Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-01

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our people. All this is freely and gladly
Acknowledged, but surely the time has
come when, because of the calculated
criticism and premeditated calumnies Of
the opposition, we are entitled to call at
tention to the fact that all of these things
were accomplished under the leadership
or great Democrat and Of a great DEM
ocratic administration. II the Republi-
can leaders are not able to rejoice with
us In this American triumph they should
have the grace to rcmX1n silent, for II
| does not lie in the mouths of those who
| conducted the Spanish American war to
indulge in the luxury Of criticism
| Referring to congressional investiga-
tons by smelling committees" he said
that over so Investigations have been
made, over two million dollars wasted
and the result has been to prove that
| 1t was the cleanest war ever fought in
the history of civilization
THE Republican Party became so fixed
| in its incorrigible habit of conducting in
| vestigations that it finally turned to the
fruitful task of investigating itself. They
! discovered fraud and graft and gross and
| inexcusable expenditures. The revela-
4 tons disclose the fact that the meeting
| at Chicago was not a convention, but an
auction. The highest bidder, however.
did not get the prize. The publicity which
overlook the proceedings frustrated the
initial purpose. The Chicago convention
! left the Democratic Party as the sole
| custodian of the honor of the country"
THE income tax law" he said, "reliev-
ed our law of the reproach of being I'M
justly burdensome to the poor. The ex-
travagancies and iniquities Of the tariff
! system were removed and non partisan
tariff commission created. Pan-Ameri-
canism was encouraged and the bread
thus cast upon the waters came back to
us many fold. Alaska was opened to COM
merce and development Dollar diplomacy
was destroyed. A corrupt lobby was driv-
en- from the national capitol An effec-
tive Seaman's Act was adopted. The fed
eral trade commission was created. Child
labor legislation was enacted. The par
Gel post and the rural free delivery were
developed A good roads bill and a rural
credits act were passed secretary OF
labor was given a seat in the cabinet Of
the president Eight hour laws were adop-
ted. The Clayton amendment to the Sher-
man antitrust act was passed. freeing
American labor and taking 1t from the
! list Of commodities. The Smith-Lever bill
for the Improvement of agricultural con-
ditions was passed. A corrupt practices
act was adopted. A well considered ware
| house act was passed. Federal employment
bureaus were created. Farm loan banks.
postal savings banks and the federal re-
serve system were established.
THE federal reserve system. passed ov-
er the opposition Of the leaders Of the
Republican party. enabled America to
withstand the strain Of war without shock
or panic and ultimately made our country
! the greatest creditor nation of the world 4"
! Turning to the record Of the Republican
Congress since 1915 Mr.. Cummings said
! it was barren of achievement. shameless
In waste of time and money without paral-
lei for it's incompetencies, failures and
regulations.
President Wilson'S two appeals before
Congress for legislation dealing with prof
iteering. reduction of taxation. aid for
soldiers and laws to improve relations Of
capital and labor were ignored. he declar-
ed, and after year of sterile debate
our country has neither peace nor recon-
struction."
! He dwelt particularly on attacks made
ITO the peace table. he said and widespread
propaganda made II imperative when he
! returned from Paris to make a struggle
for that which had been won at incalcu-
| liable cost. This meant wreck of health.
sickness of heart which comes from the
knowledge that political adversaries are
savagely destroying not merely the work
of mons hands. but the worlds hope of
settled peace. This was the affliction--this
! the crucfixion."
Mr.. Cummings continued that in one
sense lit is quite immaterial what peo-
pie say about the President Nothing we
can say can add or detract from the fame
that will flow down the unerding chan
nels of history"
| He cited the Republican and Progressive
platforms of 1916 as part of the record
placing this country in favor of the League
of Nations.
The Republican platform contains a
vague promise to establish another or A
different form of association" he said
There is no mental dishonesty more
transparent than that which expresses
fealty to League of Nations while OPP
posing the only league that exists or is
ever apt to exist
What nations stand outside? Revolu-
tionary Mexico. Bolshevist Russia, I'M
speakable Turkey and-the United States
! 1T is not yet too late Let us stand with
the forces Of civilization. The choice is
plain, II is between the Democratic partys
support Of the League of Nations, with
| its program Of peace. disarmament and
world fraternity, and the Republican
party's platform of reputation, provin-
cialism, militarisrn and world chaos"
1t is not reservations that the President
stands against, said Mr. Cummings. but
qualification. He told how President Will
son had published the tentative text Of
the league covenant widely in 1919. asking
for criticism and receiving suggestions
from Taft, Hughes and others that were
actually Incorporated into the revised
draft of the league"
Senator Lodge he said. refused to offer
constructive amendments at any time 80
intoIerant was his attitude that he would
not even consider a compromise proposed
by former President Taft of his own party
and which was assured of support of 20
Democratic senators. Senator Lodge knew
that he controlled the Senate and that in
his own time and way he would destroy
the treaty
This is the sordd story Of its defeat. -
said Cummings after reviewing the Sem
ate's action in the matter. NO blacker
crime against civilization has ever soled
the pages of our history. The last chap
/ ter was written at Chicago"
Let the true purpose of our party be
clearly understood" he said in concluding
his address. I'VE stand squarely for the
same ideals of peace as those for which
the war was fought We support with
out fiinching the only plan for peace and
justice. We will not submit to the repu-
diation of the peace treaty or to any proc
ess by which 1t is whitfield down to the
vanishing point We decline to comprom-
Use our principles or pawn our immortal
souls for selfish purposes. We do not
turn our backs upon the history Of the