The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1916-09-07
CITES LEGISLATIVE RECORD
AS VINDICATnG AD-
MINISTRATION.
II Am the Candidate Of the Party,
but I Am Above All Else
An American Citizen"
Says President.

ternOOn with an addreSS recount
ing the legislative record of th'
democratic party, a vigorous de
tense Of his Mexican policy, hi
dealings with the European bel
ligerents and an outline Of hi
view of Americas obligations fol
the future.
With the members of the Motif
cation committee headed by Sen
ator James grouped about him al
Shadow Lawn, the summer White
house, the president declared the
republican party was "just the
party that cannot meet the new
conditions of a new age" and that
the day of little Americanism
when methods of protection
and industrial nursing were the
chief study of our provincial
statesmen was past and gone.
'We can no longer indulge our
traditional provinciaisrn," said
the president. "We are to play
a leading part in the world drama
whether we wish it or not. We
shall lend. not borrow; act for
ourselves, not initiate or follow
organize and initiate, not peep
about merely to see where we may
get in"
Speaking of his diplomatic ne
gotiations with the European
belligerents, the president fol-
lowed a declaration that while
property rights might be vindi-
Gated by claims for damages, the
loss of life and the fundamental
rights of humanity never could be
with this statement:
"The record is clear and con-
sistent throughout and. = stands
distinct, and definite for anyone
to judge who wishes to know the
truth about it."
Immediately afterward he said:
''I am the candidate of a party,
but I am above all things else an
American citizen. neither seek
the favor nor fear the displeas-
ure. of that small alien element
amongst us which puts loyalty to
any foreign power before loyalty
to the United States.''
Regarding his Mexican policy,
the president reiterated that the
people of Mexico were struggling
"blindly it may be-and as yet
Intellectually" to free themselves
from alien interests, "some of
them Americans pressing for
things they could never have got
in their own country" and that he
would do everything in his power
to prevent anyone standing in
their way.
"It is hard doctrine" said he,
"only for those who wish to get
something for themselves out of
Mexico" At another point the
president said:
mistakes 1 have no doubt
made in this perplexing business,
but not in purpose or object"
He declared at another point:
"I am more interested in the
fortunes of oppressed men and
pitiful women and children than
in any property rights whatever"
At the outset of his reference
to the Legislative. achievements of
his party the president enumerat-
ed the laws placed on the statute
books relating to business, includ-
ing tariff revision, antitrust laws,
revision of the banking and cur
rency system, rural credits, re-
habilitation of the merchant ma
rine and creation Of the federal
trade commission.
"What other party has under
stood the task so well or execut-
ed it so intelligently and ener-
geticallyi" he asked. "What
other party has attempted it at
alli The republican leaders ap-
parently know of no means of as
sisting business but protection.
How to. stimulate it and put it up, Il
on q new footing Of energy and
enterprise they have not suggest
ed"
AT the conclusion of his review
of the party record the president
declared:
"This extraordinary recital
must sound like . platform, q list
of sanguine promises; but it Is not.
It is Q record Of promises made
four years ago and now actually II
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