The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-04


Representative MARTIN DIES Of
Texas has told the truth with force
and clarity to his colleagues In the
House more than once. A Texan and
q Democrat, the party livery fits him
loosely on occasion. Never did he
utter sounder sense than in the de-
bate on the agricultural appropriation
bill, reported in the Record for Janu-
airy 81. OF one form OF aid for
farmers ne said.
''Mr. Chairman, when members talk
about loanlng money to the farmers OF
this country. and talk about Democrats
and Republicans, II makes an honest
non-partisan man laugh. The best thing
you can do for the farmers OF this
country is to let them alone and quit
spending their money and taxing the
eternal life out OF them"
With this as a text Mr.. DIES dis
closed certain old fashioned but emil.
nently sound opinions on government
in general:
II wish the farmers Of This country
and the taxpayers OF our land might
have a return OF the old Democratic
and Republican theory that government
Is not created 10 support the people. but
that II is a creature to be supported by
the people.
THE great mistake we are making.
my friends. here now is that we are
practising hypocrisy upon the people.
We are leading them 10 believe that the
Government can support them and ltt
them by their boot straps out OF their
financial difficulties when as honest men
we should say to them that all that the
Government can do Is to protect their
life and their liberty and tax them to
support the Government
al have been here ton years, and I
am going out now"
"A MEMBER: And voluntarily too.
MIR. DIES: Yes; and I win tell you
will take It In good part:
You have taken the fairest and best
Government ever known among men and
you are making It into the most desp!ca-
Bile socialism.
You took the American people at a
time when they believed they could sup
port themselves and their Government.
and you are teaching them hour by
hour and day by day 10 expect that
their Government shall support them.
Instead OF telling our magnificent
army, when the boys are coming back
from France and are being demobil-
ICED. 10 60 back to their Jobs and en-
gage in their former industries, you are
| leading them TO believe that tho Gov
eminent snail take II upon itsslf as a
duty TO support them
as it." asked Mr.. DIES OF bis col
leagues, your intention to help the
people, He answered his own ques.
| ton thus:
NO. You will not help the people
i unless you tell them that the Govern
ment has but one duty to the citizen
and that is to protect his life and
property and give him an equal and
fair race IN this world. Applause.
And you are teaching him that tbs
duty OF the Government Is to help him
Ny beloved country. 10 not know
we are losing the greatest republic the
world has ever seen.
Talk about international democra-
cies, II is being swamped amid nebu-
lous phrases and unintelligible jargon
Would to COP the President OF the
United States would get on the Ten,
nessee and come home and preserve this
republic Iapplausel rather than med
die longer with the politics of Europe
we are casting the lot OF the peopl,
OF America, the peace and dest!nies o.
our country into what7 Into the hotch
potch of the quarreis and poverty anC
WOO and destruction OF Europe.
you know, when this IS all over. my
friends, I will be out homo farming
and you who are left here will reat
wAsHrNGroN's Farewell Address with
more respect than you have ever reat
It before. Applause. ]"
Representative DIES holds fast t,
the conceptions of government an(
American duty adherence to which
made the United States mighty anC
independent Power. Those concep
lions still receive the support OF ia
sighted and intelligent Americans, nnt
their discussion can never be NOR,
appropriate or more enlightening thar
in the perllous days through which
the nation Is passing.
In a recent order TO subordinate
Mr.. Secretary BAKER forbade then
st,t,it Of no