The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-15


competition in trade and the preven- /
ton of monopoly, which are basic in
the business prosperity of the country.
received upon its final passage almost
half of the Republican vote IN the two
houses of congress.
The one great achievement of the
Democratic administration which was
bitterly opposed by a majority of the
Republicans in both the senate and
the house is not denounced or even
honored with respectful mention in
the Republican platform. This is in
deed in strange contrast to the gloomy
prophecies of financial depression, in
duStrial ruin, and wholesale unem-
ployment of labor, which the Repub-
Hcans told congress and the country
would follow the passage of this law.
Anxious as is the Republican party
for an issue, they most respectfully
declined this one, and the Democratic
party rejoices in the thought that the
greatest constructive piece of legiSIa-
ton enacted in the history of the gov
eminent dealing with the currency,
the very life blood of commerce. has
proved 50 successful that they dare not
condemn it in the slightest degree.
Republican Record on the Navy.
The Republican platform declares
for "a continuous policy of national
defense but there have only been two
propositions made in our history for
continuous policy" One was made
! by the general board of the navy in
1908, urging upon the Republican ad-
ministration then in power the con-
struction of two battleShipS a year.
den in the archives and never saw
light until the present secretary of the
navy published it. Instead of adopt
ing a continuous policy the very
year that the general board proposed
a continuous policy advocating two
hAftleShiDS
administration authorized only one,
and never under their administration
did they attempt q continuous policy"
which they now want to adopt If
they had, it would not be necessary
now for the Democratic administra
ton to have to appropriate such large
sums to make up the deficiencies in
the navy, due to the Republican re-
fusal to adopt the continuing policy
recommended by the experts of the
navy.
| The only other continuous policy
proposed is the one advocated by the
president of the United States in his
address to congress last December. in
which he urged the adoption by this
congress of a five-year building pro-
gram which, if adopted, would meet
the demand of the continuous policy"
which the belated Republican promise
row offers. But what happened when
this matter was under consideration in
the naval affairs committee of the
house? Every Republican member on
the committee decided to oppose the
i presidents continuous program" and
1 would vote for no program longer
no parsnips.'' After sixteen years of
failure even to let the public know of
the continuous policy proposed by
the naval experts, much less to carry
out such a policy, and after the Re-
pu blicans on the house naval affairs
committee, in June, 1916. unanimous
ly opposed the presidents policy, they
now say they favor the continuous
po.icy."
Under Democracy Z. S. Leads World
For the first time in the history OF
| our country, the United States leads
the world in exports. We are more
prosperous than ever. and mills which
! have not turned spindle for years are
now busy. All the laborers of the
United States are employed as never
| before. With the world war raging
our country is the only neutral one
, that is not in distress and the only
one that has not declared a morator-
| ium. Who would substitute for the
clean, open, and perfectly just policy
of the Democratic party of equal op-
pcrtunity and fair dealing for all, the
| partnership of corrupt politics and
corrupt business that existed under
the Republican administration? Every
| demand of the stress of war the Dem
ocratic party has met quickly. Pri-
vate capital. unwilling to undertake
the hazard of insurance of cargoes al
sea during the war, Democracy passed
a bill which provided that the govern
ment should issue the insurance. Our
| Republican opponents prophesied thai
there would be great loss to the gov
eminent by this undertaking, if the
treasury itself was not bankrupt
However, the American products OF
the factory, the field and the mine
had to have a market, and that mar
ket was across the sea.
We were not frightened by this
gloomy prophecy; there was no other
remedy. Private capital would not I'M
dertake it. and we have not lost any
thing by it, but upon the other hand
We have a balance of more than So
0e0,0Gu. Democracy is the friend 81
the business and industries of the
country both big and little. 1t recog-
riiZes that in a great nation business
should be along a great scale. All We