South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-14
NJ COMBS SEES
SURE VICTORY
FOR WILSON
In Speech Calling Convention
to Order He Says "We
Are in An AtmOS-
phere of Victory"
international News Service

international News Service:
ST LOUIS, June lin calling
the democratic convention TO order
here today Chairman McCombs of
the national committee delivered an
address in which he scored the re-
publican platform as one of vague
promises and predicted victory for
the democratic party next NOvem-
Der.
Mr. McCOmbs said.
Ladies and gentlemen OF the con
vention:
we are in an atmosphere of vic
tory. We have no feelings Of guess.
but a spirit of certainty. We meet TO
celebrate the great achievements of
the democratic party since il came
into power and TO place a mile stone
upon the path of future success.
over 1000 years ago an old slave
related the fable of the frog who
wanted TO grow TO the size of an ell
ephant such was the ambition of
his soul that his body swelled 10 a
marvellous proportion. Indeed. Aesop
went so far as to predict that the
frog. upon reaching the size of an ell
ephant would burst. commend
10 your notice the wisdom of Aesop.
II took over 2.8OO years Tor his
prophecy to come true. only last
week the g-elephant-OT elephant
frog-expIoded. The republican party
for years succeeded in deceiving the
country Now it is successfully de-
ceiving itself In its platform it Of
fers pulchritudinOus promises but
with vacuous intent It promises
the country, in the main, what the
democratic party has already done
or is in the process of doing. saving
always. the bogus god-protectiOn.
Board is the People.
1T has clOaked its iniquity with
judicial robe. but the cloven hoof of
special interest still protrudes.
The board of directors has sat
| in Chicago and again resolved that
they are the country. They have
adopted the doctrine of fOre-ordina-
ton and predestination. but have
made il applicable only to them
| selves.
The rest OF the people are their
wards-for profit.
Ambition is a notable attribute.
but when il is adulterated With
greed. cataclysm is inevitable. We
have recently witnessed the painful
spectacle of two great American par
ties at Chicago. putting self in place
of ideals: Standardization in place
of national honor: republicanism and
D.. &
our only ism -Americanism
we have witnessed the drab spec
tacle of two groups of men. trading
principles like competitors in fish
market in the hope that some com
promise would win public support.
They have not come together-they
! have fallen out over the 'swag.' For
! the sake OF victory. many of these
I men essentially opposite in princi-
Pile have been willing to become
| friends with false masks. The result
/ is inevitable. divided they fall We
/ are proud i'm the thought that uni
| ted we stand" We welcome the
pent-up Americanism of the reel
/ progressiVes individually To our
/ ranks. offe~ing them haven in prin-
ciple. Their leader has abandoned
/ them with Grass cruelty
Wants Factions United
The gentleman from oyster Bay
I I'M a recent letter 10 Chicago. quoted
Abraham Lincoln as saying May not
all. having a common interest. re-
unite IN common effort 90 save our
common country
Ladies and gentlemen beg to
call your attention 10 the word re-
unite. The words save the country
have been the disguise OF the oppo-
stion for years There may be "a
political war today i'm this country.
i but that war only exists between
factions Why did the gentleman
quote the words of lincoln? I'm the
/ hope of reuniting Americans No.
J Americans are reunited as never be-
/ fore. lie meant 10y reuniting that.
\ two factions of his party should re-
unite. These two factions-or parts
OF them-hoped 20 join for seIf-ag-
] graudizement. Leaders for these
/ two Recommendations powerleSs as
entities hoped 20 join hands how
ever stained and however divided on
/ irreConcilable principles. for the ~
sidious purpose of oVer-throwing :
third entity which for the past four
years has stood united i'm common
/ cause. whose Shibboleth il one for
am and AN for one. equal rights TO
Ian and special privileges TO none:
| whose chief tenet of faith IS that