New-York tribune., 1920-06-29

y rest is everywhere apparent, Wnen e%-
I listing forms of government are pelng
challenged and their very foundatlons
disturbed or swept away, it is we'll for
! US, here in America, to pause Tor
4 period of solemn deliberation.
i 1--WE, who assemble in this great con-
! vention, counsel together, not merely
Z as members of q party. but as chill
Z dren OF the Republic. Love Of country
/ and devotion to human service should
4 purge our hearts of all unworthy or
4 misleading motives. Let us fervently
pray for Divine blessing upon all that
4 we do undertake. Let US pledge our
4 selves anew to equality Of opportunity;
4 the unity of our country above the in
j terests of groups or classes; and the
maintenance of the high honor OF
Il America in her dealings with other ma
tions.
"The people will shortly determine
II which political instrumentallty Is best
suited to their purposes, most respon-
sive to their needs. They will have be-
fore them many platforms and many
4 promises. In what direction will they
i turn? There is no better way OF Judg-
! ing the future than by the past. we
ask, therefore. that the people turn
from the passions and the prejudlces
i of the day to the consideration OF
] record as clear as it is enduring.
Scores Republican Party
"The Republican party was unsuc-
j cessful in the elections of 1912 because
{ it had persstently served special m
i terests and had lost touch with the
4 spirit of the time. Those who con-
d troled its destiny derived Their politi-
4 cal inspiration from the good old days
of Mark Hanna and neither desired q
\ new day nor were willing to recognize
4 new day when it had dawned To
i each pressing problem they sought
A merely to reapply the processes OF
q antiquity.
4 "There were elements in the Repub-
d lican party which were intolerant of
4 it's mental sloth and moral irresponsi-
4 biity. These influences sought to gain
4 party control in 1912 and again in
4 1916. They renewed the hopeless
4 struggle at the convention recently
{ held at Chicago.
a despite these efforts, the leaders
4 who have manipulated the party
mechanism for more than genera
4 ton are still in undisputed control:
4 "The Republican platform, reaction
4 ary and provincial, is the very apotheo.
Y sis of political expediency. Filled with
q premeditated slanders and vague prom
n ises, it will be searched in vain for one
gM constructive suggestion for the refor
ssA nation of the conditions which /
/ criticizes and deplores. The oppressed
peoples of the earth will look to i
|8 in vain. 1t contains no message O
EM hope for Ireland, no word of mere.
/ e for Armenia, and it conceals a swor'
d for Mexico. 1t is the work of mel
8 concerned more with material thing
sN than with human rights. 1t contain
III no thought, no purpose which can Civ
81 impulse or thrill to those who low
III liberty and hope to make the worl'
sN safer and happier place for tn
6M average man.
eN "The Democratic party is an unen
q tangled party-a free party-owing II
8 allegiance to any class or group Q
q special interest. We were able to tax
a up and carry through to success tn
"A our platform of 1912. During til
/ u months which intervened betwee
u March 4, 1913, and the outbreak of tf
Efa World War we placed upon the statut
ka books of our country more efectiv
constructive and remedial legislatic
than the Republican party had place
a there in generation.
&M Tells of Party's Achievements
Em "The income tax was made perm
q nent part of the revenue producer
agencies of the country, thereby relic
ing our law of the reproach of bell
unjustly burdensome to the poor. 7
extravagances and inequities of Il
tariff system were removed and no
i partisan tariff commission was esta
lished so that future revisions mig
be made in the light of accurate info
nation, scientifically and impartial
obtained. Pan-Americansm was e
couraged; and the bread thus cast up
the international waters came back
US many fold. The great reaches
Alaska were opened up to CONNER
was destroyed. A corrupt lobby W
driven from the national capitol.
effective seaman's act was adopted. T
ia Federal Trade Commission was create
Child labor legislation was enact'
The parcel post and the rural free {
Ie livery were developed. A good roa
"a bill and rural credits act were pass
Is A Secretary Of Labor was given a sc
In the Cabinet Of the President. Fig
IL hour laws were adopted. The Clayt
E amendment to the Sherman anti-tr,
{ act was passed, freeing American lax
II and taking it from the category of CO
modities. The Smith-Lever bill for I
improvement Of agricultural conditic
i was enacted. A corrupt practice
was adopted. A we'll considered wa
i house act was passed. Federal empl.
4 ment bureaus were created. Farm lo
4 banks, postal savings banks and A,
Il Federal Reserve System were est
E lished.
These enactments, and many otl
II provisions Of a remedial character,
{ a cleansing and quickening effect ur
the economic life of our country. I
farmer was free from the deaden
effects of usurious financial contl
Labor was given its Magma Charta
III liberty. Business and finance were
leased from the thraldom Of uncertain
and hazard. The economic life
America was refreshed by the vita
Ing breath of economic freedom.
lH "This extraordinary narration sou,
like a platform OF promises. The so
fact Is that it is an inadequate reci
Of actual performance. It constitu
Democracy's response to the dcma
Of social justice. It is our answer
the antiquated slander that the Der
cratic party is unable 20 understi
the great affairs Of the country.
'Tf the Democratic party had
complished nothing more than the =
sage Of the Federal Reserve act,
would be entitled TO the enduring gr
tude Of the nation. This act suppl
the country with an elastic cure
controlled by the American peol
Panics--the recurring phenomena
disaster which the Republican pa
could neither control nor explain
/ now but memory, Under the Rep
q liean system there was an average