Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-07


Hnder the formal auspices of the demo-
ratio party inspires within me pride
and an appreciation which l cannon
roice. At the same time l am mlndful
Qf the responsibility which this function
low officially places upon me. AS !
measure my own limitations the task
ahead OF us should be approached with
more than a feeling of difidence If
were not strengthened and treasured by
the faith that one has only to practice
true fidelity to conscience. It is not the
dificult thing to know what we ought
10 do; the sense of right and wrong haA
been given with Divine equality. The
mistakes OF history are the result of
weakness in the face Of tempting inter
ests. 1 thank God, therefore. that I take
up the standard of democracy a free
man, unfettered by promises and happy
in the consciousness Of untrammeled OPP
of government that will hold for 1t the
confidence which It deserves
We are in a time which calls for
straight thinking, straight talking
and straight acting. This is no time
for wObbling.
Never in all history has more been
done for government. Never was sacri-
nee more sublime. The most precious
things of heart and homo were given up
In a spirit Which guarantees the per
petuity of our institutionS-n the faith
Is kept with those who served and suf-
fered. The altar of our republic Is
drenched in blood and tears. and be who
turns away from the tragedies and obli-
cations of the war, not consecrated 10
sense of honor and of duty which re-
sists every base suggestion of personal
or political expediency, is unworthy OF
the esteem of his countrymen.
PAYS RESPECTS TO
PLATFORM BUILDERS.
The men and women who by expressed
policy at the San Francisco convention
eharted our course in the open seas Of
the future sensed the spirit of the hour
and phrased it with clarity and cOur-
age. 1t is not necessary to read and re-
read the democratic platform to know
its meaning. 1t is document clear In
fits analysis of conditions and plain in
the pledge Of service made to the pub
lie. 1t carries honesty OF word and In
tent Proud of the leadership and
achievement of the party in war. democ-
racy faces unafraid the problems of
peace. Indeed, its pronouncement has
but to be read along with the platform
framed by republican leaders in order
that both spirit and purpose as they
dominate the opposing organizations
may be eontrasted.
On the one hand we see pride ex-
pressed in the nations glory and q
promise of service easily understood
On the other captiOus. unhappy
spirit and the treatment of ub-
jeets vital to the present and the flu
JuFo, IN terms Endb UEbe COhpActCAS
confused the public mind
It was clear that the senatorial
oligarchy had been given its own way
In the selection of the presidential can
didate, but it was surprising that 1t was
able to fasten into the party platform
the creed of hate and bitterness and the
vacillating policy that possesses 1t.
In the midst of war the present sena-
torial cabal, led by Senators Lodge, PEN
rose and Smoot, was formed. Super
81 Of LOYALTY the nrHCi-
dent was deliberate in order that the
great rank and file Of their party, faith
full and patriotic to the very core. mig At
not be offended. But underneath this
misleading exterior, cOnspiratOrs planned
and plotted, with bigoted zeal with
victory to our arms they delayed and
obstructed the works OF peace. IL
deemed useful to the work in hand no
artifce for interfering with our consti-
tutional peace making authority was re-
jected. Before the country knew, yea,
before these men themselves knew the
details at the peace table, they declared
their opposition to it. Before the treaty
was submitted to the senate in the man
ner the constitution provides, they Vio-
lated every custom and every consid-
Grafton of decency by presenting copy
of the document, procured unblushing-
" from enemy hands, and passed 1t into
the printed record of senatorial proceed
jngs.
THEN BEGAN To
ATTACK FORM.
From that hour dated the enterprise
of throwing the whole subject into a
technical discussion. in order that the
public might be confused The plan has
never changed IN its objective, but the
Jnethod has. At the outset there was
the careful insistence that there was no
desire to interfere with the principles
evolved and formalized at Versailles.
Later, It was the form and not the
substance that professedly Inspired at
tack But pretense was futile when pro
DosaIs later came forth that clearly
enasculated the basic principle of the
whole peace plan. 1t is not necessary
10 recall the details Of the controversy
in the senate. Senator Lodge finally
crystallized his ideas into what were
known as the Lodge reservations, and
when congress adjourned these reserva-
lions held the support Of the so-caIled
regular republican leaders.
From that time the processes have
been Interesting. Political expediency
in its truest sense dwarfed every con
sideratIon either Of the public interest
OF of the maintenance of the honor Of
q great political party. The exclusive
question was how TO avoid rupture In
The republican organization.
The country received with interest, to
say the least, the announcement from
Chicago where the national convention
was assembled, that a platform plank.
dealing with tho subject Of world peace,
had been drawn, leaving out the Lodge
reservations, and yet remaining agree
I able TO all interests, meS1ing thereby
J the Lodge reservationists, the mild res
ervationists and the group of republican
senators that openly opposed the league
OF nations in any form.
As the platform made definite
cOnmitaI of policy and was, in fact,
so artfuIIy phrased as to make al
most any deduction possible, 1t
passed through the convention with
practical unarimity.
Senator johnson, however, whose po-
sition has been consistent and whose
opposition to the league in any shape
is well known, withheld his support of
The conventions choice until the candi-
cate had stated the meaning of the
ulatform. and announced definitely the
policy that would be his, if elected.
QUOTES JOHNSON
ON HARDING SPEECH.
The republican candidate has spoken
aud his utterance calls forth the follow
ing approval from Senator johnson:
Yesterday in his speech of Acceptance
Senator Harding unequivOcally took his
stand upon the paramount issue in this
campaign-the league of nations. The
-,-DubIican party stands committed by
its platform. It's standard bearer has
now accentuated that platform. There
ean be no misunderstanding his words"
Senator Harding, as the candidate of
TIE party, and Senator Johnson are as
one on this question, and. as the latter
expresses it, the republican party is
committed both by platform in the alb
stract and by its candidate in speciflca-
ton. The threatened revolt among lead
ers Of the party is averted, but the mi
ncrity position as expressed in the SEN
ate prevails as that of the party. In
short, principle as avowed in support
OF the Lodge reservations or of the So
called mild reservations, has been sur
rendered to expediencey.
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