The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-29

man Homer $. Cummings before the Gtmocratic convention this morning: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Conven
 tion:
 At this high hour. when the des- tinies not only of political parties but of peoples are at stake; when social unrest is everywhere apparent: when existing forms of government are be- ing challenged, and their very founda- lions disturbed or swept away, it is wei for US here in America. to paus. for q period of solemn deliberation.
 We who assemble in this great con- ven -iOH. counsel together, not merely as j. -Hoers of party. but as children of he republic. Love of country ana devotion to human service should purge our hearts of all unworthy or misleading motives. Let us fervently pray for a divine blessing upon all that we do or undertake. Let us lieG-e ourselves anew to equality of opportunity; the unity of our country above the interests of groups or classes; and the maintenance of the high honor of America in her dealings with other nations.
 The people will shortly determine which political instrumentality is best suited to their purposes. most re- sponsive to their needs. They will have before they many platforms and many promises. In what direction will they turn? There is no better way of judging the future than by the past We ask, therefore. that the peopii turn from the passions and the proju. dices of the day to the consideration of a record as clear as it is endur. ing
 The republican party was unsuccess- ful in the elections of 1912 because IL had persistently served special intei. ests and had lost touch with the spirit of the time. Those who controlled it's destiny derived their political inspira- ton from the good old days of Mark Honna' and neither desired a new day TOT were willing to recognize a new day when it had dawned. To each pressing problem. they sought merely to reapply the processes of antiquity,
 There were elements in, the repub- lican party which were intolerant of it's mental sloth and moral irresponsi- billty These incldences sought to gain party control in 1912 and again in 1916. They renewed the hopeless struggle at the convention recently held at Chicago.
 Despite these efforts. the leaders who have manipulated the party mech anism for more than a generation are still in undisputed control
 The republican platform, reactionary and provincial, is the very apotheosis of political expediency. Filled with pre- meditated islanders and vague promises. it will be searched in vain for one con- structive suggestion for the reformation of the conditions which it criticises and deplores 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. It is the work of men concerned more with material things than with human rights. It contains no thought no purpose which can give 1m- pulse or thrill to those who love liberty and hope to make the world safer and happier place for the average man,
 DEMOCRATIC ACHIEVEMENTS
 The democratic party is an unentangled party-a free party-owing no allegiance to any class or group or special interest. We were able to take up and carry through to success the great progressive programme outlined in our platform or 1912. During the months which inter- vened between March 4, 1913, and the out break of the world war, we placed upon the statute books of our country more effective, constructive and remedial leg isiation than the republican party had placed there in a generation.
 The income tax was made perna- nent part of the revenue producing agen- cies of the country, thereby relieving our law of the reproach of being unjustly burdensome to the poor. The eXtr9Va- gances and inequities of the tariff system were removed; and non-partisan tariff commission was established so that tu- ture revisions might be made in the liSnt of accurate information, scientifically and mpartially obtained. Pan-Amerieanlsm was encouraged; and the bread thus cast +ba ipto waters hack to us many fold. The great reaches or Alaska were opened up to commerce and development Dollar diplomacy was de- stroyed, A corrupt lobby was driven from the national capital. An effective seaman's act was adopted. The federal trade commission was created. Child la- bor legislation was enacted. The parce' post and the rural free delivery were de- veloped good roads bill and rural credits act were passed secretary of labor was given a seat in the cabinet Of the President. Eieht-hour laws were adopted The Clayton amendment to the Sherman antitrust act was passed, free- ing American labor and taking it rom the category of commodities The Smith, Lever bill for the improvement of agri- cultural conditions was enacted. A cor rupt practice act was adopted. we'll considered warehouse act was passed.
 
 ated. Farm loan banks, postal savings banks and the federal reserve system wer, established.
 These enactments, and many other pro- visions of remedial character, had cleansing and quickening effect upon the economic life of our country. The farmer was freed from the deadening effects or usurious financial control Labor was given it's Magma Charta of liberty. Bust
 .a1n thraldom of uncertainty and hazard. The economic life of America was refreshed by the vitalizing breath of economic free dom
 This extraordinary narration sounds like a platform of promises. The sober fact is that it is an inadequate recital or actual performance. It constitutes democ- racy's response to the demands of social iustice It is our answer to the antiquate.. islander that the democratic party is un- able to understand the great affairs of the country.
 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
 If the democratic party had accom- plished nothing more than the passage of the federal reserve act, it would be en- titled to the enduring gratitude of the nation. This act supplied the country with an elastic currency controlled by the American people. Panics-the recurring phenomena of disaster which the reruo- lican party could neither control nor ex- plain-are now but memory. Under the republican system, there was an av craze of one bank failure every twenty one days for a period of nearly forty years. After the passage of the federal reserve system there were. in 1915, four bant. failures; in 1916 and 1917. three banh failures: in 1918, one bank failure; and in 1919, no bank failures al all The federal