Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-01
Kremer Fires First Gun

San Francisco, June &-The address of
]. Bruce Kremer. vice-chairman of the
Democratic national committee, in open
ing the convention to-day was as fol-
lows:
MY Fellow Democrats
Led through a labyrinth Of devious
political pathway, lost in the mazes of
political trickery, following the Pied
Pipers of Republicanism, the Chicago con-
vention emerged upon the well-paved road
way of standpatism.
That Heterogeneous mass promulgated
a remarkable document-remarkable in
the fact that it is a mastery exemplifica-
ton of the art of evasion. Not con-
tent with the direct insult Of the nteli-
gence of the progressive elements wrongly
placed in their ranks, they once more
surrendered the control of their party to
the old forces of reaction and nominated
a leader of that dynasty of dollars, against
whose influence the common people
rsbelled until the great movement of pro-
grcssiveism drove it from power and in
stalled in its stead party truly repre-
sentative of the people.
In marked contrast to the gathering of
the opposition. we have met to-day to
deal with living issues and to advise the
people of America and of the world of
Democracy's stand upon the questions
of the hour 1t is with justifia able conf
dence that we approach the important
work Of presenting a platform and nam
ing a candidate. for we offer to America
an assurance based on achievement. We
present a pledge founded on performance.
The Republican party would turn back
ward unmindful of the hopes and aspira-
tons of forward looking men and women,
and would have us restore to power reac-
tionary forces which could only result
in ruin and disaster, but we will continue
to keep our eyes to the front and will
hold to the path that during eight glorious
years has led America to prosperity, peace
and world leadership.
Our opponents speak to the people in
the language of yesterday. They see only
through the lenses of reaction. Through
years of retrogression their party has
now reached the decadent stage. The
Chicago platform stamps it as party of
destruction. Its declaration of princi-
pies condemns but suggests no remedy
either for real or fancied ills. 1t is
out of tune with free people everywhere;
it Is out of harmony with the worlds
desire; n no longer, as in the DAYS of its
rebirth, stands as giant championinE
the cause of freedom, but, dwarfed by
loss of principle. it has developed into a
vicious, Grabbed old scod.
America will not look for leadership in
that party; America will not tolerate the
leadership Of that party. Never more than
now, does our country look to Democracy
to save it from the course of national
degradation prescribed by Republicanism,
Or to save it from abject humiliation be-
fore the nations of the earth
Our party is almost as old as the nation
itself. IT was created when the forces
of popular government assumed for the
first time in the worlds history the direct
conduct of nation. 1t has progressed
in thought as our nation progressed in
growth and attainment. 1t has kept pace
with the time and has measured the
tread of the advancing host of liberal
government
Our party has never been an evasive
party. 1t was not evasion that made
Thomas Jefferson the patron saint of
Democratic government; it was not evas-
ion that made Andrew Jackson the per-
sonifcation of honesty and fearlessness;
it was not evasion That made the Demo-
cratic party of to-day the champion of
the worlds hopes, and neither will it be
evasion that will make the nominee of
this convention the President of the
United States.
Our party will present policies in a direct
and constructive way; the Republican
platform is but an ingenious device meant
to conceal irreconciable differences.
In delivering our message to the Amer
lean people our party will raise its anchor
upon the shores of honesty and steer I'M
falteringly through the straits of courage.
With civiltzations existence jeopardized
in the recent inferno of world chaos,
America reached out its hand to stay
destructive forces. We placed her once
more in her exalted position and raised
again the fallen torch from whence
radiates the light that tempers british
hearts and softens human souls. The
world is waiting to hear the decision of
the American electorate upon the covenant
of the League of Nations; a war-worn
world implores America to take the lead
in this great movement, and humanity's
voice cries out impioringly to our great
nation.
Our country did not falter in its duty
to silence the guns of war; our party
will not falter in its duty to perpetuate
peace