The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-17
BLUNDERS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION
Wilson Has Failed In Foreign
and Domestic Policies.
ROOT SHOWS HIS ERRORS.

Address as Temporary Chairman OF
New York Republican Convention
Points Out sins Of Democratic Com
mission and on1ission-"We Have
Lost Influence Because We Have
Been Brave In Words and IrresoIute
In Action"
In his address as temporary chair
man Of the New York state Republican
convention, delivered in Carnegie Hall,
New York, the Hon. Elihu Root said:
We are entering upon a contest for
the election Ut president and the con
troll of government under conditions
essentially new In the experience OF
our party and Of our country. The
forms and methods which we are
about to follow are old and familiar,
but the grounds for action, the demand
of great events for decision upon ma
tional conduct, the moral forces urg-
ing to Il solution Of vaguely outlin-
cd questions, the tremendous con-
sequences of wisdom or folly in nation.
al policy, all these are new to the great
mass OF American voters now living.
Never since 1864 has al election been
fraught with consequences 50 vital tu
national life. All the ordinary consid-
erations which play 50 great a part In
our presidential campaigns are and
ought TO be dwarfed into nsignifcance.
Democratic Party to the Bar.
For the first time i'm twenty years we
enter the field as the party of opposi
ton, and indeed it is a much longer
time, for in 1896, In all respects save
the tariff, the real opposition To- the
sturdy and patriotic course Of Presi-
dent Cleveland was TO he found in the
party that followed Mr.. Bryan. 1t Is
our duty as the opposition to bring the
Democratic party to the bar Of public
judgment, TO put it upon its defense
so far as we see just and substantial
grounds to crlticise its conduct and to
ask the voters of the country to decide
whether that party, organized as it is
represented as it has been since II
came into power, has shown itself
competent TO govern the country as il
should be governed and whether its
spirit, its policies, and its performance
are the best that the American people
can do in the way of popular self gov.
eminent.
In the field of domestic affairs some
facts relevant to these questions had
already been ascertained when in Au
gust, 1914, the great European wal
began. During the year and half of
Democratic control Of government in
a period of profound peace there had
been a steady decrease In American
production, in exports and in revenues
and a steady increase in imports and
expenditures. Enterprise had halted
The Democratic tariff had been framed
upon an avowed reputation of all pro
lection, however moderate and reason
able, and because all protection was
repudlated practically all information
from competent witnesses as TO the eff
feet new provisions would have upon
business was rejected. 1t was with
just cause that the enterprise Of the
country halted, timid and irresolute
because It felt and feared the hostility
OF government.
Foreign Competition After War.
The great war has not changed tn,
lesson which We had already learned
when 1t began. IL has but ObscureC
further demonstration. 1t has causet
an enormous demand for some thing
which the United States is able TO pro
duce in large quantities, and in thes'
lines of production while other indus