The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-04
United States Senator Owen De-
mands That Political Lead
ers Tell Public Truth.
NO TIME NOW FOR SHAMS
Nation Needs to Know Why
Purchasing Power of Dollar
Has Greatly Diminished
BY ROBERT /. OWEN,
United States Senator From Oklahoma

United States Senator From Oklahoma
Whatever platforms or programs
may be adopted by the various parties
and candidates in the coming cam
paign, the people should make their
slogan-Turn on the light
The issue of the election lies be-
tween intelligent progress and stupid
reaction. The line of battle to some
extent will run straight across the ad-
herents of both the old political
parties.
1t is no time IN our national develop
ment for sham fights and false issues.
Despite our prosperity the average
American man and his wife are having
serious difficulty to feed, elothe and
house the family, educate the children,
and lay by something for old age.
Income may have increased, but outgo
exceeds income for the great major
ity
The truth is that the interests. sta
bility and security of the American
home are impaired and endangered.
There is unrest and uncertainty
justifiable unrest; not only among
workingmen and farmers, but among
every class of business and profess
or legalized monopoly
In this much talked of question OF
extortionate cost of living every fun
damental process in our national life
finds its focus. To discover the reasons
for it is to lay bare what is wrong.
and hence what is unsafe. i'm our eco
nomic, Industrial and political sys-
tenn.
Any program which talks vaguely
about reducing the high cost of liv-
ing without going straight into real
causes and proposing concrete, under
standable and effective remedies. viii
side-step duty and fail the people in
this crisis.
This is not a new subject 1t was
favored theme for campaign promis-
es by both parties long before the
war. Evidently we have not touched
real causes or produced real remedies
since living costs have steadily risen,
and in a degree not justified even by
the war. We have come TO an hour
of reckoning.
IL is time 10 turn on the light and
find out why these things are so for
II the people are to take intelligent
action they must first know the facts.
A housewife needs to know just why
pair of shoes for herself or the chill
dren costs many times as much as the
materials of which they are made.
The workingman needs to know why
his living costs are increasing faster
than his wages
The competitive business man needs
to know why his faithful efforts meet
with inadequate returns and what are
the influences that undermine him
in his legitimate business
The yolnp man dauiY.fno I.a,a..,.
a farmer needs to know why land at
all desirable is so high that he is
practically prohibited from getting a
start and paying his way as his father
did before him.
The whole nation needs to know
why the dollar, say of 1896, is worth
so much less in purchasing power to-
day.
All voters need to know why certain
important planks in both party plat
forms have been ignored after cleo
tions
1t is important that the people as
certain what forces are at work in
our legislative bodies to kill in secret
important measures designated for the
public good.
II is time TO determine whose will
shall rule America-whether the well
fare of men, women and children or
the greed for dollars is to predominste.
Such questions involve the health,
the safety and stability of this nation.
They should be fearlessly and hon
estly answered in this campaign.
To do this will not prove an easy
matter.
Every privileged interest will COM
bine to keep these things from the
people Every dust -thrower will be
busy. Every available red herring will
be drawn across the path of public
attention.
But let the people keep their eyes
on the main issues. Let them refuse
to be confused by charge and counter
charge, by personalities and false cries
Let them demand that the light be
turned upon real questions.