The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-09
Full Text of Acceptance Speech of
Franklin Roosevelt

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Full Text of Acceptance Speech of
Franklin Roosevelt
Mr.. Roosevelt. accepting the demo.
cratic vice presidential nomination
said:
Mr.. Cummings and Ladies and Cen
tlemen Of the Committee:
! accept the nomination for the
office of vice president with humble
ness and with a deep wish to give
to our beloved country the best that
is i'm me. No one could receive a
higher privilege or opportunity than
TO he thus associated with men and
ideals which I am confident viii soon
receive the support Of the majority
OF our citizens.
In fact. l could not conscientiously
accept it. If had not come TO know
by the closest intimacy that ne who
is our selection for the presidency, and
who is my chief and yours. is a
man possessed of ideals which are
also mine. He will give to America
that kind Of leadership which will
make us respect him and bring fur
Their greatness to our land. In James
VI. Cox | recognize n who can lead
this nation forward in an unhalting
march Of progress.
Country Above Party
Two great problems will confront
the next administration; our relations
with the world and the pressing need
of organized progress at home. The
latter includes a systematized and in
tensified development Of our resources
and a progressive betterment Of our
citizenship. These matters will re
quire the guiding hand of a
president VINO can see his country
above his party, and vino, having
a clear vision Of things as they are,
has also the independence, courage
and skill to guide US along the road
70 things as they should be without
sworving one footstep at the dicta.
tion Of narrow part'sans who whis-
per party" or Of selfish interests that
murmur profits"
international Conditions
In our world problems we must
either shut our eyes, sell our newly
built merchant marine to more far
seeing foreign powers, crush utterly
by embargo and harassing legislation
our foreign trade, close our ports and
build an impregnable wall Of costly
ornaments and live, as the Orient
used to live. a hermit nation. dreaming
Of the past; or. we must open our
eyes and see that modern civilization
H.. I...,,. 90. .,,-A1.x- ,,g .l. lftae !
Of civilized men SO interviewer with
the lives Of other men in other u
tries TO make 1t impossible to be in
this word and not of it. We must
see that it is impossible to avoid eX-
cept by monastic seclusion those hon
orable and intimate foreign relations
which the fearful-hearted shudderingly
miscall by that devils catchword lin
ternational complications
Home Problems
As for our home problem. we have
been awakened by this war into a
startled realization of the archaic
shortcomings Of our governmental!
machinery and OF the need for the
kind of reorganization which only a
thinking business man, expert
enced in the technicalities Of govern
procedure can carry out. Such
a man We have. One who has so
successfully reformed the business
management Of his own great state
is obviously capable of doing greater
This is no time to expert
nent with men who believe that their
parry can do no wrong and that what
IS COCO for the selfish interests Of a
political party is Of necessity good
fer the nation as well. l as a citizen
believe that this year we should
choose as president a proved eXecu-
i've. We need to DO things; not to
.alk about them.
Much has been said Of late about
good Americanism. It is right that 1t
should have been said, and it is right
hat every chance should be seized
% repeat the basic truths underlying
prosperity and our national exist
snce Itself. But it would be an un-
usual and T--h to be wished for
ming if in coming presentation
the issue, ew note Of fairness
generosity did be struck. Little
ness. meanness, falsehood, extreme
1artisanship-these are not in accord
With American spirit. I like TO think
hat in this respect also we are NOV
ng forward. ,
Democrats and Republicans Won war
Let US be definite. We have pass
d through a great war-an armed
which called forth every eff
ort on the part Of the whole popu-
alton. The war was won by Repuo' +
leans as we'll as by Democrats. Men ,
II all parties served in u armed q
orces. Men and women of all parties
erved the government at home. They 3
honestly as Americans, not I
$ mere partisans. Republicans and !
Democrats alike worked in admin I
positions, raised liberty loans
administered food control, toiled in
.unition plants, built ships. The war I
vas brought to a successful con /
fusion by a glorious common effort |
-one which in the years to come /
rill be a national pride. l feel very I
that our children will CONS {
o regard our participation as mem
rable for the broad honor and hon
sty which marked it, for the abb I
ence of unfortunate scandal, and d
or the splendid unity of action which I
attended to every position of the ma !
ion. 1t would, therefore, not only
little purpose, but would con- .
0rm III to our high standards if any y
.erson should in the heat of political J
ivalry seek to manufacture political !
dvantage out Of \ nationally con- t
ucted struggle. We have seen things !
n too large a scale to listen in thi, =
TO %trifles. or to believe in the 4.
.dequacy Of trifling men. :
Ii is that same vision Of the bigger &
utlook Of national and individual h
fe which will, / am sure, lead us D