Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-17
SENATOR OWENS
TRIBUTE TO THE
Administration
Oklahoma Man Defends the Gov.
ernment of President
Wlbon

Concord, y. H., March ia detail
ed eulogy Of the work of the executive
and legislative branches Of the federal
government under, the executive and
legislative branches Of the federal gov
eminent under Democratic control was
delivered by United States Senator
Robert L Owen Of Oklahoma at a
Jackson day dinner Of New Hampshire
Democrats here tonight. Senator Owen
took up one by one important meas
ures passed by Congress since the In
auguration Of President Wilson. sum
marizing his conclusions thus:
IAN these bills-the tariff bill, the
federal reserve act. the Clayton anti
trust bill, the federal trade commits
sion bill. the seaman's act-have had
one purpose-the promotion Of COM
mon good, the abatement Of monopoly.
the betterment Of mankind. the lower
ing Of the cost Of living and the great
er happiness of all our people"
Senator Owen praised the work of
the various executive departments,
continuing:
Perhaps the greatest accomplish
ment the one for which our people are
more deeply grateful than any other,
is that the President has kept us out
OF war and in a condition of profound
peace while all the world besides
seems to be torn by war and internal
violence. Under extreme p-ovocation,
the President has nevertheless used his
great powers and his great influence
against any act that would involve the
people OF the United States in war
either with the weakest of our neigh
Dor nations or with the strongest ma
tions Of the world, such as Great Brit
ain and Germany, both Of whom. be-
cause OF the excitement and stress of
life and death struggle, have disre-
garded in various ways the interna-
tional law and our legal rights, An
administration less wise and less
thoughtful might easily have been
swept into war with Mexico, with
Germany and Austria or with Great
Britain and it's allies.
president Wilson made no threats.
He strenuously insisted that both
Great Britain and Germany should re-
spect the rights Of the United States; );
that they should respect the interna
tional law; that he would insist on
these rights: and as result Great
Britain and Germany have gone far to
respect these rights. President Wilson
has had a most delicate and difficult
diplomatic position to occupy. He has
discharged his duty with rare fidelity,
self-control and wisdom.
Neither the German Allies or the
British entente would willingly do
anything to forfeit the respect, conf
dence or friendship Of the American
people. These unhappy. distressed,
blood-choked nations in their life and
many regrettable things affecting our
rights. which we should weigh in the
light Of the distrac:ing conditions un-
der which these trespass on our rights
occur.
America has the greatest opportu-
nifty the world has ever known fo:
promoting a worldwide peace which
shall be indestructible for all future
times. II we keep out Of this war We
will not only protect the welfare and
advance Of 1Oo,0O0.000 Of our own peo-
Pile, we will be able to serve the 300,-
100000 in Europe and more than half
the human race now involved in this
titanic struggle"
Referring to the address of Elihu
Root and the New York Republican
convention In February, Mr.. Owen
said:
"Mr. Root as the mouthpiece and in
tellectual leader Of the Republican
party has been unable to find any
lust criticism Of eithef the executive or
legislative policy of the Democratic
administration. It shows the utter
weakness Of the Republicans that this
statesman, confssseAly the aolest OF
them all, can find no other issue with
the Democracy than the issue OF war
versus peace. On that issue l snail
prefer to follow the doctrine OF the
great Republican leader, General Grant
at Appematox. who at the end OF a
bloody campaign ami after the Ameri-
can people had tasted the bitter fruits
Of war. used the. memorable woros
Let us have peace
~~~Yv VYYY/