicn
was to follow tne war, ne saia:
if .the oeace oresentlv to be made is
to endure, it must be a peace made secure
a nollticAl ouarrel In" the Balkans? Im
mediately the unthinking applaud and the
orator records a momentary trtumpn. Have
we forgotten that that is precisely what
America has already done? Have we tor
gotten that we sent more than two million
men to France, spent more than 20 billions
of dollars and sacrificed nearly a hundred
thousand Uvea to settle a Balkan dispute?
There was a controversy between Serbia
and Austria. Territorial questions, polit
ical rights and boundary lines were in
volved. The crown price of the house
of Austria was assassinated. A little
flame of war licked up into the powder
house of Europe, and in a moment the
continent was in flames. It took all the
power of civilization to put out the con
flagration. How idle to inquire whether
we wish to send our boys to settle political
disputes in the Balkans?
It is extraordinary that men should
waste ouf -time and vex our patience by
suggesting the fear that we may be forced
Into future wars while forgetting entirely
that America was forced into this great
est of all wars. No league of nations ex
isted when we entered the war; and -it
was only when we formed in haste, in the
midst of battle, a league of friendship, un
der unified command, that we were able
to win this. war. This association of na
tions, held together by a common purpose,
fought the war to a victorious conclu
sion, dictated .the terms of the armistice
and formulated the terms of peace. If
such a result could be achieved by an
Informal and temporary agreement why
should not the association be continued in
a more definite and binding form? What
plausible reason can be suggested for wast
ing the one great asset which has come
out of the war? How else shall we pro
vide for international arbitration ? How
else shall we provide for a permanent
court of International Justice ? How else
shall we provide for open diplomacy? How
else shall we provide safety from external
aggression? How else shall we provide
for progressive disarmament? How else
shall we check the spread of bolshevlsm?
How else shall industry be made safe and
the basts of reconstruction established ?
How else shall society be steadied so that
the processes of healing may serve their
beneficent purpose? Until the critics ,of
the league offer a better method of pre
serving the peace of the world, they are
not entitled to one moment's consideration
in the forum of the conscience of man
kind. ,
Not only does the covenant guarantee
justice for the future, but it holds the
one remedy for the evils of the past. As
It stands today, war is the one way iri
which America can express Its sympathy
for the oppressed of the world. The league
nations removes the conventional
hackles of diplomacy. Under the cove-
ant rt is our irienaiy rigut to protest
gainst tyranny and to act as counsel for
the weak nations . without an effective
hamplon.
The Existing League.
The republican platform contains a vague
promise to establish another or a dlffer-
nt form of association amongst nations
of a tenuous and shadowy character. Our
pioposed co-partners in sncn a project are
nnamed and unnamable. It is not statea
whether it is proposed to Invite the na
tions that have established the present
eaa-ue to dissolve ft and to begin anew,
or whether the purpose is to establish a
new association of a competitive charac
ter, composed of the nations that repu-
iated the exist in r league. The devital
izing character of sdeh an expedient re-
uires no comment. Fatuous lutmty couia
be carried no farther. There is no mental
dishonesty more transparent than that
which expresses realty to a league oi na-
lons while opucslng the oniy league oi
nations that exists or la ever apt to exist.
Why close our eyes to actual world con
ditions? A league of nations already ex
ists. It Is not a project, it is a fact, jve
must either enter it or remain out of it.
What nations have actually signed ana
ratified the treaty?
Brazil, Bolivia, . Tireat Britain, canana,
Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, In
dia, Cxecho-SIovakia, Guatemala, Liberia,
I'anama, Feru, Uruguay, feiam, oreece, Po
land, Japan, Italy, France and Belgium.
Wrhat neutral states. Invited to Join the
league, have 'actually done so?
Norway, enezuela, the ietnerianos.
Denmark, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Pa-
aguay, Persia., Salvador, Spain, Sweden
and Switzerland.
Even China, will become a member when
she ratifies the Austrian treaty.
Germany has signed and is preparing to
take thn pjace which awaits her in the
lertpue of nations.
what nations stand outside 7 Revolu
tionary Mexico, Bolshevist Russia, Un
speakable Turkey and the United States
of America.
It is not yet too late. Let us stand with
the forces of civilization. The choice is
plain. It is between the democratic par
ty'! support of the league of nations, with
its programme of peace, disarmament and
world fraternity, and the republican party's
platform of repudiation, provincialism,
militarism and world chaos.
prepared by making the economic life of j by the organized major force of mankind.'
people. All this is freely and gladly ac
knowledged, but surely the time has come
when, because of the calculated criticism
and the premeditated calumnies of the op
position, we are entitled to call attention
to the rcat mat an ot tnese tnings were
accomplished .under the leadership of a
great democrat and a great democratic ad
ministration. We have no apologies to
make not one. We are proud of our great
navy, we are proud of our splendid army, !
we are proud of the power of our country 1
and the manner in which that power has
been used; we are proud ot the work that
America has done In the world, we are
proud of the heroism of American men
and women, and we are proud of the in
spired and incomparable leadership of
Woodrow Wilson.
Has not the time come when all Ameri
cans, Irrespective of party, should begin
to praise the achelvements of our country
rather than to criticise them? Surely a
just and righetous sense ot national prlda
should protect us from the Insensate as
saults of mere partisans. We fought a
great rar, for a great cause, and we had
a leadership that carried America to great
er heights of honor and power and glory
than she has ever known before In her en
tire history. If the American f'.evg must
be lowered it will be hauled down in a re
publican convention and not in a demo
cratic convention.
Partisan Investigations.
It Is this Shining record of tremendous
achievement that republican managers and
the Chicago Platform seek to shame and
besmirch. Various congressional commit
tees, which for want of a more appropri
ate term, are called "smelling commit
tees, were appointed for the purpose of
ascertaining whether or not there was any
graft in the conduct of the great war.
Over 80 Investigations have been made,
over $2,000,000 have been wasted, and the
one result has been to prove It was the
cleanest war ever fought in the history of
civilization.
Through the hands of a democratic ad
ministration there have passed more than
$40,000,000,000 dollars, and the finger ot
scorn does not point to one single demo
cratic official in all America. It Is a rec
ord never before made by any political
party in any country that ever conducted
war.
If republican leaders are not able to re
joice with us In this American triumph
they should have the grace . to remain
silent, for it does not lie In the mouths of
those who conducted the Spanish-American
war to Indulge In the luxury of criticism.
What was there in this war to compare
with the typhoid-infested camps and the
paper-soled shoe controversy of 1898 7
What waa there in this war to compare to
the embalmed -beef scandal of the Spanish'
American war? Despite all their invest!
gatlons, not one single jdemocratlc official
has either been Indicted or aceused or even
suspected; and the only dignitary In Amer
ica, of any outstanding political signifi
cance who Is moving in the direction of
the penitentiary is Truman Newberry of
Michigan.
The very power of the republican party
to conduct a partisan Investigation of the
war, to criticise the president, to control
the organization of the senate . and to
wreck the prospect of world peace, rests
upon a bare majority of one, secured
through the tainted senatorial vote from
Michiean.
The republican party became ao fixed
in US Incorrigible- habit ot conducting in
vest 1 Rations that it finally turned to the
fruitful task of investigating Itself. For
the first time since they entered upon
this programme, they discovered fraud and
graft and gross and inexcusable expend!
tures. The revelations disclose the fact
long understood by the Initiated, that th
meeting at Chicago was not a cbnvention
but an auction. The highest bidder, ho
aver, did bQt get the pre. The publicity
the country sound.
What would have been our situation. If.
prior to the outbreak of the war. we had
not prepared so that our farmers were
able to feed the armies of the world?
What would ' have been our situation If
labor had not been willing to follow the
leadership of the president? What -would
have been the situation if we had not
established a currency system which made
it possible for us to finance the war?
What would have been the situation If the
republican party had been in control and
had maintained its old attitude toward
legislation? There would have been an
inevitable breaking down of the economic
structure of our country. We would have
been caught in the throes of a panic more
Ized and the tasks of war, difficult as j tically identical in language with the pro
evastating than any we had ever known.
ndustrial lire would have been disorgan-
Acting upon these proposals, both the
French and the B-ritish governments ap
pointed committees to study the problem
while the war m-as still In progress.
On April 2, 1917, the president delivered
his famous war message to congress, and
thrilled the heart of the coun-try anew by
his announced purpose to make the content
war agalnat war. High above all or
our other alms, ne piacea a universal
dominion of right by such a concert of free
nec-Dles as shall bring peace and safety to
all nations and make the world itself at
last free."
Following this message, the congress by
resolution, passed April 6, 1917. recognized
the state of war.-
On January 8. 1918. the president wen
before congress and set forth his famous
14 points. The 14th point, wnicn is prac
they were, might then have become alto
gether impossible.
Republican Record Since 1918,
The republicans have now been in con
trol of the senate and the house for more
than a year. They won the election of
191S upon the faith of alluring promises.
They said that they would earnestly sup
port the president, at least, until the tasks
of war were finished. It was their con-
ention that they would enter ' upon the
work of reconstruction with superior in
telligence and even with greater patriotis
han would be possible under democratic
leadership. They gave publicity, when
they entered upon the recent session, to
detailed and ambitious statements as to
their programme. If we are to be judged
as I hope we may be, by the record, let
them also be judged by the record. What
have the republicans accomplished since
their political success in 1918 ? What
beneficial results have flowed to the
American people?" What promises have
been redeemed? What progress has been
made in the settlement of foreign or do
mestic questions ?
Twice the president went before con
gress. since the termination of hostilities.
calling attention to needed legislation. He
urged the passage of laws relating
profiteering; measures to simplify and re
duce taxation ; appropriate action relative
to the returning soldiers; the passage of a
resolution concerning the constructive
plans worked out In detail by former Sec
retary Lane, and the measures advocated
by the secretary of agriculture. He sug
gested that the congress take counsel to
gether and Drovide legislation with ref
erence to industrial unrest, and the mutual
relations of capital and labor. After more
than a year of sterile debate, our country
has neither peace nor reconstruction.
Barren of achievement, shameless In waste
of time and money, the record of the
present congress Is without parallel for
its incompetencies, failures and repudla
tmns. Are the American people so unjust
or so lacking in discrimination that they
will reject the service of a party which
nas Kept its word, and place trust In
party which merely renews the oroken
promises of a previous campaign?
Attacks Upon the President.
Republican leaders have been moved by
a strange and inexplicable jealousy of the
president. Their feverish animosity, ex
pressed in gross abuse and through secret
intrigue, has been productive of one of the
most unhappy chapters in American his
tory, recalling the similar experiences of
Lincoln and Washington. Political malice
followed, the president to the peace table.
A senatorial "round robin" was widely
circulated. E,very device which partisan
ship could develop, waa employed for the
purpose of weakening the Influence of our
commission at Paris, and making the task
there still more difficult. At a time when
every Instinct of fairness pleaded for
whole-hearted support of the president, po
litical antagonism and personal envy con
tronea the anti-administration forces.
The president made every sacrifice -for
the cause of peace. The long continued
strain while composing differences abroad;
the expenditure of nervous vitality and in
tellectual force in building a new order
of human relationship upon the ruins of
the md, laid heavy toll upon his reserve
powers. Then came the return In triumph
, only lo find here a widespread propaganda
"It
HIGH LIGHTS OF KEYNOTE SPEECH BY DEMOCRATIC
CHAIRMAN AT CONVENTION YESTERDAY.
Party called on to put Interests of country above those of spe
cial groups and to maintain national honor in foreign relations.
Republican platform declared to be "filled with premeditated
slanders and vague promises."
Democratic legislation reviewed. Including lnc6me tax, tariff
revision and . tariff commission, seaman's act, trade commission
established and other measures. '
Panics declared to have been abolished by federal reserve sys
tem. Wartime legislation and American achievements in war reviewed.
American success in war. declared to be due, not to any chance,
' but to clear vision of administration.
Millions declared wasted In investigations of scandals that are
never found.
. Chicago convention' declared to have left democratic party sole
custodian of country's honor.
Economic preparation for -war pronounced adequate and better
than great armaments.
Republicans said to have accomplished nothing beneficial since
their polftical success in 1918. , As a consequence, there is now
neither peace nor reconstruction.
Republican leaders accused of being moved by strange and inex
plicable Jealousy of president.
Contention is advanced that good faith requires United States
to enter league of nations. -
Critics of league declared not entitled to consideration until they
offer a better method of preserving the peace of the world. Cove
nant guarantees justice for the future and holds the only remedy
c' for the evils of the past.
Republican proposals regarding "associations amtmg nations"
pronounced "tenuous and shadowy." League of nations ' already
exists and United States must either enter it or remain out of it.
Argument as to United States not having? equal voting power
with Britain in league of nations is pronounced Insincere and super
ficial. United States can be involved in no- enterprises except on
her own choosing. United States, in fact, has more votes in the
league of nations than any other nation.
Senator Lodge said to have been resolved from outset to muti
late the treaty and frustrate the purposes of the administration.
- Real trouble with the treaty of peace said to be that It was
negotiated by a democratic president.
Statement that President Wilson refused to permit the dotting of
an "i" or the crossing of a t" is called a foolish Invention, repeated
so often that many honest people believe in its truth.
President said to have frequently stated entire willingsness to
accept reservations not incompatible with America's honor and true
interests. -
Defeat of treaty laid to Senator Lodge and declaration made that
"no blacker crime against civilization ever soiled the pages of our
history."
Old guard declared to have sold honor of America for the privi
lege of nominating a reactionary for president.
Democratic party said to stand squarely for the safne ideals of
peace as those for which the war was fought. Democratic party will
not submit to repudiation of treaty, or to whittling It down to the
vanishing point.
visions of Article X of the covenant, pro
vided that a general association of na
tions must be formed under specific cov
enants for the purpose of affording mutual
guarantees of political Independence and
territorial integrity to great ana sma.i
states alike."
Senator Lodge -himself, before the ex!
gencies of politics forced him to take the
other side, said that an attempt to man
a separate peace would "brand us with
everlasting dishonor" and that "the lnten
of the conaress and the intent of the presf
dent was that there could be no peace until
we could create a situation where no such
war as this could recur.
Former President Roosevelt, on July 18,
1918, said: .
Unless we stand by our allies who hav
stood by us. we shall have failed In mak
lng the liberty of well-behaved, civilized
peoples HtJ I O biiu t tj ouail 1 1 a v i w vr .
that our announcement about making th
world safe for democracy was an empty
boast.
On November 4, 1918. the armistice was
agreed to and it was concluded upon th
basis of the 14 points set forth in th
address Of President . Wilson delivered to
consrress on January 8, 1918. and the prin
ciples subsequently enunciated by him. At
no point, at no time, during no period
while this history was In th making
was one responsible American voice raised
in nrotest.
Thus, before we entered the war we
made the pledge; during the war we re
stated the pledge; and when the armistice
was signed, all of the nations, ourselves
included, renewed the pledge; and it wa
UDon the faith of these promises that Ger
many laid down her arms. Practically
alt of the civilized nations M the earth
have now united in a covenant which con-
stitutes the redemption of that pledge, j
We alone have thus far failed to keep
our word. Others may break faith ; the
senate of the United States may break
faith; the republican party may break
faith ; but neither President Wilson nor
the democratic party will break faith.
The Fundamental Purpose.
In this hemisphere, the mere declara
tion of our young republic that the at
tempt of any foreign power to set foot
on American soli would be considered an
unfriendly act has served to preserve "the
territorial Integrity and the political in
dependence" of the nations of Central and
South America. The treaty pledges all of
the signatories to make this doctrine ef
fective everywhere. It Is the Monroe Doc
trine of the world.
The purpose of the league Is to give no
tice that If any nation raises Its menacing
hand and seeks to cross the line into any
other country, the forces of civilization
will - be aroused to suppress the common
enemy of peace. Therein lies the security
of small nations and the safety of . the
world.
Every war between nations that has ever
been fought began in an attempt to seize
foreign territory or to Invade political In
dependence. If, in 1914. German, had
known that In the event of hostilities
Oreat Britain would have entered the
war; that France would go In; that Italy
would go . Jn; that Japan would go in:
and that the United States would go in
there would have been no warr
Objections to the Treaty.
The opponents of the treaty cry out.
Equality ot Voting,
tfbere la great pretense of alarm because
the United Statea ha one vow in the
International assembly. jra(nst the sx
votes of Great Britain, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand. South Africa and India.
This Popular argument against the league
of nations Is as Insincere as it is superficial
It Ignores tne fact that tne executive coun
cil, and not the assembly, is the govern
ing body of the league, and that our coun
try is one of the five countries having
permanent memoerahtp in the council, i ne
colonial votes exist only in tne assemoiy.
X6r should we foriret that France has
but one vote; Italy has but one vote, and
Jaoan has but one vote. If there were
any Injustice In the arrangement, surely 1
these nations would have sensed it ana
objected to it. No affirmative action can
be taken in any essential matter without
a unanimous vote of all members of the
council of the league. No decision of the
league, if America joined 'it, could be made
effective or even promulgated without our
consent. Like every other nation, we have
a veto power upon every 'resolution or act
of the league. We can be involved in no
enterprise except of our own choosing;
and if we are not satisfied with the league,
we can sever our connection with it upon
two years notice. . The risk exists only In
the imagination, the service Is incalculable.
Moreover, the United States Insisted that
Cuba, Haiti, Liberia, Panama, Nicaragua,
Honduras and Guatemala should each be
given a vote, as well as the nations of South
America, great and small. Including the
nations which are bound by vital inter
ests to the United States, or. Indeed, di
rectly under our tutelage, we have more
votes In the league of nations than any
other nation. How could we, in good faith,
urge that these nations be given a voice
lind deny a voice to such self-governing
nation as Canada,' New Zealand and the
rest, which, relatively speaking made far
more sacrifices in the war than our own
country ? It la desirable that all coun
tries should have an opportunity to be
heard In the league; and" the safety of
each nation resides In the fact that no
action can be taken without the consent
of all.
Keftpohsibtltty for Defeat of Treaty.
It was the design of Senator Lodge,
from the outset, to mutilate the treaty and
to frustrate the purposes of the adminis
tration. And yet Senator Lodge, with the
help of the irreconcllables, having torn the
treaty to tatters and thrown its fragments
In the face of the world, has the effron
tery to suggest, in his address at Chicago,
that the president blocked the ratification
and postponed peace
The trouble with the treaty of peace is
that it waa negotiated by a democratic
president. It is not difficult to assess
the responsibility for Its defeat. The re
sponsibtllty rests, not upon its friends, but
upjr Its eneml
The foreign relations committee, imme
diately following the last election, was
reorganized with a peraonnel consisting of
the open foes of the treaty. Amongst the
number was Senator Borah, who declared
that be would not be for a league
ra tions, were the savior of mankind to
advocate it. Senator Johnson, Senator
Knox and Senator Moses, whose hatred of
the president amounts to an obsession
were alo members; and Senator Lodge
was chairman. .
The treaty was referred to the commit
tee thus studiously prepared for its hos
tile reception. The members of this com
mittee adopted every subterfuge to
represent the document which they were
supposed to be considering as statesmen
Deputations of foreign -born citizens were
brought to Washington in an effort to
color and exaggerate the impression of
popular opposition".
The senate had even begun the discus
slon of the treaty months before its ne
gotiation was concluded, and did not tor
minate its debate until nine months after
the submission of the treaty. It took the
Senate nearly three times as long to kill
the treaty by protracted debate and oy
confusing and nullifying amendments and
reservations as it tooa the representa
tives of Lhe allied governments to draft ft,
It wos not the business of the president,
when he brought this treaty back from
France, to join with Mr. Lodge and Other
republican leaders In their deliberate pur-
post to destroy It. tiad he initiated, sug
gested or assented to changes which would
hiivt substantia li v attcrca ira nature, I
faith with his associates of the peace
council and a violation of American
pledges. Everyone acquainted with diplo
matic usages, or with the plain require
ments of honesty understands this. The
foolish invention that the president lefuaud
to permit the dotting of an "i" or the
crossing of a t" has been ao oTcen re-1
peated that many honest people believe in
its truth.
In every speech made daring hhi tour,
the president stated entire willingness - to
accept any and all reservations not In
compatible with A merit-as honor and true
interests. It la the plain intent of tho cov
enant that the Monroe Doctrine is ex
cluced, that domestic questions are ex
empted, that not one American can be
nt out of the country without formal
action by congress and that the right of
withdrawal is absolute. If tht?r aic
words which can make these meanings
clearer, they will be welcomed. 1 is not
reservations tht the prewident stands
against, but nullification.
Sordid Story Told.
When the president came back from
Paris in February, 1919, he brought the
first tentative draft of the covenant of
tha league of nations. He gave publicity
to It. It was published throughout the
land. He invited the friends of such a
league to submit criticisms. Former Pres
ident Taf t offered four amendments ; for
mer senator Hoot offered six amend
ments, and Mr. Hughes suggested seven.
At a meeting of the committee on foreign
relations at the White House in March.
1919, other changes were suggested. Xhesa
amendments were taken back by the
president to Paris and their substance
was actually incorporated' In the revised
draft ot the league. Dr. Lowell, presi
dent of Harvard university, in his joint
debate with Senator Lodge, invited the
latter to suggest constructive amendments
which the president might incorporate in
the draft, but he refused so to do. At no
time has he offered constructive amend
ments. At no time has he failed to offer
destructive criticism. So intolerant was
his attitude that he would not even con
sider a com prom ise proposed by former
President Taft of his own party and which
waa assured of the support of 4U demo- 1
cratic senators. Senator Lodge knew that
he controlled the senate and that In his
own time and way he could destroy the
treaty.
This is the sordid story of Its defeat.
No blacker crime against civilization has
ever soiled the pages of our history. The
last chapter was written at Chicago.
The republican platform not only re
pudiates the league of nations, but praises,
without discrimination, all of the repub
lican senators who participated In its de
feat. Its words of benediction fall alike
upon the irreconcllables, the Lodge reser-
t on sts. the mud reservation ibis ana
those who proposed a separate peace with
Germany. It is consistent In one hlng
only, the recognition oi tne xaci mat me
open foes of the treaty, tne secret loes oi
the treaty and the apparent friends of
the treaty who conspired with Its enemies,
are equally responsible for the destruc
tion of the instrument Itself. It wouid be
Idle to inquire by what political legerde
main this meaningless and yet ominous
declaration was prepared. it is enouga
to know that the "old (fuara sold tne
honor of America for tne privilege ot
nominating a reactionary for president.
The Cause of Peace.
The war had set a great task for states
manship. The beat thought or tne woria
demanded that a serious miempi muw
by the leaders of the allied governments
to formulate a treaty oi PW-"
Should prevent the recurrence ui
Kvery rightful impulse ot tne nunmn
"Shall we send our bvi'S abroad to settle would have been a distinct breach of
was in accord with that purpose. From
time immemorial, men have dreamed of
peace; poets have sung of it ; philoso
phers have written about it; statesmen
have discussed it ; men everywhere have
hoped and prayed that the day might
come when wars would no longer bo neces
sary In the settlement of international
differences.
For the first time in the turbulent an
nals of the human race such a project
had become feasible. The destruction of
militarism, the crumbling of thrones, the
dinsolutlon of dynasties, the worlu-wide
appreciation of the inner meaning of war
and the final triumph of democracy had
at last made it possible to realize the dear
est dream that ever crossed the night of
man's dark mind. The opportunity for
service waa as great as the need of the
world and the failure to render it must
stand as a reproach for all time.
It is said that if the dead who died in
the great war were placed head to feet
they would stretch from New York to
San Francisco and from San Francisco
back again to New York; and if those who
perished from starvation and from other
causes collateral to the war were placed
head to feet they would reach around the
great globe Itself. At this very hour mil
lions of men and women and little chil
dren are the victims of our hesitancy. How
can the heart of America be closed to
these things ?
I have been many miles In thin country
and it has been my fortune to visit most
of the states of the Union. It has so hap
pened that I have been In many of thee
states when the boys were coming from
the front. 1 have seen the great ave
nues of our splendid American cities lined
with the populace, cheering and cheer
ing again as these brave lads marched by.
happy that they had come triumphantly
home. But 1 have never witnessed thee
inspiring sights without thinking of the
boys who did not come home. They do
not rest as strangers in a st range land
these soldiers of liberty. The generous
heart of France enfolds them. The women
and the children of France cover their
graves with flowers and water them with
tears. Destiny seized these lads and led
them far from home to die for an ideal.
And yet they live and speak to us here
In the homeland, not of trivial things, but
oi immortal tnings. rieverence and pity
and high resolve surely these remain to
us. In that heart ot hearts where the
great works of man are wrought, there can
be no forgetting. Oh, God, release the Im
prisoned soul of America, touch once more
the hidden springs of the spirit and reveal
to us ourselves.
Let the true purpose of our party be
clearly understood. We stand squarely
for the same ideals of peace as those for
which the war was fought. We support
without flinching the only feasible plan
for peace and justice. We will not sub
mit to the repudiation of the peace treaty
or to any process by which it is whittled
down to the vanishing potnt. We decline
to compromise our principles or pawn our
immortal souls for selfish purposes. We
do not turn our backs upon the history
of the last three years. We seek no ave
nue of retreat. We Insist that the for
ward course is the only righteous course.
We seek to re-establish the fruits of
victory, to reinstate the good faith of our
country and to restore it to its rightful
place among the nations of the earth. Our
cause constitutes a summons to duty. The
heart of America stirs again. The ancient
faith revives. The Immortal part of man
speaks for us. The services of the past,
the sacrifices of the war,- the hopes of
the future, conitute a spiritual force
gathering about our banners. We shall
release again the cheeked forces of clvlli
! zation and America shall take up once
1 more the leadership of the world.
by a republican senate And dsned by.
a republican president.
Convention week opened In San .
Francisco with overcast skies and &
temperature of 66 decrees, which
mounted to more than 60 when the
convention was called to order.
An Innovation for the opening: of
the democratic national convention
was the silencing; of the great gather
ing by a buelo call instead of the
usual pounding with the gravel. A
detachment of marines in front of
the platform raised the national
colors and presented arms, 'while the
band played the Star Spangled
Banner.
Service men among convention del
egates today perfected plans for ob
taining the indorsement of the demo
cratic party for bonus legislation.
Richard Seelye Jones, chairman of
the Washington etate , delegation; .
Major Bennett Clark of Missouri, son
of Representative Champ Clark;
Colonel Barry of Tennessee, and E. W.
Robertson of Spokane, Wash., Were
selected to appear before the resoiu
tions committee.
a a
Senator Pomerene of Ohio, today
disclaimed all responsibility for the
statements in explanation of Gover
nor Cox" divorce proceedings of 10
years ago, s published this mronirtg;
in the San Francisco Chronicle.
"I am not responsible for that
story," said Senator Pomerene. "Some
of the statements in it regarding the
divorce proceedings are absolutely
new to me. I never heard of them.
For instance, the statement that Mrs.
Cox married her ex-lawyer."
Senator Pomerene said he had dis
cussed the governor's divorce case
privately with a few delegate, but
has given no statement for publica
tion. Photographs of the opening of the
democratic national convention for
middle west newspapers, were dis
patched from here at 2 P. M. today
in an army airplane to catch the
overland limited train at Reno.
The airplane waa furnished by the
army recruiting service and was
piloted by Major Carl Spatg, one of
the transcontinental flyers in the
army endurance tests last fall. All
arrangements fof the trip were made
by the army recruiting service.
CANDIDATE RIPS LEAGUE
SEXATOR COM AX SATS NON
PARTISAN" BODY MEXACE.
Taxation In AVashlnpton Has Al
ready TWaclicd Point of Con
fiscation, Says Banker.
Because of inroads beingr made by
almost prohibitive taxes, coupled -with
the ever-present menace of the Non
Partisan league, the state of Wash
ington at the present time needs the
application of a business man's view
point to the solution of public Ques
tions as it never did before.
This, briefly, sums up the beliefs
of Ed T. Coman, state senator from
Spokane county, Washington, and
candidate for the republican nom
ination for governor at the Wash
ington primaries, September 14.
Senator Coman was in Portland
yesterday on a brief visit, while wind
ing up a campaign trip through the
eastern part of the state.
"The most important matter is tax
ation, which in the state of Wash
ington, has about reached the point
of confiscation," said Senator Coman.
'"In face of the present high taxes, it
is now proposed to vote $30,000,000
more of bonds for road purposes when
there is such a scarcity of labor that
the agricultural industry in the state
is seriously handicapped for lack of
sufficient workers to handle crops.
"While I am thoroughly in favor
of good roads and the expansion of
the road programme as rapidly as
possible, I believe the policy of pay
as you go will accomplish better re
sults and relieve us from the heavy
burden of debt.
"Under the present sources of rev
enue, supplemented by appropriations
likely to be made by various coun
ties, there will be approximately $S,
000,000 annually for road improve
ments. This is as large a sum as can
be employed efficiently at the present
time."
Senator Coman is president of the
Exchange National bank at Spokane
and is also president of 11 other
smaller banks in Washington and
Idaho. He is also a member of the
board of regents of the Washington
state college.
NOTES OF TRISCO CONVENTION
s
AN FRANCISCO, June 28. (Spe-1 could express themselves. As it is,
iney lose.
-
How the accumulation of wealth has
changed Mr. Bryan. It waa 20 years
ago that he exclaimed in Chicago,
"You shall not crucify mankind upon
this cross of gold."' For one solid
week he saw it done by Chicago hotel
keepers during the recent republican
convention and not one word of pro
test did he utter, and the San Fran
cisco taxi drivers must be handing
him some more of it, and yet he sits
silent.
rial. Franklin Roosevelt,
slstant secretary of the "navy.
lays claim now to being as much of
rough rider as his distinguisnea
cousin, the late xneouoro nucvciv.
Franklin's claims rest on hfs having
traveled all the way from Chicago to
San Francisco in an upper berth.
.
Mrs. Atey Scott Baker, leader of
the National Woman's party button
holders, is not impressed with Attor
ney-General Palmer's sense ot humor.
"There are two classes of delegates
here," Mrs. Baker said to tne attor-
ney-general. "Delegates at large and
those who brought their wives."
When someone inqu-lred: "Did he
smile?" Mrs. Baker replied:
"No, he drew the corners of his
mouth down and tied theni in a bow
knot under his chin."
William Jenings Bryan was enter
ing his automobile yesterday in front
of the Palace when a flock of visit
ing Shriners who had Just reached
here from the Portland convention,
suddenly surrounded him. The com
moner was detained in his car for ten
minutes while the Shriners, . with
splendid harmony. ' sang "How Dry I
Am." -j.
s
Eddie Rickenbacher, the great
American ace, confesses he docs not
know much about politics, but he sees
a need of reform in the presidential
nominating system. The famous flier
thinks there should be some uniform
primary system for the entire coun
try, and this Is what he says about it:
"There is ho doubt that the major
ity of the people of this country want
It must have been momentarily
pleasing to Kaynoter Cummings to
see the way the audience rose to his
mention of President Wilson as "im
mortal." However, not so pleasing
when it was shown that many of them
had risen to depart. "It was too much
for me," said a well-known woman
U. S. AFTER STAMP THIEVES
Federal Indictment9 to Be Report
ed Today by Grand Jury.
Several indictments which will re
veal the scope of a coast-wide theft
and sale of war savings stamps last
winter will be reported by the fed
eral grand jury some time today, it
was reported yesterday at the fed
eral building. Somo of the indict
ments, it is indicated, will be secret,
inasmuch as a few of the defendants
are not aware that they have been
under investigation.
The probe of the war savings stamp
scandal started several months ago,
and according to federal officials has
almost unlimited ramifications. Brok
ers, merchants, known crooks and
others have been connected up with
the sale of the stamps, it is asserted.
At least one member of the Portland
police department has likewise been
involved in the investigation.
War savings stamps valued at
thousands ot dollars were stolen dur
ing a series of raids on Willamette
valley banks and postoflices last win
ter and spring.
Later, federal operatives found that
these stamps had been altered and
sold in both. Portland and San. Fran
cisco. Two of the alleged stamp
.. i . i
from the national capital who lives Ha,"mB" v L Jl,, .t
within a few blocks of the White at unjLlr.bo"l8,,.T,t?lie, otler
House.
Two delegates from Oregon declared
In the state delegation conference
yesterday that prohibition is a dead
issue. Net so around, the hotel lob
bies, where the delegates from every
where are mingling. The conversa
tion would lead one to believe that
tifis convention is nothing but a meet
ing called by the distillers to salvage
the saloon.
Keynoter Cummln?-s bcasted today
of the establishment of a department
of labor with a member of the cabinet
at the head and mentioned it as a
democratic achievement. Chairman
Cummings' historical information on
this subject, like tome others, was
very faulty. The most active pro
moter of the separate department of
labor was Senator William E. Borah
of Idaho, who was chairman of the
Ffnate committee on education and
Leonard Wood for president. If they labor at the time. The bill was passed
arrests are expected to follow imme
diately after the grand Jury reports
the indictments today.
Siinlsterial Association Elects.
ALBANY, Or., June 28. (Special.)
Rev. J. C. Spencer, pastor of the
First Methodist church of Albany, has
been elected president of the Albany
Ministerial association for the com
ing year. Dr. Wallace Howe Lee.
dean of men at Albany college, was
chosen secretary-treasurer.
Ample Coal Assured Baker.
BAKER, Or., June 28. (Special.)
Baker coal dealers are receiving lib
eral supplies of coal and Baker, at
least, need have no immediate fear of
a coal shortage because of mine
strikes or railway tie-ups
An automattc device-has
vpnted to keep .railroad
cleaned aud lubricated.
been in-ewUches
A
T