THE "OREGON -SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY - MORNING. AUGUST 8, 1820J
COX -;
S ,;1SSES; UEONvWfflGH
WILE BE WAGE
LEAGUE IS ONE HOPE
GROWN WEARY OF LONG STRIFE,
DEMESDEMOCRAliiilNEE
-1
Senatorial Cabal, Led by Lodge, , Penrose and Smoot,; Accused ofV
v Blocking Path to Peace' and Obstructing: Wood row tWifsqn's!
Work for I Pact Whose Sole1 Aim lsiLasting;Peac(8forlNation$4
" (Hmwith la tha emnpIeU text of the speech
- a riAaviv JamM k v ri. t-erotin the iMinO-
eraUe nomination for the prwldeney, with tha
exemption of a fW paragraphs release later and
which, will b found on page 1 oC th Main
New Seatioa, ) .. -u i
DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. ' T.--Chalrman
Robinson and Members of the Notifi
cation Committee : The message which
you brine from, the great conference oi
progressive thought Assembled under the
formal auspices of the Democratic party.
Inspires within me a pride and an ap
preciation which I cannot voice. - At the
same time. I am mindful of the responsi
bility -which this function now officially
places upon me-. As I measure my own
limitations, the 'task ahead of us should
be approached with more than a feeling
of diffidence If jl were not strengthened
and reassured by the faith that one lias
only to practice true fidelity to con
science. It is not the difficult "thins to
know what we ought to do : the sense of
right and wrong has been given with
divine equality, i The mistakes of history
are the result of weakness In the face of
int....t. ... t thanlr ftori-j there
fore, that I take up the standard of
Democracy a free man. unfettered by
promises and happy in the consciousness
of untrammeled opportunity to render a
service in the name of government that
will hold for It! the confidence which it
deserves.., .,': i
i We are in a time which calls for
Straight . thinking, straight talking and
straight acting.: This is no time for
wobbling. Never in all our history has
more been done for government. Never
waa sacrifice more sublime. , The most
precious things of heart and home were
given up In a spirit which guarantees
the perpetuity i of our Institutions if
the faith is kept with those who served
and suffered. The altar of our republic
Is drenched In blood and tears, and be
who turns away from the tragedies and
obligations of the war, not consecrated
to a sense ef honor and of duty which
resists every ' base suggestion r. of - per
sonal or political expediency, is un
worthy of the esteem of his countrymen.
PLATFORM ISl CLEAR i ' -
The men and women who by expressed
policy at the San Francisco convention
chartered our course in the -open seas
of the future sensed the spirit of the
hour and phrased it with clarity and
courage. 'It is not necessary to read and
reread the- Democratic platform to know
its meaning. It is a document clear in
Its analysis 'of conditions and plain in
tha pledgs of service made to the public,
It carries honesty of word and intent.
Proud of the leadership and achieve
ment of the Party in war. Democracy
faces, unafraid. ! the problems of peace.
Indeed, its pronouncement has but to be
read along - with the platform framed
by Republican leaders fn order that both,
spirit and purpose as they dominate the
opposing organizations may be con
trasted. On the one hand wa see pride'
expressed In the nation's glory and a
promise of service easily understood.
On the other, captious, unhappy spirit
and the treatment of subjects vital to
the present and the future, in terms that
have completely confused tha public
rntrfd. It was clear that the senatorial
oligarchy had been given its own way in
the selection of the presidential can
"Mate, but It was surprising that it was
sble to fasten into the party platform
the creed of hate and bitterness and the
Vacillating policy that possesses it. 7
In the midst of war the present sena
torial cabal, led by Senators Lodge. Pen-,
rose and - Kmoot. was formed. Super'
flcial evidence iof loyalty to ie presi
dent was deliberate In order that the
rreat rank and file of their party, faith
ful and patriotic to the very core, might
Hot be offended. But underneath this
misleading exterior, conspirators planned
and plotted with bigoted seal. . With vic
tory to our arms they delayed and ob
structed the works of peace. .If deemed
useful to. the work in hand no artifice
for interfering with our constitutional
peace-making authority was rejected.
Before the country knew, yea, before
these men themselves knew, the details
of the composite plan, formed at the
peace table, they declared their oppo
sition to iu Before the treaty was
submitted to ths senate in the manner
the constitution provides, they violated
every custom and every consideration
i of decency by presenting a copy of the
doeiimnt mrM,k-& Mnkiii.vi.-u. -
nemy hands. and passed it into the
printed record of senatorial proceedings.
From that hour dated the enterprise of
throwing the whole subject into a tech
nical dicu8!on. in-order that the pub
i lie might be confused. The plan has
never changed in its biective. but the
method has. At the outset lhr -a. mm
the careful insistence that there was no
uesire to. interfere with the principle.
iTvivcu ana lormaiisea at- Versailles,
Later. It was the form and not the sub
stance that professedly inspired attack.
But pretense .was futile when proposals
later came forth that clearly emasculat
ed the basks principle of the whole peace
plan. It s not necessary to recall the
details of the controversy In the senate
Senator - Lodge finally crystallised his
Ideas Into what were known as the
Lodge reservations, and when congress
adjourned these reservations held the
support of the so-called regular Re
publican leaders. -
TOLmCAI, EXFEDIECT ; " f
-'- From that tlnW the processes have
oeen interesting. Political expediency
in Its truest sense dwarfed everv comrfri-
eration either of the public interest or
of the maintenance of the honor of a
great political party. The exclusive
question was how , to 1 avoid a rupture
In. the Republican- organisation. The
country received with interest, to, say
. the least, the announcement from Chi
cago, where the national convention was
assembled, that a platform plank deal
ing with the subject of world peace had
been- drawn, leaving out the Lodge res
ervations, and yet remaining agreeable
to all Interests, meaning thereby. - the
Lodge reservattonists. the mild reserva-
, tionists and the group of Republican sen
ators that openly opposed the League
i ivauons in any iorm. .
-As the Platform made no definite cam
mittal of policy and was. in Tact.- so
artfully phrased as to 'make almost any
'deduction possible, it passed through the
convention with practical ; unanimity.
Senator Johnson. however, whose posi
tion has been consistent and whose op
position to the league in any shape is
well known, withheld his support of the
Convention's choice until the candidate
had stated the meaning of the platform
mm anqounc(f wiiuiieii,ue.poucy,uiai
vouia oe m, n eieciea. .
-' The Republican candidate has spoken
and hls.utteranca calls forth .the .follow
ing approval from Senator Johnson : -
"Yesterday tn bis speech of acceptance
Senator Harding unequivocally took his
stand upon the paramount issue-in this
campaljrn the League of, Nations. The
Republican party stands committed by
its platform. . Its ' standard-bearer has
now accentuated that platform. . There
can be -no misunderstanding his words."
Senator Harding. - as the candidate of
the party, ana Senator Johnson are as
one. on thin question, srd. as the latter
expresses It. , the Republican party is
. convnitted both by platform in the ab-
OF VIORLD
straet and by its candidate In' apeciflcs
tlonj The threatened revolt among lead
era iof the , party is , averted, but the
mlndrity position as ' expressed In the
senate prevails as that of the.party.'vln
short, principle, as avowed In aapport of
the 'Lodge reservations, or . of the so
called mild reservations,' has been Sur
rendered to expediency. . -' -,?f, -, i -
' Senator -. Harding makes this new
pledge of policy In behalf nt lxla party :
. "I promise you format- and effective
peace ao quickly a a Republican' con
gress can' pass its declaration for a Re
publican executive to sign.' . r
HEARTS SEPABATB PEACE i
. Thiis means but one thing- a separate
peace with Germany ,
: TbJls would be thai most disheartening
event In civilisation: since the -Russians
made their', separate - peace with Ger
many, and 'infinitely more unworthy on
our part than it wan on that of the Rus
sians, They were threatened with star
vation and revolution had swept their
country. . Our soldiers f ought ., side . by
side with the allies. So complete was the
coalition' of strength and purpose that
General .Foch wu given supreme, com
mand, and every soldier in the allied
cause, no matter what flag he followed,
mcognlsed him as his chief. .We fought
the war together, and now before the
thing is through It Is proposed to enter
Into ft iwiarate rescwith Germanv! In
good'flth we-pledged our strength with
our associates for the . enforcement of
terms upon offending powers,, and now.
It is i suggested that this be withdrawn.
Suppose Germany, recognizing the first
break in the allies, proposes something
we cannot accept. -Doe Senator Hard
ing intend to send aa army to Germany
to press her to our terms?" Certainly
the allied army. could not be expected to
render aid.- If, on the other hand. Ger
many should accept the chance we of
ered of breaking the bond it would be
for tihe express purpose of. insuring a
German-American alliance, recognizing
that ;the allies in fact, no. nation In
good standing would , have anything to
do with either of us. - - i t
- This plan would not only be a piece
of bungling diplomacy, but plain, unadul
terated dishonesty, as well. V
No i leas an aathertty that ' Senator
Lodg said, before- the heat - of recent'
controversy that to make peace except in
company with the allies would "brand us
everlastingly with dishonor and bring
ruin to us." -it , . x.
And then after peace is made with
Germany, i Senator t Harding would, : be
says, ''hopefully approach the nations of
Europe and uf the earth, proposing that
understanding which makes us a willing
participant m the consecration, of na-
uons - to a new relationship."-- -
In shortJ America, refusing to enter the
League of Nations (now already estab
lishml bv 1 29 national and bearing and
deserving t the contempt of tha - world,
would submit an entirely new project.
This act -would either- be regarded as
arrant -madness ' or attempted Interna
tional boss ism, :t
WOlLD 8AJISFT AUj ,
The Plain truth Is . that thar TleriiK-
lican Headers, obsessed with a determi
nation to win the presidential : election,
have attempted to satisfy too many di
vergent views. Inconsistencies, inevit
able -tunder the circumstances, rise to
haunt them on every hand, and. they
find ! themselves arrayed. In public
thought at t least, against a great prin
ciple, i More than that, their conduct
is opposed : to the idealism upon which
their i party, prospered in other days. -.
: Illustrating these i observations by
concrete facts, let it' be remembered that
those now inveighing against aa interest
In affairs outside of i America, criticised
ITeBtaent Wilson In unmeasured terms
for not resenting the Invasion of Bel
gium ) in .1914. 'Theyi term the League
of..' Nations . a military alliance, which,
except . for j their opposition, would en
velope our 'country, -when as a matter
of truth,; the - subject of a League -of
Nations has .claimed the best thought
of America 'for years, and the League
to KRioree moe was presided over by
so distinguished a Republican as ex
Presid.ent Tnft, whoi, before audiences
in every section advocated the principle
and the ; plan of the present league.
They! charge experimentation, .when we
nave as Historical precedent the Mon
roe doctrine. which is the verv. essence
ot Article X of the Versailles covenant-
Skeptics Viewed Monroe s mandate Vith
alarm, predicting recurrent wars In de
fense of i Central and South American
states, whose guardians they alleped we
need i not' be. j And yet not a ahot has
been f fired in almost 100. years in pre
serving sovereign rights on this hernia-
pnere - They hypocritically claim that
the League of Nations will result in our
boyss being drawn into military service.
but they tail to realise that every high
school youngster In the land knows that
no treaty can override our constitution,
which reserves to congress, and to con
gress alone, the power to declare war.
They preach Americanism with a mean
ing er inetr own invention, and artfully
appear to a selfish and provincial spirit,
forgetting that Lincoln fought a war
over! i the purely moral question - of
slavery, and that McKlnley broke the
fetters of our boundary lines, spoke the
freedom of Cuba, and carried: the torch
of American idealism to the benighted
Philippines. They lose memory of Gar
field a prophecy that; America, under th
blessings of . God-given opportunity,
wo u kl by her moral leadership and coop
eration become ! a Messiah among tha
nations of the earth. .. . - ,
GOTERKMENT HAS HVTX -' ' '
- These tare fateful times. - Organized
government has a definite duty all over
the wrid. i The house of civilization Is
to be put In order. The supreme Issue
of the century la before us and the na
tion; that halts and delays is playing
with fire. The finest impulses of hu
manity,, rising . above ; national lines,
merely seek to make another horrible
wart impossible. Under the old order of
international i anarchy, war cam over
night, and the world was on fire before
wa knew it. It sickens our senses to
think of another. We saw one conflict
Into; which modern science brought new
forms of destruction In great guns, sub
marines., airships, and poison gases. It
is no secret that, our chemists had per
fected, when the contest came to a pre
cipitate ciose.i gases so deadly that whole
cities could be wiped out. armies - de
stroyed, and the crews of battleships
smothered. The public prints are filled
wita the opinions of military men that
In future wars the methods, more ef
fective than gases or bombs, will be the
employment of the; germs of diseases,
carrying pestilence and destruction. Any
nation prepared under these conditions,
aa Germany was equipped in 1914. could
conquer the world in a year.
IU is planned now to make this Im
possible, r A.1 definite . plan has been
agreed upon. The League of Nations Is
In operation. A very important work,
under its control, ust completed. - was
participated in by the- Hon. Elihu Root,
secretary of state under, the Roosevelt
administration. At -a f meeting of tha
Council, ot tha. League of Nations. Feb
ruary It- an organizing committee of
11 of the roost; eminent Jurists in the
world wis- selected. The duty of , this
group was to devise a plan for the es
tablishment . of a - permanent ; court of
international Justice, as a branch of the
league. This assignment has been con
cluded by unanimous action. This' au
gurs well, for world progress. The ques
tion fs -w hether we shall or shall not Join
in tiWs practical and humane movement
President Wilson, as our representative
at tihe peace table, entered the league In
our name, in so far as the executive au-
THE
It is not necessary to read and reread the Democratic platform to.
know' Its meaning. It is a document dear In its analysis of conditions
'and plain in the pledge of service made to the public. -' It carries honesty
of word .and Intent. (Proud of the leadership, and achievement of .the
party in war, Democracy faces unafraid the problems of peace. V
V? ' 'in the midst of war, the . present senatorial cabai; ' led by Senators
!lxdge, PenroSe'and Smoot. was formed. - - - "j .
Froni 'that tlme'thie processes: have been Interesting. Political expe
diency in Its truest sense , dwarf ed ' every consideration t either of the
'public interest' or of the maintenance of the honor, of agreat political
'party. The exclusive! question "was how to avoid 'a rupture in'the'Re
' publican, organization. , ',!'"" ' . " ',''''''
thorlty permitted. Senator Harding, as
the Republican .candidate, forthe presi
dency, proposes in plain words that we
remain out of It. As the DemocraUc
candidate, I favor going Im.. Let us ana
lyse Senator Harding's plan of. making a
German-American people, and -then call
ing for a "new relationship among na
tions."' assuming for the purpose of ar
gument only... that the perfidious hand
that dealt with Germany would possess
the power or influence t , draw 29 na
tions away from a plan already at work,
and induce, them to retrace every, step
and make a new beginning. This would
entail our appointing another commission
to assemble with those--selected by the
other powers. . , With the f Versailles In
strument discarded, the whole subject
of partitions- and divisions of territory
on new lines would be reopened. The
difficulties in this ; regard. - as any fair
mind appreciates, would be greater than
they were at the peace session, and we
must, not attempt to convince ourselves
that-they did not try . tne genius, pa
tience, -and- diplomacy of i statesmen , at
that firrv- TliMtorv will say that great
as was the allied triumph in war no less
a victory - was achieved "1 af -the peace
table. - The Republican proposal - means
dishonor, world confusion and delay. It
would - keep us in permanent company,!
with Germany. Russia. Turkey , and
Mexico. It would entail.". In the ulti
mate, more real Injury than the war. it
self. The Democratic position on the
question, as expressed In the platform Is :
we aavocaie immeoiaut rdui.iua.tiun
of the treaty without reservations which
would impair Its essential Integrity, but
do not oppose the acceptance of any
reservation making clearer or more spe
cific the obligations of the United States
to the league associates.". ; -i ' i
RATIFICATION HE CESS ART 1
-The first duty of the new administra
tion clearly wllU be the ratification of
the treaty. The matter should be ap
proached without thought 'of the bitter
ness of the past. The public verdict will
have been rendered, and I am confident
that the friends of world peace as it
will be promoted by ' the ' league, will
have in numbers the constitutional req
uisite to favorable senatorial action. The
captious may say that our platform Teft
erence to reservations -is Vague and in
definite. Its meaning, in brief, is that
we shall state our' interpretation of .the
covenant as a matter of ;good faith to
our associates and --as a precaution
against any misunderstanding in the future.-
The point Is. that after the peo-
-ple shall have spoken, the league -will be
in the hands oi its mends in me sen?
ate. and a safe index as to what they
will do is, supplied by what reservations,
they have proposed in 'the past, Some
months ago, in a contributed article' to
the New York Times, . ' I . expressed -my
own, opinion, of tha '-situation as.it then.
was. t reproduce it hereii r ' 'v .'
- "There can be no doubt but that some
senators have been conscientious In tbelr
desire to clarify the provisions of the
treaty. Two things apparently have dis
turbed; them: .first, they wanted to
make sure that the league was not to
be an alliance, and that Its basic pur
pose was peace and not controversy.
Second.- they wanted ' the other powers-
signing the instrument to understand our
constitutional . limitations beyond . which
the treaty-making - - power . cannot go.
Dealing - wltb these two Questions in
order. It has always seemed to me that
the interpretation of the function of the
league might have been stated In these
words: - - ' -- - -.- .
'In eiving . its assent to this treaty.
the' senate has in mind the fact that the
League of Nations which it; embodies was
devised ror tne sole purpose or main
taining peace - and comity . among the
nations of the earth and preventing the
recurrence of such destructive conflicts
as that through which the world has Just
passed, u ne cooperation or tne united
states with the league ana its continu
ance as a member thereof, will naturally
depend upon the adherence of the league
to that -fundamental purpose.' '
ADDITION'S TTOT BARRED 1 j
"Such 'a declaration would ' at least
express "the view of - the United States
and justify, the course which our nation
would unquestionably follow it tne basic
purpose of the League were at any time
distorted.' It would also appear to be a
simpler matter to provide - against any
misunderstanding in the future ' and at
the same time to meet the objections of
those "who-, believe that we might be
inviting- a controversy over our- consti
tutional rights, by making a senatorial
addition tn words something like these::
" 'It will of course be understood that
In' carrying out the purpose of- the
League, the government, of the ' United
states must at au times act in strict
harmony with - the terms and intent of
the United States constitution which
cannot in any way be altered by the
treaty-mafclng'power. ". ? i
' Unquestioned friends - of . the League
have made ' other -proposals. Our plat
form clearly lays no bar against any ad
ditions that will be helpful, but It speaks
in a . xirm resolution - to stand against
anything that disturbs the Vital prin
ciple. , We hear it said that interpreta
tions are unnecessary. .That may be
true, but they, will at least be. reassur
ing to many of our citiaens. - who feel
that in signing the treaty: there should
be no mental reservations that are not
expressed in plain words, as a matter of
good' faith to our associates. Such in
terpretations possess the further virtue
of supplying a. base upon which agree
ments can be., reached, aiid agreement,
without injury to the covenant, is pow
of pVessing Importance. It was the de
sire to get things started that prompted
some I members . of the senate to vote
for the Lodge reservations. Those who
conscientiously voted, fori them In the
final troll ' calls realised. . however, that
they, acted under duress, tn that' a poli
tically bigoted minority u exercising
the arbitrary power of its position to
enforce drastic conditional Happily the
voters of the republic,- under our system
of government, can remedy, that situa
tion, and I have faith that they -will, at
the election this fall. Then organised
government will be enabled to combine
Impulse and facility in the making of
better world conditions. The agencies of
exchange will automatically , adjust
themselves to the Opportunities of com
mercial freedom. New life and renewed
hope rwill take hold , of i every . nation.
Mapkind will press a resolute shoulder
to the task of readjustment, and a new
era will have dawned upon the earth.
DOMESTIC PROBLEMS I-
.We have domestic problems to be set-
ii?ai.i,Tftejr moat pressing. : : Many
conditions growing out of the war will
not and should not continue. - The work
of. readjustment will can for our best
ingenuity, unselfishness and de
y1.' " 10 tbe-Wea that it Is the general
m"t Jromote. One of the
nrst i things to be , done la the repeal
fJLir ' Th try of America
into the world war projected our people
ISi. i? ki nparJldJ. financial emer
gency, w-hlch was faced with a, determ
ination to make every sacrifice neces
sary to .victory. - Billions in liberty
loans subscribed by patriots res-ardln
of their . aaclal'cSdition mere 'int
stantly placed, at tha dianoM.1 nt
ernment, and, other billions were gladly
- "" " ""'t - innjHgn , many
forms of - taxation. To have paid by
curreru. . laxes more than: one-third of
ie expema oi. me greatest war in the
history of mankind, is a reflecion on
the nigh sense of national duty with
which we of America view the obliga
tions of this generation. -Immediately
following, the armistice, measures to
modify onerous and annoying-taxation
should have been taken aad .the Repub
lican ' congress in .which all tax laws
must originate, and which for -almost
two years has exclusively held the power
DEMOCRATIC PARTX AND- -WORLD
to ameliorate - this condition, has .not
made a single effort or passed a single
law to lift from - the American people
a load of -war taxation that cannot , be
tolerated In time of peace.'- federal tax
ation roust be heavily; -reduced.- and - it
will -be- done at once, T if a Democratic-
aa ministration is chosen in November.
Without hampering. essential , national
administrative-departments, by the. elim
ination of all others and strict economy
everywhere national taxes' can,- be" re
duced . in Excess o two. billkm dollars
yearly. . Annoying r consumption t taxes,
once willingly Lorne? now imjustif ied,
should be repealed-... The' incomes' from,
war-made'' fortunes. those of non-pro
d Peers . aad - those derived:-' from . Indus
tries that exist by unfair privilege, may
be able, to carry their present load,, but
taxes on the earnings - of : the wage
earner, of the 'salaried: and professional
man, of-the agricultural' producer iand
of the smalLtradesman should be sharp
ly modified. , I believe that a better form
of taxation, than the so-called -excess
profits tax may be found and -I suggest
a small tax. probably one to ( one and
one-halt per' cent, on the .total business
of ;' every going, concern. It is to-be
understood, that' the term -""business," as
used does : not Include Income received
by wage-earners, salaried men,- agricul-
turista and the-small business man who
should be exempt - from this ' tax. The
profiteer- and some of i the highly-capitalized
units have used the excess prof
its tax as. a favorite .excuse for loading
on . the - consumer by means of .highly
iBflated selling- prices many times the
uuovni ' actually nam me govininuBi.
A necessary- condition to . the national
contentment and sound; - business la j a
just proportion between fair' profits -to
business and fair prices to the - con
sumer. It is unquestioned that the enor
mous expansion of - public - and private
credit made necessary as a part of war
financing, the division I of tne products
of many industries from their usual
channels, as well: as the disturbance to
general business caused by- the with
drawal of millions of' men from pro
ducing fields, all contributed to the rise
In prices. Reversion of - these various
agencies to a more stable condition will
tend toward a recession ' in the enor
mously Inflated present prices of many
commodities and 'property values and
tnere are now evidences mat a sane ad
justment -is not far -distant. - Deep pa
triotic sentiment enthralled- our people
during the war and slight attention was
given to the enormous, economic changes
that were then In . progress and when
observed . these changes- were -.generally
sec pted as ne of the trials necessary
to be- endured and they! were submerged
In the thought and purpose for yietorv.
While millions of free 1 men. regardless
of wealth or condition; -were, giving of
meir otooa - ana suostance, ' many cor
porations and -men seised the very -hour
that civilisation lay urostrate -to.-Mn
-for themselves fortunes wrung from the
poono ana irom tne government, sr the
levying of prices that in many cases
were a crime. Under present-taxation
laws much capital is I drawing wit 4t
Industry and finding investment In non
taxable securities. This will : cease if
the changes suggested Tare made. i'
WOULD CURB PROFITEERS "
; In the analysis of government, as the
events of today enable us to penetrate
the .subject, we see the difference be
tween the old and the progressive kinds
of thinking. The belief of the reaction
aries is that government should not func
tion more widely than it did In the past,
but they seem to forget that the funda
mental, of our plan is equal rights for
aH and special prlrlHges for none. Mod
ern life has developed i new problems.
Civilization continues to build along the
same basic lines and altruistic as we
may all be' disposed to be. the fact -re
mains that except for the exchana-e of
proaucts between individuals, . coramer-1
ciai units ana . nauons, our. development
would be slow. All of this growth-goes
on under the protection; -of arid- with the
encouragement ; of government..-' i The
least, therefore, that might . be. rendered
unto- government for j this contlpuous
service is arpolicy of fair-dealing. Too
often .the gfnius of -man prompts him
to play for governmental, advantage. and
the success which has been achieved in
this particular has led to the formation
of groups which seek this .very advan
tage. . we are . a busy - people, preoc.
cupied in; too large degree with ' purelylby abuse cease to be the protective de-
commerciai considerations, and -we have I
not recognized, r as we should,;' that the
iauure r. government,; io- prevent in
equalities has made Jt possible for mis
chievous spirits to -develop' prejudice
against - the institutions of government,
rather than against , administrative policy.-
There is a very, important differ
ence here. This -difference bears directly
on profiteering, - which is today the most
sinister influence in American life. - It
is not a new. thing in America. The tribe
of profiteers' has simply multiplied under
the favoring circumstances of war. For
years, large - contributions, have .- been
made, to the Republican campaign fund
for no purpose except.-to buy a govern
mental underhold, and to make, illegal
profits as the result of: preference Such
largesses are today a- greater menace to
our -contentment and . bur" Institutions
than ? the countless temporary . profiteers
who are miking aj mockery'-' of -Jionest
business," but - who can; live ' and fatten
only in time of disturbed prices. If . I am
called ; to service as president, means
will be found. If theyi do not already
exist, for compelling, these exceptions to
the great mass of square dealing Amer
ican business men to use the same yard
stick of honesty that governs most of
us In our dealings with our fellowmen.
Or in language .that they - may under
stand, to suffer the penalty of criminal
law.-, -5v v - v ? -:'- : ;
LET PUBLIC. OPIIflOIT, DECIDE .
'There, is another reason for the fab
uloVis contributions to the present Repub
lican campaign fund. .Much money, of
course, has .been subscribed - in .proper
partisan zeal, but the great bulk has been
given with the definite Idea of gaining
service in return. - Many captains of in
dustry, guided by a most dangerous in
dustrial philosophy,-believe that in con
troversy between employer and employe
their will should - be enforced, event at
the point of the bayonet. I speak know
ingly. I have passed through many ser
ious industrial . troubles. I know; something-of
their psychology, the stages
through which they pass, and the danger-
pus attempts that are sometimes made
rto -end them.' Disputes between, labor
and capital are inevitable. The dispo
sition to gain the best bargain possible
characterizes tne whole field of ex
change, whether it be prod act for prod
uct, or labor- for money. - If strikes are
prolonged public opinion always settles
them.. Public' opinion should -determine
results' in- America. , Public- opinion' is
the most interesting .characteristic of i a
democracy, and it is the real safety valve
to the institutions ot a free government.
It may,: 'at times, be necessary' for gov
ernment to, inquire Into, the Tacts of -a
tie-up, but facts - and f not - conclusions
should be . submitted. The determining
form of .unprejudiced thought will 'do
the- rest.; During this process, govern
mental agencies must give a vigilant eye
to the protection of life and property,
and maintain firmness- but absolute im
partiality. This is always the real test.
but if official -conduct combines courage
ana iaimess, our governmental institu
tions come out of these, affairs untar
nished by distrust. This is not an aca
demic observation. It is the mere recital
of ' experience. -. Unrest i has - been rein
forced in no small degree by the great
mass of. unassimllated aliens. . "'Attracted
by an unprecedented demand for labor,
they have , come to our shores by the
thousands. As thev have become' ac
quainted with the customs .and oppor-
tunlties of American - life,: thousands of
The plain , truth is, that the - Republican - leaders obsessed " with a
.determination to win' the presidential election, have attempted to satisfy
. - too -many divergent .-views. ' ! .-. . i . .. ... - , ?. ' j - ? . -.:
i ;'Tbe ' Democratic ' posiffcn on the 'question, as, expressed in the plat-
, "We-advocate immediate ratification 'of the treaty without reserva
tions which would impair its essential integrity, but do not oppose the
acceptance of 'any reservation making; clearer or more specific! the obli
gations of the United States to the league associates."' " 'i f
- , ' , I - . -..-- - - ' - I' -
: The first duty of the new; administration clearly' will be the ratlfi
V cation of the treaty.- Governor Cox,, in Speech of Acceptance.
them have become citizens and are own-1
ers of their own homes. However, the (
work of assimilation too long was merely I
automatic.- -One. million - six hundred J
thouaand t orcien horn In -this ' country
cannot, read or write our language. . Our
interest in. them in . the -main has .been
Simply, as laborers, - assembled in the
great trade Centers, to meet, tne oesnano,
of the hour.: Without home or commun
ity ties,? many have been more- or less
nomadic; '-creating' the problem, of ex
cessive ... turnover, -which has perplexed
niannfactiirinr nlanta. But this has not
been j the worst phase of the situation.'
untamuiar with law, naving no unaer
8 tending ot the 'princlples?Of our govern
ment, they, have fallen an easy prey to
unpatriotic and -designing persona -. Pub-,
lie .opinion" has. bad no .influence upon
thero, because., they have - been isolated
from the currents of -opinion,' all due to
to their not being able to read or write
our language.' It is the duty of the fed-,
eraf government to stimulate the work
of Americanisation on the 4art of church
school., community, agencies, state gov
ernments and ' Industry Itself. - In the
past, many Industries that have suffered'
from-chronic restlessness have been the
chief contributors to their own troubles.
The foreigner with European standards
of living was welcomed, hut too often no
attempt ' was ' made - to educate him - to
domestic . ideals of rthe simple . reason
that it adversely affected the ledger.
It has been my - observation that the
man-who learns our language yields to a
controlling public opinron and respects
our laws : besides, in proportion aa his
devotion to American life develops, his
interest In- the Impulsive processes oi
revolution diminishes. , We must be 'pa
tient - In the work of assimilation and
studiously avoid oppressive measures in
the face of mere evidence of misunder
standing. We have a composite nation.
The Almighty doubtless-intended it to be
such. .Wei - will . not, however, develop
patriotism J unless we - demonstrate the
difference between : despotism and de
mocracy, i The necessity for the drastic
laws of war days is not present now,
and .we should return, at theVearliest op
portunity,:, to .the statutory provisions
passed in time of peace for the general
welfare..-- There is no condition now that
warrants 'any Infringement on the right
of . free speech and assembly nor on the
liberty of v -,. the press. The greatest
measure of Individual freedom consistent
with the safety of our institutions should
be- given. .Excessive- resrulation causes
manifestatioas that compel restraint. Tbe
ponce power,- tnererore. is caueu to ac
tion because the , legislative authority
acted unwisely.
WOULD EXPOBCE LAWS
' A forbearing policy is not the proper
one-for the deliberate enemy of our in
stitutions. He is of the kind that knows
conditions abroad and here. The differ
ence between -autocracy : and democracy
i well marked in - his mind. He Is
opposed to. government tn any form, and
he. hates . ours because it -appeals
to -'those whom he would convert to his
creed. Any policy of terrorism Is fuel
to hie, flame of anarchy. Those whom
he seeks, to arouse. In time, realize the
difference between his and their -mental
attitude, so that when the law lays hand
upon his wilful menace to government,
the purpose c-f it becomes plain to them.
Official contempt for the law is' a harm
ful exhibition- to Our people. It la diffi
cult to" follow the reasoning of anyone
who wtuld seek Jto make an issue of
the question of Slaw enforcement. The
executive obligation, both national and
state, on assuming the oath of office,
is to "preserve, .protect and defend the
constitution of the United States The
constitution, on Its essence, la the license
and limitation given to and placed upon
the law making body. Tbe legislative
branch of government Is subjected to
the rule , of the majority. - The public
official who falls - to- enforce the . law is
enenemy iboth to -the constitution and
to . the American principle of majority
rule. - It - would seem quite unnecessary
for 'any candidate for the presidency
to say that he does not intend, to violate
his oath of office. Anyone who is false
to that oath is more unworthy than the
law violator himself. ,. .
; Morals cannot easily-be produced by
statute. The -writ of injunction -should
not be abused. Intended aa a safeguard
to person and property. It could easily
' w 'Vlc'"J ly
Capital develops into large units with-
out. violence to public sentiment or. In
jury to public Interest- the same prin
ciple should noC be denied to labor. Col
lective bargaining through the means of
representatives selected py the employer
and employe respectively, will --be' help
ful, rather than -harmful o the general
Interest. - Besides, there Is no ethical, Ob
jection . that can ' be raised, to It. We
should - not, by - law," abridge a man's
right either' to labor or. to quit his em
ployment. . However, neither labor : nor
capital should at any time or in any cir
cumstances, take- action that - would put
In - jeopardy the public-welfare.' i . r
:We need-aefinite and precise state
ment' of policy a to what business men
and'workingmen may do and -may- not
do by. way "of combination and- collec
trveyactlon.' The law is now; so nebu
lous that it almost turns .upon- he eoo-
nomlc predelictiona of the judge or jury.
This does not make for confidence hi the
courts, nor respect for the laws, nor 'for
a ', healthy , activity r in i production and
distribution. There surely will be found
ways by which cooperation may be en
couraged without the destruction of en
terprise. ' The rules of business should
be made more certain, so that on a
stable basis 'men may move with ' confidence.--,),-
v ;;-' t ;"f;:v,;'-:
EAT FOB FEDERAL, EMPLOYES
Government," however, should provide
the -means in the .treatment- of its em
ployes, to keep in touch with conditions
and to rectify wrong. It is needless to
say that in order to be consistent, facts
should at all times , justify the pre-su re
position that the government employes
are properly compensated.- '
: The child life of the nation should be
conserved: If labor-In immature years
Is permitted by one generation. It is prac
ticing unfairness to the next. .-;
Agriculture is but another form of In
dustry. In fact, it Is the basis of industry,
because upon it depends the food supply.
The drift from countryside into the city
carries - disquieting - portents. - If our
erowth in manufacturing in the next few
lyears hold its present momentum, it
will- be necessary ior America te im
port foodstuffs. It therefore devolves
upon government. - through intensive
scientific cooperation., to help In main
taining as nearly as possible the existing
balance between ,- food production -and
consumption. Farming will' not ' Inspire
individual effort unless profits, all things
considered. - are equal to those in other
activities. An additional . check to de
pleted ranks in the - fields -would be the
establishment -.; of modern state rural
school - codes. The federal government
should ' maintain active sponsorship of
this Rural parents would be lacking in
the element which makes civilization en
during if they 'did not desire for. their
children educational opportunities com
parable to those in the cities. The price
the consumer pays 'for foodstuffs is no
indication of what the 'producer receives.
There are too' many -turnovers between
the two. Society and government, par
ticularly 'local and state, have .been re
miss in not modernising local marketing
facilities. Municipalities must In targe
measure Interest themselves - in. If not
directly control, community markets. This
is a matter of such Importance that the
federal government can -'profitably ex
pend money and effort to helping to
evolve methods and to show their vir
tues. The farmer raises his crop and
the -price which he receives is determined
by supply and. demand. His products in
PEACE
beef ' and pork a'hd produce pass .Into
cold storage . and ordinarily: when they
reacn the consumer the" lawof supply
and demand does not obtain. - The pres-
ervation of - foodstuffs - by cold storage
Is a boon tp humanity, and U should be
Bncourageo. However, the time has
come for its vigilant regulation, and in
asmuch as it becomes a part of inter-fite-co,rnm.erc'
tne responsibility is with
the federal government. Supplies are
gathered In from the farm in times of
Plenty, i They- can. easily be fed out to
the- consumer In- such manner as to keep
the demand In excess of that! part of the
supply- which Js released from storage.
This is an unfair practice and should be
stopped. Besides, there should be a time
Mnilt i beyond which perishable foodstuffs
should not be stored. Every successful
modern business enterprise has its pur
chasing, producing and, selling depart
ments. The farmer has maintained only
One, the producing department. It is not
only falrjthat he be enabled both to pur
chase and to sell advantageously, but It
is absolutely, necessary because he has
become a competitor with the manufac
turer for labor. He has been unable to
compete in the past and his help In con4
sequence has been Insufficient. Therefore
the right of cooperative purchasing and
selling, in - the modern view, should be
removed from aU question. Agricultural
thought has not been sufficiently repre
sented in affairs of government. Many
Of r te branches of government - which
deal remotely or dlrecUy with the soil
and Its problems and its possibilities
would be more valuable to the general
welfare if the practical experience of a
farmer were an element in their admin-,
Istratiorf. To be specific, the interstate
commerce commission.; the federal re
serve board, the federal trade commis
sion and the United States Ftarif f com
mission are . administered by , business
men. Does any one contribute more to
tne making, and -. success of railroads
gthan the farmer or the creation and
rosperity of the banks, or to the sta
ty of manufacturing and trade units,
'O the agencies interested, in export-
TE2TA3TRY SHOULD DECREASE
Our objective ' should be a decreased
tenantry. With the period of occupancy
uncertain, the renter strips Tiand of its
fertile elements,, and each year dimin
ishes our national ' assets. Under the
operation of . the federal reserve . and
farm loan acts, encouragement has come
to thousands who find that Industry,
character and : Intelligence are a golden
security to the people's banker, the gov
ernment of the United States. Multiply
our home owners, and you wUl make the
way of the seditious agitator more dif
ficult. Bring, into the picture of Amer
ican life more families, happily a part
Of garden and flowers all their own,
and you will find new streams running
Into the national current of patriotism.
Help to equalize the burdens of taxation
by making the holders of hidden-wealth
pay their share with those whose prop
erty is In sight. - In short, remove the
penalty imposed ' upon home building
thrift, and thousands of contented house
holds under the shelter of their own roof,
will look upon government with affec
tion, recognising that in protecting It
tney protect themselves. There are more
home owners in America than , ever be
fore. The prosperity of the country
under democratic ruin has been widely
diffused. Never before, has the great
mass of the people shared in the bless
ings of plenty. There is much to be
done, however. In multiplying our home
owners. - -Nothing will iring more golden
return to the welfare' 'of the republic.
common prudence would sucerest that
we increase to our utmost our area of
tillable. land. The'sace between increased
consumption ana aaaea acreage nas been
an unequal one. Modern methods of soil
treatment -.have' been, helpful, but they
have their limitations. , There are still
vast empires in extent, in our country,
performing no service to humanity. They
require -only the applied genius of meri,'
to cover them with the bloom; and harvest
of human necessities. . .The i government
should turn Its best engineering talent
to the task of irrigation projects. Every
dollar spent' will yield compensating re-
suits. , ;,-, -,.! ; '.-.:. .'..-:v.., h
FOOD AJfD. TRANSPORTATION ,: r ,
"Any discussion W the question of food
Supply leads .very -quickly to the closely
related, matter . of transportation.'- There
is no one thing which brings us so In
termittently to . critical conditions - than
the insufficiency of our transportation
facilities. Both the railroads and the
public are to blame. 'There has been no
material -addition to the total mileage in
the last 10 years, and the Increase in
terminals, has. been much less than re
quired.' At the, begfhnh-ig of the war the
roiling stock was adly reduced and in
adequate. The roblic had -not given in
pay for: service, sufficient 'revenues On
which credit could ? be allowed - by the
banks. ; Moral' assistance was withheld
because ' of railroad - policies that did
not bring. approval. Many of these cor
porations had made themselves a part
of political activities,.- local, .state and
national. Then there were iroore or less
sporadic Instances of stock-watering op
erations, and the exploitation, of utility
properties for, personal ; gain. Abuses
were not general, but they 1 were suffici
ent to bring the entire railroad systems
of the country In disrepute.- The good
suffered' .with the evil. When the trans
portation lines were taken over by the
government they were barely able to
HmP through the task ot'the day. Unity
tn operation, the; elimination of the long
haul, and the' merging of every mile of
track, and terminal and every car . and
engine Into a coordinated, plan of opera
tion enabled the governments to -trail.
port .' troops and ' supplies, , at the same
time affording, under - great stress, a
satisfactory., outlet for . our Industries.
It should be remembered in this connec
tion that except for the motor . truck
which supplemented - transportation by
rail, and except for the great plpe-lmes
which conveyed oil for commercial pur
poses, we should not. In all probability,
have been able to throw-our deciding
strength Into the balance and win the
war. Any attempt to discredit the fed
eral operation , of railroads during- the
years-of grave emergency is unfsir. In
the case of those who know the facts it
Is insincere, v Too much cannot be said
in praise of those who directed this
work. Yior of " the men who physically
operated the lines under the discourag
ing conditions of poor -equipment. But
all of this is water over the wheel. The
problem of the railroads Is still with us.
The government and the public should
render every .cooperation-In the utmost
good faith, to give thorough test to pri
vate ownership. The railroads have had
their lesson. Government regulation is
accepted now as not qnly a safeguard to
the public, but as a conserving process
to the utility. Financial credit is neces
sary to physical rehabilitation and it
should be sufficient for the periods of
maximum - demand. We shquld not lose
sight, however, of the vast possibilities
of supplementary service by water. The
Great Lakes and -St.. Lawrence naviga
tion project, particularly should claim
the interest of the government.' - About
one' third of our states would be sup
plied with an outlet - for every ton of
their exports. The opportunity to make
of the lake harbors great eeean ports
of entry is inspiring to contemplate. In
the crop-moving period, the i call on the
railroads is staggering. Grain piles up
In the elevators. . With stagnation more
or less general, : the farmer sells - his
product under the most unfavorable con
ditions. The trackage and the terminals
in middle states particularly are clogged
with this traffic, and interference with
RESERVATIONS THAT
LEAGUE ARE NOT
DEMOCRATS,
- In Speech of Acceptance and Answer to Senator Harding, Demo
; cratic'Nominee -Points to Provision in San Francisco Platform
K' Which; Would Accept Reservations That Would Explain.
local movements of freight Is Inevitable.
The solution would be simplified by util
ising the waterways. ' Aside from this
the accruing gain from every crop would
be a consideration : for the reason that
the price : of grain in this country is
made by the Chicago market and it is
determined 4 by the London quotations.
The . price In the 'British metropolis Is
a stated ; figure, less the cost of trans
portation. .The routing of these com
modities by water, would effect a saving
of ? approximately : cents a bushel,
which means that American grain would
net Just that. much more.-
WILSOJT BRnrCS BELIEF
For more than 40 years before Wood
row Wilson was elected president in 1912,
a-reform of our banking and currency
svstem bad beenalmost universally de
manded and bad been year after year
deferred or refused by t the stand-pat
element of the Republican party in obedi
ence . tn , orders. The control of money
and interest rates had long been held
by favored groups who were tnus aoie
to dominate markets, regulate prices,
fsvor friends.' destroy rivals, precipitate
and end panics and. in short, through
their financial, social and political;, out
posts, be the ' real rulers of America.
The federal reserve act waa originated,
advocated and made a law by a Demo
cratic president and congress, against
the bitter protests of the Republican
stand-patters, who, almost without ex
ception, voted against it, Among these
men are the familiar names of Senators
Lodge, Penrose and Smoot, the inside
senate cabal responsible for the existing
status in the leadership of their party.
The federal reserve act is admitted to
be the most constructive monetary legis
lation In history.. At a stroke it trans
ferred the power over money and credit
and ail they represent, from one finan
cial district out into-the keeping of the
people themselves and. instead of one
center to which all paid tribute, there
are 12- citadels of financial freedom
where every citizen has an equal right
and where the principle that the credit
ef k American business shall be free is
the basis of administration.' Every citi
zen 8hos3Id .be alert to guard this great
institution which is his 1 guarantee of
credit Independence. It should be kept
from the hands of those who have never
been its- friends, and who by changes
In a few obscure phrases -could trans
late it Into a greater power for evil than
It ever has been for good J It Is almost
unnecessary to speak of the federal re
serve system in connection with the win
ning of the war. as, next, to the conse
cration of our manhood and womanhood
Itself. Che greatest! factor ;was the mar
shalling into one unit through the fed
eral reserve banks of the stupendous
wealth of America. . To those of vision
who look out- beyond - our shores Into
that commercial domain where we are
so justly entitled' to enter in a time of
peace, latent power of the federal re
serve system can be seem promoting in
every quarter . of the globe an ever wid
ening flow of American, commerce. - We
will soon have a merchant marine fleet
of 11.000,000 tons aggregate, every ship
flying the American flag iand carrying
in American bottoms the products of
mill and mine and factory and farm.
This would seem to be a guarantee of
continued prosperity. Our facilities for
exchange and credit, however, in for
eign ports, should be enlarged and. un-
aer tne xeaerai reserve system, banks
should he established In Important trad
ing centers. I am Impressed, also, -with
the Importance of improving, if not re
organizing, ' our consular) service. The
certain : increase In foreign.-trade would
seem to demand It. This suggests an
other change. - Our ambassadors to for
eign, countries., have, had assigned to
them a military and a naval attache.
The staff should - be enlarged so as to
include an officer of the government
whose exclusive duty would be to make
observation and report development and
Improvement In educational and social
problems generally. - j
BUDGET 8TSTEM URGED . '
Government bureaus during the war
had close contact with the business "or
ganization .of the country. That experience-revealed
the modern need of
reorganization -along purely business
lines. The advantage of a democracy In
government need not be' recounted. It
has been held by experts that It Involves
the disadvantage .of - disbursements, au
thorized by the law-making power with
out sufficient knowledge iof the need of
the service, or : the possibilities of ex
travagance. The answer to this Is the
budget system'. - No successful business
enterprise of any size, can operate with
out it. For a hundred years the federal
unit. and the states as well, made ap
propriations without determining the dif
ference between department need and
cs price, at the same time paying little
attention to the -relation las between in
come, and expense. Many of the states
have adopted a budget system, and ""h
a success that carries no exception. Effi
ciency has been Improved i-deosrt men t-'
responsibility has been centered and
economies have -been effected. The same
can, be done by the federal government.
The system will reveal at once, as it did
In the states, a vast surplusage of em
ployes. It awakens Individual Interest.
encourages greater effort and gives op
portunity ror talent to assert itself. The
normal course of least resistance devel-
o - in gvimnt t'rea't h ipn
which retards . progress. ) When the re
organisation - is - made, pay . should be
commensurate with ; service. Many fed
eral departments whose- ramifications
u"Ch the country a-enerlly h-vn list
.valnaWe -men to business. -This has
badly crippled postoff ices, the railway
mail service snd other branches.- ,
I am convinced 'after considerable
study of the subject that the expense of
government can. without . lose " of effi
ciency, i be reduced to S maximum of
.u- kntt- - .a - , t . , , a c
turn wiiitwi uviiKrv... including smiting
fund and interest on the national debt.
When - we 'enter, the League of Nations
we should at the same time diminish our
cost - for; armsment. To continue ex
penditures In either the war or the navy
departments on a vast scale, once our
membership In the league Is assured,
would seem to be a very definite refuta
tion of the advantages of the world plan
which -we believe it possesses. An ap
pealing -fundamental In the league
method is the reduction of armaments.
We cannot afford to do this until other
nations do likewise. If we do not enter
the league, hundreds of jmHIions of dol
lars must beSfenent for armaments. -If
we go in. and cl believe the people will
Insist on It, then we can count on econo
mies. .- . - -, - 1 , -
G. O. F. FORGETS WAR
' Since the last national conventions
of the two great psrties. a world war
has been fought, hlstarici unprecedented.
For many, marry - months civilization
hung In the balance. In the despair of
dark hours. It seemed as though a world
dictator was inevitable and that hence
forth men and women -Who Itfd lived In
freedom would stand at attention in the
face of the drawn ' sword of military
autocracy. The very soul , of America
waa touched as never before with a fear
that our liberties were to be taken away.
What America did., needs no reiteration
here. It Is known of all men.. History
will acclaim it poeta will find it an In
spiration throughout the ages. - And yet
there Is pot a line' in the Republican
platform - that breathes an emotion of
pride, or recites our national achieve
ment. In :- fact. If a man from Mars
were to depend ' upon the - Republican
platform ' or its spoken interpretation
WOULD CLARIFY !
OBJECTED TO BY '
SAYS GOVERNOR COL
by the candidate of that party, aa his
first means of information, he would
not find a syllable telling him that the.
war had been won and that America
mmmA . I. ...)., , 1 I
- - -ui in. -i"w ungenerous,
how unirraclous all nr th t. i ..
fair that a mere group of leaders should
so demean, themselves in the name of
Roosevelt. lnCln a"d McKlnley nd
-fTJE d"S2V-tl"BT .to. t.ho PresM-m s an
tl . I r ? P9''tlcal intrigue History will
k J,1 odloua As well miKht It be
directed at a wounded soldier of the
rBr;K.0nu,e11 ,n the trench J the strength
of the other was broken In the enor
mous labors of his office. But others
were Ignored the men and women who
home w,th an industry and a
KU' that words cannot recount f What
or the hands that moved the" lathe by
day and the needle by night? What of
the organizations, superbly effective.
that, conserved food and fed the world
that carried nourishment to the very
front trench in the face of hell's furies--that
nursed the wounded back to life
that burled the dead in the dark shelter
of the night that Inspired business men
and artisans of all parties to work in
harmony? What of the millions of
men. women and children of all creeds,
religious and otherwise, who stood in
the ranks as firm as soldiers overseas,
undivided by things they once quarreled
about? What ef the government itself
confirming the faith of our fathers as
sufficient to meet tha storms of time'
Why the sneer at labor with the veiled
charge that It was a mere slacker?
The spectacle is sufficient to convince
any unprejudiced man that the Repub
lican leaders who have taken charge of
their party and nominated its candidate
are no more possessed of the spirit-of
the hour than they were in 1912 when
they precipitated a revolution within the
rank and file of a great organization.
If further proof were needed, the action
of the present congress suppllea it. Not
a constructive law can be cited. Money
and time were wasted In seeking to
make a military triumph an odious chap
ter in history and yet is it not signifi
cant that after two years of sleuthful
lnoulrv thent wn nnihins ..,., t
that vast enterprise, carrying billions of
dollars-in expense, upon which they
could base even a whisper of dishon
esty? ,
MEXIQAlir SITtTATIOX IMPROTED
The Mexican situation, trying to -our
patience for years, begins to show signs
of Improvement.- Not the least of the
things that have contributed to It Is a
realization by the people of that coun
try that we have neither the lust for
their domain, nor disposition to disturb
their sovereign rights. Peace smiles
upon the border and incentive to in
dividual effort seems to be making a
national aspiration.
There will be no attempt in this cam
paign to compete by dollars with our op
position. So many people have been in
the money-gathering business for the re
actionary cause that the millions already
in hand are more or less, a matter of
general information. All that we ask
Is that both parties deal In the utmost
good faith with the electorate and tell
the plain truth as to the amounts re
ceived, the contributors, and the Items of
aisDuraemenu. Ttie public judgment in
elections snouia oe rendered after the
ruuest nearing possible. Kach side has
the right to properly present its case.
This is a legitimate expense. There Is
no narrow dividing line h,iw,,n ih i,i-
ei m a f a ant (1I..IMn,.i. 4 .. . . i i t i
T .L.,,t,t ui J'MI i Li ni I n -
pmigns. une contemplates the organiza
tion and maintenance of such facilities
as are necessary to adVise the people of
the facts bearing npon the issues,; the
other carries the deliberate purpose to
interfere with the honest rendering of a
verdict. How misguided some of our
people are. Recognising that readjust
ment must be made, they believe that
they will fsre better if they cast their
fortunes with-those with whom they
dealt on the base of campaign contribu
tions in Hays gone by. They do not sense
the dangers that threaten. The sort of
readjustment which will appeal to our
self-respect and ultimately to our gen
eral prosperity. Is the honest "readjust
ment. Any unfair adjustment simply
delays the- ultimate process and' we
should remember the lesson of history
that one extreme usually leads to an
other. Te desire Industrial peace. We
want our people to have an abiding con
fidence in government, but no readjust
ment made under reactionary aunplces
will carry with It the confidence of the
country. If I were asked to name in
these trying days the first essential
overshadowing every other consideration
the response would be confidence In
government. It would' be. nothing less
than a calamity If the next administra
tion were elected under corrupt auspices.
There Is unrest in the country ; our peo
ple have passed through a trying experi
ence. The European war before It en
gulfed us, aroused every racial throb In
a nation -ofr comp. site citizenship. The
conflict In which we participated carried
anxieties into every community and thou
ies into . every community and thou
sands upon thousands of homes were
touched by tragedy. The inconveniences
Incident to the war have been disquiet
ing; the failure of the Republican con
gress to repeal annoying taxes has added
to our troubles. The natural Impulse is
to forget the past, to develop new inter
ests, to create a refreshened and ref resh
ing atmosphere in life. We want to forget
war and be- free from the troubling
thought of its possibility in the future.
We want the dawn and the dews of a
new morning. We want happiness in the
land, the feeling that the square deal
among men and between men and gov
ernment is not to be Interfered with by
a purchased preference. We want a
change from the oM world of yester
day, where international Intrigue made
the people mere pawns on- the chess
board of war. We want a charge from
tne OKI inQUBirwi wui m. wiirrc in.? itihit
who toiled was assured "a full dinner
pail" as his only lot and portion. But
how are we to-make the change? Which
way shall we go? We stand at the forks
of the road and must choose which to
follow." One leads to a higher citizen
ship, a freer expression of the individual
and a fuller life for all. The other leads
to reaction, the rule of the few over
the many and the restriction of the
average man's chances to grow upward.'
Cunning devices . backed by unlimited
prodigal expenditures will be used to
confuse and to lure. But I have an -abiding
faith that the pitfalls will be avoided
and the right road chosen. The leaders
opposed to Democracy promise to put
the country "back to normal." This
can only- mean the so-called normal of
former reactionary (.administrations, the
outstanding feature of which was a pit
tance for farm . produce and a small
wage for a ' long day of labor. My
vision -does not turn backward to the
"normal" desired by the senatorial olig
archy, but to a future in which all shall
have a normal opportunity to cultivate a
higher stature amidst better environ
ment than that of i.he past. Our view
Is toward the sunrise of tpmorrow with
Its progress and its eternal promise of
better things. The opposition stands in
the skyline of the setting sun, looking
backward to the old- days of reaction.
? I accent the nomination of our part,
obedient to the Divine Sovereign of all
MtnniM ami hone rni mat ov trust in
Him the way will be shown for helpful
service. ,
.'--,'..'.-. ; . . .. .. 0
-