The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-07
Democratic Nominee OfficialIy
Accepts Party Leadership.
Declares Harding Plans Sepa-
rate Peace With Germany.
SCORES THE G. 0. P. PLATFORM
Pledges His Administration to
Repeal of War Taxes.
Assures World War Veterans
Disabled VIII Be Helped.

! Dayton, O.. Aug with the for
NAL acceptance of the Democratic
presidential nomination by Gov. James
NJ. Cox here today, his party sends
forth to the people of the nation its
challenge for the great political battle
with the Republicans. The nominee,
by his acceptance speech. becomes the
new leader of the party and when the
ceremonies are completed he will have
outlined to the electorate the issue
upon which the Democrats will fight
for victory in November His ac-
lceptance inaugurates militant stump
campaign which he will carry into all
sections of the country
Preparations had been made for the
Igreatest crowd in Dayton's history.
Estimates of Democratic leaders We're
THAT the attendance at the ceremonies
would be near the $4,000 mark, while
nearly 10000 shouting, singing Demo-
lcrats with score of bands, were ex-
Ipected to march in a big parade just
pefores the formal notificat ton. The
day broke warm and slightly cloudy.
1 Abandons His Insert.
| Governor Cox abandoned his plan
to have an insert to his address He
Iannounced early today that there
as sent in advance to the press would
stand as written.
| Governor Cox formally accepted the
Democratic nomination for the presi-
dency and sharply acknowledged the
peace treaty as the leading issue OF
the forthcoming political war.
In g. SPEECH bristling with attacks,
IdiFect and sarcastic, he denounced
Senator Harding's proposals for ef-
lfectiug peace 4asss.disheartening'' "'un-
worthy" "buRgling diplomacy" and
"unadulterated dishonesty"
The Harding promise for a lorna
and effective peace so quickly as &
Republican congress can pass its dec
laradon for a Republican executive tc
sign" Cox declared means but one
thing-a separate peace with Ger
many"
Such a course the Democratic noml-
nee viewed with Adherence, seeing in
it withdrawal of good faith pledged tc
terms upon offending powers" or
the issue OF league or no league. Coo
l took an uneQuivocai position.
Senator Harding" he said. ''as the
Republican Candidate for the presf-
dent, proposes in plain words that We
lremain out of it. AS the Democratic
candidateI I favor going In"
Must Use Plain Words.
But, while declaring 1.-The first duty
of the new administration clearly viii
be the ratification of the treaty" Cos
!, cautioned, 1.-The matter should be ap-
preached without thought of the bit
terness of the past" And, admitting
that the claim that interpretations are
unnecessary might be true, Cox never
e theless. took the position that basi:
: for agreement must be reached and
. that interpreta tions would be "reassur-
ing to many of our citizens who fee
Fthat in signing the treaty there should
be no mental reservations not ex-
! pressed in plain words"
He showed plainly that his position
7 the treaty ratified so long as the agree
ment for such ratification did not in
ijure the covenant.
The greatest thought in the gov
ernor's speech obviously was devoted
r to his treatment of the league issue
] There was no mention in the address
of the prohibition question The only
t statement that might be construed al
I a reference to the subject was hii
D declaration that the public officia
, who fails to enforce the law is ar
s enemy both TO the constitution and ts
Y the American principle of majority
: trule. It would seem quite unneces
sary," he added, for candidate fol
. the presidency to say that he does no
intend to violate his path of office"
Must Repeal War Taxes.
In problems of readjustment th'
candidate declared lone of the frs
things to be done is the repeal of wal
taxes" He criticised the last Repub
lican congress for mot passing a sin
gle law to lift a load of war taxation
that cannot be tolerated in time o
peace" He promised If elected a re
duction totaling more than $1,000.
100000 annually in federal taxes
Annoying consumption taxes nov
unjustified should be repealed" h
said. incomes from war-made for
= funes fhose of nou-uroducers anf
those derived from industries that ex
| list by unfair privilege" might be taxeS
E as now. Cox declared, but taxes on th'
. earnings Of laborers. salaried and pro
fessional men. agricultural producer
and small ira desmen should be sharp
Ily modified"
He suggested in place of the pfesen
graduated excess profits tax a levy o
i, from one TO one and one-half per cen
tcoutinued- on page Three-1