South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-09
Second Day
Lodge Keynote
Speech Fails
TO Convince
EUen O.. q. u.
Delegates
BY JOHN HENRY ZUVER.

CONGRESS HOTEL, Chicago,
June S.0The speech OF Sen.
Henry Cabot Lodge opening the
republican national convention to-
day anything but quieted the
nerves OF republican delegates
with regard 20 the do nothing
ness" OF the recent congress,
which they fear more as the cam
paign slogan OF the democrats
than anything being talked in the
hotel Hobbies. Lodges speech was
expected TO have n very salutary
effect in this particular, but fall
ing in large degree. much faith is
now being placed In the forth
coming remarks Of the perma-
nent chairman.
In the underground runway that
connects the Congress hotel with
the Auditorium annex. a group Of
Nebraskans were discussing the
Lodge effort. in which the absence
of any real bill Of particulars"
10 prove the wonderful accom-
plishments OF which the speaker
sought 10 brag, was being noted.
They run over the list. something
after this fashion. which covered
some 20 minutes of the temporary
chairman's speech quite In full.
their conversation making these
various points:
Congress passed
Appropriation bills aggregat-
ing nearly $4,000.00O,00Q.
Railroad reorganization bill.
Water power bill.
oil land leasing bill.
NnRn f1nnnT raha hflifu ffnF1 hV
the governm ent.
Army reorganization bill,
fixing the size of the standing
army at $4,000.
Civil service retirement bill.
Budget bill-which, Of course.
he did not explain had been
purposely framed so that 1t
would be held unconstitutional
should the republicans come in
20 power, hoLing that the presi-
dent would miss IL. and with
hold his veto,-a bill for poll
tical buncombe.
Assuredly he did not mention
any OF these bills, recommended
by the president, that failed to
pass, and these men noticed It. It
might have called attention of the
public 10 the fact that nothing had
been done out of immediate con-
sideration for the masses. Here
are a few items that they had in
mind:
Soldier bonus bill.
Packer regulation bill.
Cold storage regulation bill.
Bill 10 stop profiteering in
shoes
Several minor measures aim
ed at the high cost OF living.
Tax revision.
The bill TO establish a de-
partment OF education.
Failed TO ratify not only the
Versailles treaty, but Austrian
treaty and FrancO-AmeriCan
alliance.
And neither did he dwell upon
any OF these Investigations, In
which the congress INDUCED in
quest Of campaign thunder-un-
successful except as TO the first,
the blunt Of which fell upon the
republican party itself;
Campaign expenditures.
Award OF naval medals.
Navy departments conduct
Of war
War departments conduct OF
war.
Regulation Of sugar prices by
Atty. Gen. Palmer.
Deportation OF aliens involv-
ing conduct of Louis r. Post,
assistant secretary OF labor.
Bolshevist propaganda and
activities of L. 9. A. +. Martens,
bolshevist agent.
These men took the speech
kindly enough as a political ven
ture even doubling II anyone could
have done better. but the old
bone stuck in their threats, talk
ing among themselves. that II
might not satisfy people who
know the facts within that great
army OF Independent voters whose
votes are necessary TO carry an
election. and who care more for
the truth than they do for par
tisan poppycock. You could hear
similar comment in any number
OF Llaces. Congress has not made
good" men would go on. and its
record Is stronger against US than
any spellbinder's words"
Here and there you hear men
discussing the campaign prom
Uses OF their party in 1918, when
the congress passed from the
democrats TO their control. OF how
Il was said the democrats would
prove incompetent in carrying out
a postwar reconstruction pro-
gram. and then they would reflect
that they had not proven them
selves I'm any sense superior. II
republicans OF enough promi-
nence in their respective COM
munities 70 be sent as delegates 70
the republican national convention
recognize such q condition, what
must be the feeling OF the rank
and file. not bound 20 the party
by machine" tied strings?
Still the leaders pretend optim-
ism, possibly sufficiently obseSsed
with themselves. that they are
blinded beyond the length OF their
noses II IL were not so they
would scarce expect 10 drown out
fll thoughts OF this one OF the
campaign issues. by a great hub
Nuo over the wise and patriotic
manner" as the Massachusetts
senator put Il. in which they have
prevented ratification OF the ini-
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