Republican farmer., 1920-07-02

PdIllSS puI Ol pcOpleS dlC aI stake: when social unrest is everywhere apparent; when exist ing forms of government are being challenged, and their very founda- tions disturbed or swept away. it is we'll for us, here in America, to pause for a period of solemn deliberation.
 We, who assemble in this great con- vention, counsel together, not merely as members of a party, but as, chill dren of the. Republic. Love of country and devotion to human service should purge our hearts of all unworthy or mislea ding motives. Let us fervently pray for a Divine Blessing upon all that we do or undertake. Let us pledge ourselves anew to equality of opportunities; the unity of our coun- try above the interests of groups or classes; and the maintenance of the high honor of America in her deal ings with other nations.
 The people will shortly determine which political instrum entality is best suited to their purposes, most re- sponsive to their needs They will have before them many platforms and many promises. In what direction will they turn? There is no better way of judging the future than by the past. We ask, therefore, that the people turn from the passions and the prejudices of thes aay to the con sideration of a record as clear as 1t is enduring.
 Republican Leadership.
 The Republican Party was unsuc- cessful in the elections of 1912 be- cause it had consistently served spe- cia1 interests and had EOS, touch with the spirit of the time. Those who controlled it's destiny derived their political inspiration from "the good old days of Mark Hanna" and neither desired a new day nor were willing to recognize a new day when it had dawned. To each pressing prob lem, they sought merely to reapply the processes of antiquity.
 There were elements in the Re- publican Party which were intoler- ant of it's mental sloth and moral ir- responsibility. These influences sought to gain party control in 1912 and again in 1916. They renewed the hopeless struggle at the conven- ton recently held at Chicago.
 Despite these efforts, the leaders who have manipulated the party me chanism for more than a generation, are still in undisputed control.
 The Republican platform, reac- tionary and provincial, is the very apotheosis of political expediency. Filled with premeditated islanders and vague promises, 1t will be search ed in vain for one constructive sug- gestion for the reformation of the conditions which it criticises and de- p1ores. The oppressed peoples of the earth will look to it i'll vain. It contains no message of hope for Ire land; no word of mercy for Armenia, and it >conceals a sword for Mexico. It is the work of men concerned more with material things than with hu man rights. It contains no thought, no purpose which can give impulse or thrill to those who love liberty and hope to make the world better and happier place fo- the average man.
 Democratic Achievements.
 The Democratic Party is an un- entangled party-a free party-owirG no allegiance to any class or group of special interest. We were able to take up and carry through to suc- cess the great progressive program outlined in our platform of 1912 During the months which intervened between March 4th, 1913, and the outbreak of the World War, we plac- ed upon the statute books of our country more effective, constructive and remedial legislation than the Republican Party had placed there in generation
 The Income Tax was made per. manent part of the revenue produc. ing agencies of the country, thereby relieving our law of the reproach ol being unjustly burdensome to the poor. The extravagancies and in equities of the tariff system were re moved; and a non-partisan tariff commission was established so tha future revisions might be made il the light of accurate information scientifically and impartially obtained d Pan-Americanism was encouraged and the bread thus cast upon the in ternational waters came back to u many fold. The great reaches o Alaska were opened up to commerce and development. Dollar diplomac was destroyed. A corrupt lobby wa driven from the national capitol Al effective Seamans Act was adopted The Federal Trade Commission wa created. Child Labor legislation wa enacted. The Parcel Post and tn Rural Free Delivery were developed A Good Roads Bill and a Rura Credits Act were passed. A Secre tary of Labor was given a seat in tn Cabinet of the President. Eigh hour laws were adopted. The Clay ton Amendment to the Sherman Anti Trust Act was passed, freeing Ameri can labor and taking it from tn category of commodities. Tn Smith-Lever bill for the improvement of agricultural conditions was enact ed A Corrupt Practice Act wa adopted. A well considered Ware house Act was passed. Federal Elm ployment Bureaus were created Farm Loan Banks, Postal Saving Banks and the Federal Reserve Sys tenn were established.
 These enactrnents, and p.any othe provisions of a remedial characte had a cleansing and quickening effet upon the economic life of our cour try. The farmer was freed frol the deadening effects of usurior financial control Labor was give its Magma Charta of liberty. Bus ness and finance were released frol the thraldom of uncertainty an hazard. The economic life of Amer ca was refreshed by the vitalizir breath of economic freedom.
 This extraordinary narration sount