Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-06-28
CUMMINS' SOUNDS
DEMOCRACY KEYNOTE
Calls League of Nations Covenant
"Mcnroe Doctrine of World"
In Opening Convention
By Associated Pressl

San Francisco, June 28. = The
League of Nations covenant was
championed as the Monroe Doctrine
of the world" by Homer Cummins,
temporary chairman of the Demo
cratic National Convention in his key
note address here today.
Of the peace treaty's defeat in the
senate, he said; "No blacker crime
against civilization has ever soiled
the pages of our history"
He characterized the republican
platform as "reactionary and provin-
cial." "Filled with premeditated
ISLANDERS and vague promises, it will
be searched in vain for one construc-
tive suggestion for the reformation of
the conditions which it criticizes and
deplores," he contiued.
"The oppressed peoples of the earth
will look to it in vain. It contains
no message of hope for Ireland; no
word of mercy for Armenia; and it
conceals a sword for Mexico. 1t is the
work of men concerned more with ma
terial things than human rights 1t
contains no thought. no purpose
which can give impulse or thrill to
those in love with liberty and hope
to make the world d safer and hap
pier place for the average man"
He declared that the peace time
record OF the democratic party from
March, 1918, to the outbreak Of the
world way has to its credit "more eff
fective, constructive and remedial
legislation than the republican party
had placed upon the statute books il
a generation"
Praising the administration course
in the wal he said: owe fought J
great war, for 4 great cause and we
had leadership that carried America
to greater heights Of honor and glory
than she has ever known before in
her entire history"
Iet no one misunderstood us
These great affairs were carried for
wand under the stimulus of American
patriotism, supported by the courage
and spirit of our people. All of this is
freely and gladly acknowledged, but
surely the time has come when, be-
cause of the calculated criticism and
premeditated calt1mnies of the oppO-
ton to the fact that all of these
things were accomplished under the
leadership of d great democrat and
OF great democratic administration
If the republican leaders are not able
to rejoice with us in this American
triumph they should have the grace
to remain silent, for it does not lie in
the mouths of those who Conducted the
Spanish-American war to indulge il
the luxury Of criticism" U
Referring to the congressional in,
vestigations by smelling commit
tees he said that over 80 investiga-
tions have been made, over 2,000,0O(
dollars wasted and the result ha,
been to prove that il was the clean
est war ever fought in the history OF
civilization"
"The republican party became 81
fixed in its incc rrigible habit of con
Quoting Investigations that it finally
turned to the fruitful task of inves
eating itself. They discovered frau'
and graft and gross and inexcusablt
expenditures. The revelations disclose
the fact. that the meeting at Chicago
was not a convention. but an auction
The highest bidder, however, did no
get the prize The publicity which ov
ertook the proceedings frustrated the
initial purpose. The Chicago conven
ton left the democratic party as tn
sole custodian of the honor of th'
country"
Peace achievements of the demo
cratic party. he asserted, "freed tn
farmer from the deadening effects o
usurious financial control. Labor wa
given its Magma Charta of liberty
Business and finance were releases
from the thra1ldom of uncertainty ant
hazard"
HThe income tax law" he said. "re
lieved our law of the Teproach of be
ing uniustly burdensome to the peol
The extravagancies and iniquities Q
the tariff system were removed and
partisan tariff commission cis
ated. Pan n-Americanism was encour
aged and the bread thus cast upo
the waters came back to us man
fold. Alaska was opened to commerc
and development. Dollar diplomac
was destroyed A corrupt lobby wa
driven from the national capitol. A
effective Seaman's Act was enacted
The federal trade commission wa
created. Child labor legislation wa
enacted. The parcel post and rurs
free delivery were developed. A goo
roads bill and rural ereG..s act wer
passed. A secretary OF labor was ghe
a seat in the cabinet of the presiden
Eight hour laws were adopted. I'll
l. L IL.