Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-20

The Democratic party has vastly
expanded the rural mail system and
mas built up the parcel post system
TO such an extent as tn render it's
activities and its practical service
indispensable to the farming COM
munity. 1t was this wise encourage
ment and this effective concern Of
the Democratic party for the farm
ers OF the United States that en-
ablcd this great Interest to render
such essential service in feeding tho
armies OF America and the allied
nations of, the war and SuccorinS
starving populations since Armistice
Day.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders
at Washington have failed utterly
to propose one single measure to
make rural life more toierable. They
have signalized their fifteen months
Of congressional power by urging
schemes which would strip the
farms OF labor; by assailing the
principles Of the farm loan system
and seeking to impair It's efficiency:
~ c0vcrtly attempting to destroy
the great nitrogen plant at Muscle
has expended S70.000.0o0 to supply
American farmers with fertilizers at
reasonable cost: by ruthlcssly Grip
ping nearly every branch OF agri-
cultural endcavor. literally starving
the productive mediums through
Labor and Industry.
The Democratic party Is now, as
ever. the firm friend OF honest la0or
and the promoter OF progressive in
dustry. II established the Depart
ment OF Labor at Washington AID 4
Democratic President called to his
official council board the first prac-
teal workingman who ever held a
Cabinet portfolio. Under this adj
ministration have been established
cnixloyment bureaus to bring the
man and the job together; have
been peaaeably determined many
bitter disputes between capital and
labor; were passed the child-labor
act, the workman's compensation
act. the eight hour law, the act
for vocational training and a code
OF other wholesome laws affect
conditions of the laboring classes.
The Democratic party believes in
fair dealing in the relations between
employers and employees and a
fearless. as we'll as 4 just. attitude
by the government toward both.
OF the government to discriminate
between classes of labor nor to con-
cede to any body of citizens priv
ilcgcs which are not granted to
others of equal merit. Service rem
dered by labor and also by capital
should be adequately and Justly
compensatcd; but neither class
should at any time In any circum-
stances take action that will jco-
pardize the publ &c welfare. Resort
to strikes or lockouts which endan-
ger the health or lives OF the peo-
pie are deplorable devices tor de-
termininG disputes. and methods
should be contrivcd to compose all
disaGreements OF labor and capital
on Il basis that will Insure the sat
a IN n n -r,ln mi ~ No.
Industrial pursuits of the country.
Only In this way may labor ever be
content and the reasonable security
OF capital assured.
Government Expenditures.
The Democratic party has always
believed In simple, economical
government: and whereas 1t justi-
mes Inc vast expenditures made dur
ing the world war as necessary for
speedy determination OF the is
sue. II now demands that there shall
be. in the administration of govern
ment: n prompt return to frugal ex-
penditures upon n practical business
basis with rigid economy as the
predicate Of every dollar taken in
and paid out by the Treasury More
over, the Democratic party believes
IN property rights and Individual in
itlatiye. In the upturned conditions
ana the extraordinary tension of the
war period affairs OF private citi-
! zcns became. to certain extern,
me momentary concern oe the en-
tire public and had to be adjusted
10 PUBIC necessity. But Interior
cncc with the private rights of lis
citizens should not be permitted to
become an established practice or
the government
Elected upon specific promises IN
curtail expenditures and TO hiring
me country back 10 a status of Of.
IecLiVc economy. the Republican
party in Congress has wasted Tim
and energy for more than year In
vain and eXtravagant inycstira-
,iohs' costing two millions O! dol
iars. revealing nothing beyond the
inca pacity OF Republican politicians.
10 cope win the gravest problems.
IL mas repealed none of the war
legislation which harnesses business
nor initiated single constructive
measure to help business. II has
merely busted itself in making a
detection record OF pretended
istence in fact. but is intended mo-
nentarily to deceive the American
people. 1t has ragged against profit-
GERS and the high cost of living, but
mas done nothing TO make tho
former afraid TO bring the latter
within limitations.
Disabled Soldiers.
iHe fcucTal government should
treat with the utmost generosity
every disabled soldier of the world
war. whether his disability be due
10 wounds received in action or to
health impaired in service! and for
the dependents OF the brave men
VINO died In line o: duty the govern
ment's tenderest concern and rich
est bounty should be their reauital.
But we dcplore stimulated efforts
to fasten further oppressive bur
dens upon the taxpayers of the
country by enormous bond issues or
consumption and retroactive tax
levies TO give an ind!scriminate
bonus to enlisted men. thousands of
whom themselves rcpel the idea of
having their unselfish service ap-
praised in terms OF pecuniary re-
ward. The fine patriotism exhibited,
the heroic conduct displayed by
American soldiers at home and
abroad. constitute n sacred heritage
OF posterity, the worth of which
can never he rccompensed from
the Treasury, and the renown of
which should never be diminished
by dross.
The Democratic administration
wisely established a war risk in
surance bureau. at which $500. 900
OF enlisted men were given insur-
ance at unprccedentedly low rates
and through the medium of which
service is readily adjusted and hos
health is impaired are abundantIy
afforded. We warmly commend this
bureau of the government to the
fosterinv care IF tho Cpnrrocc o,l