The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-11
Inexcusable Failure Of Democratic Admins
tration During Past Seven Years to Pilot
Ship of State Through Troubled Seas.
STILL FL0UNDER|NC
Taxation Imposed Upon American
Public Cannot be Speedily Reduced, But
Can be Arranged in Better Shape.

United Press Leased Wire Service-1
CHICAGO, June 1.-THE republic
can party, assembled in representa-
tive national convention, reafirms its
Iunyielding devotion to the constitu-
Ition of the United States and 20 the
guarantees of civil, political and re-
ligious liberty therein contained. 1t
will resist all attempts to overthrow
the foundations of the government or
to weaken the force of its controlling
principles and ideals, whether these
attempts be made in the form of IN
ternational policy or domestic Ggita-
ton.
For seven years the national gov
eminent has been controlled by the
democratic party. During that perIhd
"a war of unparalleled magnitude has
shaken the foundations Of clviliza-
ton, decimated the population OF
Europe and left in its train economic
misery and suffering second only to
war itself.
The outstanding features of the
democratic administration have been
.complete unpreparedness for war and
complete unpreparedness for peace.
Inexcusable failure to make timely
Ipreparation is the chief indictment
against the democratic administration
in the conduct of the war. Had not
our associates protected us, both on
land and sea, during the final twelve
months of our participation, and Tur-
Inished to the very day of the armls-
itice with munitions, planes and artlf-
llery, this failure would have been
punished with disaster. II dlrectly
resulted in unnecessary losses 10 our
gallant troops, in the Impairment oi
victory itself, and in an enormous
waste Of public funds literally poured
into the breach created by gross
neglect. Today it is reflected in our
huge tax burden and in the high cost
iof living.
! Peace found the administration as
iunprepared for peace as war found II
iunprepared for war. The vital needs
| of the country demanded for early
and systematic return to a peace
time basis. This called for vision,
/ leadership and intelligent planning.
All three have been lacking. While
the country has had to shift for it
self, the government has continued
on war time basis.
The administration has not demo
bilized the army of place holders. 1t
continued a method of financing
(which was indefensible during period
tof reconstruction. 1t has used legls-
ilation passed to meet the emergency
ipf war to continue its arbitrary and
tinquisitorial control over the life OF
| the people in time of peace and 70
carry confusion into industrial life.
| Under the despot's plan of neces-
sfty or superior wisdom, executive
Iusurpation of legislation and judicial
functions still undermines our insti-
buttons. Eighteen months after the
armistice, with it's war time powers
unabridged, it's war time departments
undischarged, its war time army.
Still holders, the administration
continues to founder in helplessness.
The demonstrated incapacity of the
democratic party has destroyed con-
fidence weakened the authority of
government and produced a feeling
of distrust and hesitation so univer-
sal as to increase enormously the
difficulties of readjustment and to
delay the return to normal condi-
lions.
| Never has our nation been con
! fronted with graver problems. The
people are entitled to know in def
mite terms how the parties purpose
solving these problems. To that end,
the republican party declares its poll
cies and program to be as follows:
| We undertake to end executive
autocracy and to restore 70 the people
the constitutional government
The policies herein declared will
be carried out by the federal anil
state governments each acting with
in it's constitutional powers.
Agriculture.
| A large and contented body of
farm proprietors is the backbone or
the nation.
| National greatness and economic
Importance demand a population dis
tributed between industry and the
farm and sharing on equal terms the
prosperity which is wholly dependent
on the efforts of both. Neither eau
prosper at the expense of the other
without inviting joint disaster.
! The crux of the present agricul-
tural condition lies in prices, labor
and credit.
| The republican party believes that
this condition can be improved and
agricultural production encouraged by
! the right to form cooperative asso-
Citations for marketing their produces
subject to regulation Ssby federal
authority; the scientific study or
agricultural prices with a view TO
reducing the frequency of abnormal
fluctuations: the authorization of as
sociations for the extension of per,
sonal credit; national inquiry on
| the coordination of rail, water ana
motor transportation with adequate
facilities for receiving. handling and