The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-01

Columbus, O., June 1."oeCFSldIy Ol War Baker, in an address as chair man of the Ohio Democratic conven- tion here. to-day, declared the RepubH- can party is ian aggregation of fac tions agreeing upon no set of pr1ncl- ples,' and compared it with the Demo- cratic party which he said had carried out a wise and definite program in economic measure, national prepared Iness and foreign policy. The party will be continued in power to mature it's program, he predicted.
 Referring briefly to politics in Ohio his home state, the Secretary ex- pressed the hope that the present Re- publican administration "characterlz- 1 ed by feeb1eness and uncertainty would be replaced by the Democrats 1 next year and that special attention would be given to relieving the imam cial stringency of Ohio cities.
 l Secretary Baker praised President Wilson for pressing enactment of the federal reserve and rural credits sys- tems, tariff reduction, for upholding l American ideals in dealing with Mex ico, and for steering the United States away from participation in the Euro pean war. He expressed satisfaction that the preparedness program had been moderate.
 Attacking the Republican party, Secretary Baker said:
 1 ''To speak of a man as a Repubi- I l cause, ascribes to him no opinion; and whether it affi1iates him with pro- gressives or reactionaries or both can not be told until after the national convention in Chicago next week.
 He declared that Senator Harding of Ohio, who will preside at the con- l vention, represents one faction which believes the tariff should be the issue in the coming campaign, while other Republicans favor an attack on the foreign policy of the present admin fistration. Opposition camps divided into those who believe the adn1inistra- ton has been too be1licose and those who fear it has been too peace-loving, he said.
 "Then there is a third group the Secretary continued, ''headed by the Great Detractor, who, shifting from l position to position on the nation s l foreign policy, selects at each time ap- parently whatever vantage point seems to offer an opportunity for making diff fcu1t the position of the President and Congress.
 | FfIn other words, what used to be the strong, coherent, logical organi- zation known as the Republican party, is now so far as it's leaders are con- cerned, an aggregation of factions, agreeing on no set of principles, ad- lvocating no national policy, the only common bond of union being will l1ngn0SS to pool issues 10 win. Ana this party is about to meet in conVen- tfon at Chicago to select whatever can didates looks best at the last moment and whatever principles promise to weather the storm until November.
 ''In contrast to this, the Democratic party, having lived through years of doubt and hesitation, with central philosophy sometimes more a yearn- ing than a program, now presents a matured policy, evolved by a great leader, welcomed by his party asso- ciates as the real expression of, their political ideals"
 | Secretary Baker declared the fed era1 reserve act, by steadying busi- ness and commerce during the trying period of the European war, alone would afford a record for courage and wisdom upon which the party could confidently appeal to the coun- try It has eliminated the power of | a few f1nanciers to cause a panic, he stated. The rural credits legislation 'is the first comprehensive recogni- ton by the nation of the needs and rights of those who till the soil as the foundation of our entire economic structure" said the Secretary.
 Commenting on the Democratic re- duction of tariff, MT. Baker said:' ITO the amazement of the faithful the du- T ties have gone down but the dinner pail is not only not empty but full to
 
 ty has passed to the hall of fame where it is placed with Doctor Cook, and Cagliostro, venerable only because of the length of time men rendered homage for virtues which it did not possess
 MT. Baker declared that interven- ton in Mexico had been urged by "some American owners of Mexican mines, some American proprietors of Mexican concessions, some Americans who looked with longing eyes on Mex ico as Naboth's vineyard.'' Border disorders have been unfortunate, he explained, but the only alternative was war upon these people, who have wi1led no act of aggression on us, to invade their country, and to spend years in the occupation of foreign soil, and in toilsone effort, expensive of life and treasure, to impress an alien civil 1ization on these people,
 Included in MT. Bakers comment on the European war, was this:
 ''It is better for the people of the I United States not to be involved in that vast destruction if it can be honorably avoided; and second, it is better for humanity for the United States not to be involved in order that, when the end of the struggle comes, there will be one great and persuasive power in friendly relations with all of the bel Iigerents, inspired only by high mo- tives of humanity and friendship, to aid as advisor and counselor in the terms of readjustment necessary.
 f'The course of the Administration has been to regard itself as, in the nature of the case, a trustee, for the time being, of the rights of neutrals.' | President Wilson was the subject of this praise from the Secretary:
 1'When the history of this age comes to be written, the great fortune of the American people and of the world will , appear to have been that our destin- ies were in the hands of a man pa teint wise and just, who saw past all the minor annoyances and through all the cross-currents of feeling, who re-