The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-12

coliseum at Les MONIES To-Day. MT.
McManus' address. which is given en-
tire below, not only deals with state
issues but with national ones, and he
eloquently defends the acts and poll
cies OF the democratic administration.
He attacks the results Of republican
administration in Iowa especially
from the standpoint of good roads,
and while lauding the democratic ma
tional platform, declares that with
the possible exception Of the tariff.
the republican platform, has no plank
that approaches the dignity Of an
issue.
A number Of Keokuk people were
in attendance at the democratic con-
vention today among the thousand
that gathered for the state meeting.
Mr.. McManus address was one of the
most popular delivered, and Keokuk
considers 1t an honor that he was
selected to fill the important position
assigned to him. Following is the adj
dress:
Gentlemen Of the Convention:
Glorying in record Of achievement
and filed with high hope for the
future the representatives of trium-
plant democracy como with a
promise of a greater and better Iowa.
We come to rejoice in condition
of prosperity without parallel in this
country. A prosperity that has found
its way into the pockets of the toilers
as well as the Golfers of the rich, that
is securely grounded upon sound
financial system, wonderful crops and
Industrial freedom.
We hold aloft the stainless banner
that has carried the country safely
through the shoals of q frightful
crisis. The standard Of the party that
has chastened every function Of
American life.
We call upon a people rich with
the abundance Of plenty TO bear wit
ness to the blessings OF democratic
rule and the splendid achievements OF
democratic craftsmanship.
In Columbia's sparkling diadem
where is there gem that matches
Iowa? Less than century ago these
royal fields that gid the hill sides and
the valleys were virgin forests and
desert plains. Upon the site of the
school house and college the wigwam
stood, the wildfower blossomed and
eternal silence reigned. Under the
magic touch of Iowa usbandy, our
Incompatible soil produces more
grain and sustains more stock than
any other in the sisterhood Of states.
First in the Nteracy of her people,
foremost In the products Of the farm,
IN All that 10. good Iowa affords the
best.
We have out here In Iowa a great
democracy OF toilers-a bold peas
antry that Goldsmith mrlortalized in
verse. The questions that concern US
most are economic, not social. We
are happily free from the curse of
inordinate wealth and cringing pow
erty. We ask for laws that will slim
ulate and not stide our ability to
produce. We demand a system that
will let us reach out and develop to
the fullest extent the bountiful re-
sources of this matchless state.
Raps Republican Rule.
The republican party IL Iowa has
grown atrophied from long continued
power. Torn apart with internal dis
sension it approaches disintegration.
Graft is invading the high places and
official life is touched with the breath
Of scandal
The public treasury has been ruth
lessly despoiled and crown OF un-
bearable taxes pressed down upon the
Industrial brow Of the state.
This system long continued and
long endured Is crumbling beneath
the rays of an enlightened sentiment.
The people Of Iowa are passionately
interested in the good read move
ment, but they will never tolerate q
scheme that places mortgage upon
every farm and brings the sheriff to
every door.
The Iowa farmer knows that he can
mover attain the highest state OF agri-
cultural efficiency until he brings the
railroad station nearer 10 his farm
by reducing the enormous cost OF
wagon transportation.
He may know that in continental
Europe where they have good roads
it costs less than one half as much
to move ton of any commodity one
mile than it does in this country.
He may know that the average dis
lance between the farm and the near
est railroad station in the United
States is nearly ten miles, and that
It costs him more to move ton of
grain over those ten miles of country
road than to transport IL from New
York to Liverpool by water, a dis.
lance Of thirty-one hundred miles.
He may know that IL we could re-
duce the cost Of wagon Transports
ton from twenty-five cents per ton
mile to ten cents as they have in
Europe the people Of this country
would save more than five hundred
million dollars every year.
In the face of these startling facts
the farmer Of Iowa would be dull In.
deed IL he were not alive to the i'm
portance OF the road question.
But the people of Iowa have seen
the public taxes double in decade
under republican rule. They have
seen the stupendous sum of twelve
million dollars annually finding Its
way into our road funds. They are
wondering why it is that Iowa, spend
ing more money on roads than any
state in the union excepting Califor
MIA and New York is twcnty-seventt
in the list in results accomplished.
The tax payers Of this state are
growing weary Of this wastefui ex
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