Evening journal., 1920-09-14
HARDING MAKES PLEA
FOR 'AINERICA FIRST''

muoh-lhe will OF the American peo-
, ut Is a strange and deplorable
,hlng that the control OF the Demo-
cratic party has fallen into hands
that even now are resching out In
their perfect accord 10 perpetuale
The condition Of extreme centraliza-
ton from which America has suffered
t0 perpeluaie the narcotic Of phrases
which American citizenship was
10 be lulled into activity. What
would Thomas jefferson say 10 This
What do those Democrats who hove
looked upon their party as one in
trusted With the safeguarding OF local
rights say 10 it2 ! ihnk That they,
with u.s. contemplating the precipice
toward which these lead US. VIII see
That 10 is not only prccipice over
which our prosperity may be flung,
but over which sound American rep
reeenlative government might also be
dragged, and th3t they, with the great
mass OF Americans Will say We
have had enough
"When Americans say, as they dc
say, America FIRST they mean no
onc-man power. but our America as
people whose will is expressive
through their representl Tive .govrn-
mont. They mean q nation OF pco-
pie whose citizenship is based upon
a willingness OF one TO serve all, ana
moi upOn a program OF herdlng into
selfish grOups. whose slOgin is
What can / getr They mean that
America First Is a spirit by which
are preserved the rights OF INC one
man. or The one group, or the one
| locality, only by q Watchfulnss Dy
/ lhal Individual. by That group, or by
/ THAT locality that the welfare OF al
! America shall be preserved.
81 nnd that your presenie mere
gives me opportunity 10 put before
| the American people, through you, a
consideration Of profound impor--
ance, TO which ] have been gNlne
attention and will continue 10 give
deserved attention Changes nave
| been taking place i'm our national lit'
/ which require recognition and slldN
and none Is more important than that
| which has made 10 necessary for u'
10 assure ourselves that American
agriculture shall be restored 10 ylgoi
and prosperity. ] believe, and have
said repeatedly, that the agriculture
OF a nation. and moi lis Industry. ll'
commerce. or ts elites. is the nation
backbone. believe, and ] have eait
repcaiedly, that we must put on
land-ownlng farmer back ol our soil
and provide for The loan OF The cap
ilal when necessary 10 buy and op
crate farms: lhlt we must encourage
cooperation b. The buying by lh'
consumer and IN the selling by. lh'
farmer Of our food products. that W.
must Increase our facilities for roads
railroads. ana understanding: iha
we must invite he farmer into ON
representative aud executive branches
OF government 10 get his counsel an,
assistance. ana / have said that ihcs'
measures were not special prlvilegi
for The farmer. but that The preser
walton Of our agriculture with sui
ncienl prosperity. so That % shoul,
share equally with Industry, and hovl
equal ability 10 pay labor was no
only the farmers business. but every
b0dy'c business consumers bus
mess. the city dwollcr's business anl
ihe vital concern OF every one VIII
wants TO have for himself and hi
children three meals a dav.
Because the safety and prosperlt
OF The farmers OF This country ar
our own safety and prosperity Ian