Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-07-30
has been an administration In the gov-

has been an administration In the gov-
ernment more efficiently conducted,
more free from scandal and in which
the standard Of official duty has been
set higher than In the present Repub-
lican administration which the DEM
ocratic platform has thus denounced.
1t has had to meet the problems aris-
ing from the enormous expansion of
government functions under new leg
islative measures as well as IN the
new dependencies and In the greatest
constructive work of modern times,
the Panama canal. and It's members
may well feel a just pride in the ex-
ceptfonal record for efficiency. econ
omy, honesty and fidelity which 1t has
made. We may rely upon our record
in this regard in an appeal to the
American people for their approval
The foreign policy of this country
under the present administration has
greatly contributed to the peace of the
world. The important part the ad-
nlinistration took in bringing about an
end of the Russian-Japanese war by
treaty honorable to both parties and
the prevention In wars in Central
America and Cuba are striking In
stances of this The arbitration
treaties signed with all the important
nations of the world mark a great step
forward in the development of the
usefulness of The Hague Tribunal.
The visit of Secretary Root to South
America emphasized our friendship
for our sister republics which arc
making such strides in the south hem
isphere and met with most cordtaS
and gratifying response from our Late
American colleagues The assist
ance which we are rendering In Santo
Domingo to enable that government
to meet it's obligations and avoid an
archy Is another instance of success
full work of this administration In
helping our neighbors.
This administration, has by the
promptness, skill and energy OF ita
negotiations secured dominion In the
canal zone OF the Isthmus of Panama
without which the construction OF the
canal would have been impossible, 1t
has subdued the heretofore insur-
mountable obstacle of disease and
made the place OF work healthy. 1t
| has created such an organization that
! in six years certainly, and probably
| in less, the Atlantic and Pacific will be
united, to the everlasting benefit of
| the worlds commerce and the effec-
| tiveness of our navy will be doubled.
! The mere statement Of the things
actually done by this administration at
home. In our dependencies. and in for
| etgn affairs. shows g. marvel OF sue
cessful accomplishments and II ever
| party has entitled ifseG to the approv-
all of its work by renewal mandate
of power from the people whom IT
served. 1t Is the Republican party, IN
| the present campaign
! The only respect in which nothing
| has been done Is in the development
of our foreign marine. As long as
we npheld the ss,stem of protection for
our home industries, we must recog-
| nize that it is inapplicabie to assist
! those Of our citizens engaged In the
foreign shipping business, because
| til ere is no feasible means of exclud-
| ing foreign competition, and that the
| cnyy other method of building up
1 such a business Is ny direct aid in the
| form of a mail subsidy. / am in favor
4 OF the bill considered in the last con-
! gress as q tentative step. The estab-
ushment of direct steamship lines be-
tween our Atlantic ports and South
| America would certainly do much 10
develop a trade that might be made
| far greater On the Pacific tha
whole shipping trade threatens to
PASS into the control of Japan Some-
| thing ought to be done and the bill
| wn3cn failed was step in the right
direction.
Independent Democrats
| The Dem ocratic party under its
present leadership in previous cam
paigns has manifested Willingness
to embrace any doctrine which would
win votes, with little sense of respon-
| sibil:ty for it's practical operation. In
Its striving for success 1t has ignored
the bus1ness prosperity of the coun-
| try. has departed from sound eco
| nornic and governmental principles,
| and has reversed its own traditional
views OF constitutional constructlon-
| Patriotic members of the party nave
refused to be controlled by party ties
and have either refraineo from vol
| ing or have supported the Republican
| candidates. May we not appear TO
these COURAGEOUS and independent cit-
izens again to give us their support
in this campaign, because the reasons
for thetr breaking the bonds of party
are stronger to day than ever before.
Length of This Speech Necessary
have now reviewed at great
LENGTH the principles at issue between
| the two parties. When / began the
preparation Of this speech I hoped to
| maka 1T much breifer than 1t is. but l
found on an examination of the plat
form and on consideration of the
present administration and the issues
arising out Of them, that it was Inn
possible to deal with the subjects
COMPREHENSIVE with proper explain
alton and qualification in short dis
cussion. This is my excuse.
Prosperity or Disaster-WhAch?
have pointed out tat the at&i-
tude OF the Republican party with
reference to evils which have crept
in due to the enormous material ex-
mansion Of this country, Is to continue
the Roosevelt policies of progress and
regulation, while the attitude OF the
Democratic party under its present
leadership is to change for the sake
of change to the point of irresponsible
destruction, and that there is no hope
whatever Of a restoration of prosper
ity in returning it to power. AS said
I