The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-29

no opposition, but rather supported the measures providing them and now the party has not the courage to indicate what part of government cost 1t would end. It joins the republican party specifically in approving the outlay of S150 ,000,0 900 as pensions. It expressly favors also the cost of greatly in- creased river and harbor Improvements, the cost of doubling the navy and of many other enterprises to which it urges the government It's attack there fore has nothing in it either of fair ness or sincerity
 High Character and Efficiency of Ad-
 minstration.
 The truth is that it is known of all fair-minded men that there never has been an administration in the govern nent more efficiently conducted, more free from scandal and in which the standard of official duty has been set higher than in the present republican administration which the democratic platform has thus denounced. It has had to meet the problems arising from the enormous expansion of government functions under new legislative meas ures 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 just pride to the exception record for efficiency, economy honesty and fidelity which it has made. We may rely upon our record in this regard in an appeal to the Amer ican people for their approval.
 The foreign policy of this country un- der the present administration has great ly contributed to the peace of the world. The important part the administration took in bringing about an end of the Russian-Japanese war by a treaty hon orable to both parties and the preven- ton of wars in Central America and Cuba are striking instances of this. The arbitration treaties signed with all the important nations of the world mark great step forward in the development of the usefulness of The Hague tri- bunal The visit of Secretary Root to South America emphasized friend ship for our sister republics which are making such strides in the south hem isphere and met with most cordial and gratifying response from Latn- American colleagues. The assistance which we are rendering in Santo Do- mingo to enable that government to meet it's obligations and avoid anarchy is another instance of successful work of this administration in helping our neghbors.
 This administration has, by it's prompt ness, skill and energy or US negotiations secured dominion in the canal zone of the Isthmus of Panama without which the construction of the canal would have been impossible. it has subdued the here tofore insurmountable obstacle of dis ease and made the place of work healthy. It has created such an organization that in six years certainly and probably in less the Atlantic and Pacific will be unit ed. to the everlasting benefit of the worlds commerce and the effectiveness of our navy will be doubled
 The mere statement of the things act ually done by this administration at home in our dependencies, and in for. eign affairs, shows a marvel of suc- cessful accomplishment and if ever a party has entitled itself to the approval of it's works by renewed mandate of power from the people whom it served, it 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 upheld the system of protection for our home industries, we must recognize that it Is inapplicable to assist those of our cit izens engaged in the foreign shipping business, because there is no feasible means of excluding foreign competition, and that the only other method of build ing up such business is by direct aid in the form of a mail subsidy I am in favor of the bill considered in the last