The Delta independent., 1918-08-02
SPEECH OF WILL II. HAYES
BEFORE STATE CONVENTION

Following is the speech delivered
| by Will H. Hays, chairman of the
Republican National Committee. be-
fore the New York State Convention
at Saratoga, N. Y:
Republicans of New York: The
Republican party heralded its own
birth by saving the life of the nation.
and ever since it has been a party of
patriotism, with it's loyalty measured
only by the possibilities. And now
in this, the greatest of all crises, our
party, with the control of the gov
ernment in other hands, becomes the
war party of the nation, insisting up
on the right of full participation
giving to the last of our blood and
our treasure, standing immovably
against an inconclusive peace. and cry
ing continually, Garry on! carry on!
carry on!"
Il have been from coast to coast
and 1 can tell you there is no geogra-
ply in our partyss patriotism. Every
where the winning of the war and the
preparation for the reconstruction
which is to follow are recognized as
our basic aims. This is the country.s
war, it is your war and my war, and
we appeal to all patriots, whatever
their politics, to aid us in every way
possible in our efforts to require that
partisanship be taken out and kept
out of the war management. We call
upon all men and women to support
the government without thought of
party. We insist that every individual
who is placed in a place of responsi-
bility in this war shall be of tested
and proven loyalty and ability, regard
less of party affiliations. We denounce
any criticism of our officials, high or
low, when such criticisms are inspired
by partisanship, malice or disloyalty.
Just as courageous and loyal service
is to be defended against malice, so
should courageous and loyal criticism
of corruption or incompetency be up
held. Constructive criticism is duty
and l cannot understand the mental
processes or the heart beats of men
in authority who do not want il. And
those who in their patriotic good judg
ment offer such sympathetic sugges-
tons and constructive criticism viii
be fair enough and broad enough to
commend where commentator is due.
We regret that our Allies have asked
in vain for certain greatest American
leaders and we insist that every pos
sible. efficient instrument in men and
material which is available shall be
used to aid in winning the war, and
that inefficiency shall be replaced by
efficiency wherever found; and all of
these things which we demand of the
party in power, we irrevocably pledge
for ourselves.
I'VE do not propose to build on re-
ordinations or criticisms. This is
no time for little things. The world
is on fire. The Republican party is
! constructive; has always been and al
ways will be. 1t is a war party, and
stands as sturdily American and as
staunchly militant in this world war
as when it prosecuted the Civil war
to a glorious conclusion and stood
sponsor for a triumph again in the
war with Spain. 1t looks upon all
this nations previous history as mere
ly preparation for the glorious des-
tiny now about to be fulfilled. 1t will
take no secondary seat in participant
ing in that fulfillment.
Has il occurred to you, my friends.
what 1t means for the countrys cause
for the minority party to make 1t its
one chief business to try to excel the
majority party In support of the war?
Have you estimated what il means
for the sake of the cause for the
minority party to strive continually
to outdo the majority party in every
war activity and actually lead in It's
unqualified support OF all war meas
ures? This is the mission OF the Re-
publican party at the moment. This
is cur high privilege and duty. 1t Is
our business to see that our party
runs true to its tradition, continues
steadfast in its avowed purpose, and
functions in its performance OF loyal
efficient national service, requiring 1t
of our own membership and OF every
one else, Democrat or Republican, in
office or out OF office, regardless of
the office, high or low, and regardless
OF the individual big or little.
The fact that the party In power
refused to prepare for war in 1914
and 1915 has not lessened the support
by the Republicans in Congress who
so strongly urged it. The most unfair
and unpatriotic efforts in many quar-
ters for political purposes to prevent
the full participation by Republicans
in war activities have had no effect
whatever on the Republican party's
patriotic and loyal membership in its
giving to the last OF it's blood and
treasure. And nothing can deter us.
We will continue to so give, to strive.