The Washington herald., 1916-09-03

Democrats called into power to do? What
things had long waited to be done, and
how did the Democrats do them?
Republican Failures.
The Republican party was put out
of power because OF failure, practi-
cal failure and moral failure, be-
cause 1t had served special interests
and not the country mt large, be-
cause, under the leadership of its
preferred and established guides, of
those who still make its choices, II
had lost touch with the thoughts and
the needs of the nation and was Iiv-
Ing in . past age and under fixed
illusion, the Illusion of greatness.
1t had framed tariff laws based upon a
fear Of foreign trade. a fundamental
doubt as to American skill enterprise and
capacity and a very tender regard for the
profitable privileges OF those who had
gained control Of domestic markets and
domestic credits; and yet had enacted
antitrust laws which hampered the very
things they meant to foster, which were
sim and inelastic. and in part unintelli-
gtble. II had permitted the country
throughout the long ~eriod OF its control
to stagger from one financial crisis an
other under the operation of a national
banking law OF its own framing which
illeh0G slIlllbtHNy anu panic certain anu
the control OF the larger business opera
tons of the country by the bankers of a
few reserve centers inevitable; had made
as II It meant to reform the law, but had
fundamentally failed in the attempt, be-
cause 1t could not bring itself to do the
one thing necessary to make the reform
genuine and effective. namely. break up
the control of small groups of bankers.
Farmers without Credit.
| 1t had been oblivious, or Indifferent, TO
the fact that the farmers, upon whom the
country depends for its food and in the
last analysis for its prosperity, were with
out standing in the matter Of commercial
credit. without the protection OF standards
in their market transactions, and without
systematic knowledge Of the markets
themselves; that the laborers OF the
country, the great army OF men who man
the industries 1t was protesting to father
and promote. carried their labor as a
mere commodity to market, were subject
to restraint by novel and drastic process
in the courts, were without assurance OF
compensation for industrial accidents
without Federal assistance in accommo-
dating labor disputes and without ma
tional aid or advice in finding the places
and the industries III which their labor
was most needed.
The country had no national system
Of road construction and development.
Little intelligent attention was paid to
the army, and not enough to the navy.
The other republics OF America distrust-
ed US, because they found that we
thought first of the profits of American
investors and only as an afterthought OF
impartial Justice and helpful friend
ship. Its policy was provisional In
all thingsi its purposes were out OF
harmony with the temper and pur-
pose of the people and the timely
development of the nations interests
Democratic Achievement.
So things stood when the Democratic
party came into power. How do they
stand now? Alike in the domestic field
and in the wide field of commerce of
| the world. American business and life
and industry have been set free to move
as they never moved before
The tariff has been revised, not or
the principle of repelling foreign trade,
but upon the principle of encouraging
it upon something like footing of equal
Ity with our own in respect of the terms
Of competition, and a tariff board has
been created whose function 1t will be to
keep the relations of American with for
eign business and industry under constant
| observation, for the guidance alike of
our business men and of our Congress.
| American energies are now directed
toward the markets OF the world.
The laws against trusts have been
clarified by definition, with view &c
making 1t plain that they were not di-
rected against big business, but only
against unfair business and the pre-
tense of competition where there was
none; and a trade commission has been
created with powers of guidance and &C
commodation which have relieved bust
ness men of unfounded fears and set
them upon the road of hopeful and con-
fdent enterprise.
Elastic Currency.
By the Federal Reserve Act the
supply of currency at the disposal OF
active business has been rendered
elastic, taking its volume, not from n
hxed body of investment securities
but from the liquid assets of daily
trade; and these assets are assessed
and accepted. not by distant groups
of bankers in control of unavailable
reserves, but by bankers at the many
centers Of local exchange who are in
touch with local conditions every
where.
Effective measures have been tssften
for the recreation of an American
merchant marine and the revival OF
the American carrying trade indis-
pensable to our emancipation from
the control which foreigners have sc
long exercised over the opportunities
the routes. and the methods or our
commerce with other countries.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion II about to be reorsnnIzcd to en-
able it to perform it's great and i'm
portant functions more promptly and
more efficiently. We have created
extended and improved the service OF
the parcel post.
No Remedy but Protection.
So much we have done for bust
ness What other party has under
stood the task SO well or executed II
SO intelligently and theoretically
What other party has attempted it at
all? The Republican leaders, appar-
emily. know of no means of assist