The Ocala evening star., 1920-07-06


Here the democrats were found TO
issue a sharp and direct challenge to
the republicans and have done so IN
high and splendid form. The repub-
licans were so hampered by the tor
tuous course which they had pursued
respecting the treaty, and were 50
afraid of splitting their party, that
they could not speak in clear voice.
They shuffied and hedged and quail
fed and lodged and skulked. In con-
trast, the democrats are positive and
explicit. They fell in honor committed
TO stand by the allies who stood by
US. They rightly declare a separate
peace for the United States to be abb
horrent and unthinkable. And they
affirm the need of entering the league
of nations, not only as the best sol
vent of the difficulties Immediately
confronting the world as result of
the war, but as the best hope of free
ing the peoples of the earch from the
dread of war in the future, and of re-
lieving them from the crushing bur-
dens of needless ornaments. Hence
the platform demand that the treaty
and the covenant be ratified by the
Senate, though it is willing. as the
president has been all along, to accept
reservations clearing up any honest
doubts concerning the real meaning
of any of the provisions. The whole
has an aggressive and fighting tone,
and will make it possible for the dem
ocrats to maintain vigorous attack
throughout the campaign upon the
two-faced insincerities of the republi-
can platform.
This evidence of sanity and strength
is supplemented by the treatment Of
the Irish request that the republic of
/ Ireland be definitely recognized. Some
feared that under the threats or
Establishments of over-zealous Irish
Americans the platform might go to
an undigniied and perilous length in
expressing sympathy with Irish as
p;rations. But all is saved by the
phrase, within the limitations of in
ternational comfy and usage" This,
of course, means that no further at
te1tion will be paid to such folly as
recognition without intervention" "
Americans will continue to express
sympathy with the efforts of the Irish
PEOPLE to attain government, but
this government will not propose a
step which, if it were attempted
against US. we should instantly and
Indignantly resent as virtually an act
of war.
Other planks which will be scanned
for unsound or disturbing doctrines
are those relating to labor and the
railroads. But here, too, the trainers
have been sound and firm and have
guarded themselves against using q
single disturbing word. Labor's rights
lare emphasized, naturally, but labor's
duties also are insisted upon. While
compulsory arbitration is not favored,
and no attempt is made to deny the
right to strike, a strong position is
taken against strikes that jeopardize
the public welfare and the demand is
made that means be found peacefully
to settle the greater labor controver-
sizes. Still more crucial is the outlin-
ing of railroad policy. This must
be worked out. declares the platform
after fair test of the existing law
in such way as to secure ga thor
oughly effective transportation sys-
tenn under private ownership withouI
government subsidy at the expense OF
the taxpayers" This plank alone is
Of immense value in dispelling fears
and contributing to the steadying OF
the country's business.
In fact, the whole platform may be
, said to be one intended to reassure
. and strengthen every legitimate com.
mercial and financial enterprise in the
country. Not one shiver need it cause
business men. The democratic world
outlook, as given by the committee Oh
resolutions, is for peace and good re-
lations and cordial cooperation with
the nations of Europe that were oul
allies and protectors in the war, anc
now should be closely joined to US II
. commerce and in every good work o1
financial recovery and physical up
building. In domestic matters the
platform is keyed to the preservation
of the established American ways Of
meeting the recurring problems of in
dustry and of life; that is to say
lprudently, experimentally, humaneiy
hopefully, but never rashly or hyster
ically. All told, the work of the plat
form builders at San Francisco is bet
ter and drawer than those who took
counsel of their fears had believed
possible. From it the solid busines:
interests of the country may well take
fresh courage.