New-York tribune., 1920-08-08


Chairman Robinson and Members of
the Notification Committee: The mes
sage which you bring from the great
conference of progressive thought as
sembled under the formal auspices of
the Democratic party inspires within
me pride and an appreciation which
| cannot voice. At the same time | am
mindful of the responsibility which
this function now officially places
upon me. AS I measure my own limi-
tations the task ahead of us should
be approached with more than feel
ing of diffidence if l were not
strengthened and treasured by the
faith that one has only to practice
true fidelity to conscience.
1t is not the difficult thing to know
what we ought to do; the sense of
right and wrong has been given with
divine equality. The mistakes of his
tory are the result of weakness in the
face of tempting interests. l thank
God, therefore, that l take up the
standard of Democracy a free man, un-
1ettered by promises and happy in the
consciousness Of untrammeled oppor-
tunity to render service in the name
of government that will hold for it the
confidence which it deserves.
No Time for Wabbling
We are in time which calls for
straight thinking. straight talking and
wabbling. Never in all our history
has more been done for government.
Never was sacrifice more sublime. The
most precious things of heart and
home were given up in a spirit which
guarantees the perpetuity of our in
situations-if the faith is kept with
those who served and suffered. The
altar of our Republic is drenched in
blood and tears, and he who turns
away from the tragedies and obliga-
tions Of the war, not consecrated to
sists every base suggestion of per-
sonal or political expediency. is un-
worthy of the esteem of his country
men.
The men and women who by ex-
pressed policy at the San Francisco
convention charted our course in the
open seas of the future sensed the
spirit of the hour and phrased it with
clarity and courage. 1t is not neces-
sary to read and reread the Democratic
platform to know it's meaning. 1t is
a document clear in it's analysis of
conditions and plain in the pledge Of
service made to the public 1t carries
honesty of word and intent Proud
of the leadership and achievement Of
the party in war, Democracy faces
unafraid the problems of peace. In
deed, its pronouncement has but to be
read along with the platform framed
by Republican leaders in order that
both spirit and purpose as they domi-
be contrasted. On the one hand we
see pride expressed in the nations
glory and promise of service easily
understood. On the other q captious,
unhappy spirit and the treatment of
subjects vital to the present and the
future in terms that have completely
confused the public mind. 1t was clear
that the Senatorial oligarchy had been
given its own way in the selection of
the Presidential candidate, but it was
surprising that it was able to fasten
into the party platform the creed of
hate and bitterness and the vacillating
policy that possesses it.
Superficial Loyalty
In the midst of war the present SEN
atorial cabal, led by Senators Lodge,
Penrose and Smoot, was formed. Super
ticial evidence Of loyalty to the Presi-
dent was deliberate in order that the
great rank and file of their party,
faithful and patriotic to the very core,
might 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
If deemed useful to the work in hand
no artifce for interfering with our
constitutional peace making authority
was rejected. Before the country knew
yea before these men themselves knew
the details of the composite plan
formed at the peace table, they declared
their opposition to it. Before the treaty
was submitted to the Senate in the
manner the Constitution provides they
violated every custom and every con-
sideration of decency by presenting q
copy of the document, procured un-
blushingly from enemy hands, and
passed it into the printed record OF
Senatorial proceedings.