The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09

The president repeatedly has declar-
ed, and this convention reaffirms,
that all our duties and obligations
as a member Of the league. must be
fulfilled in strict conformity with
the constitution of the United States
embodied in which Is he fundament-
al requirements of declaratory action
by the congress before this nation
may become participant in any
war.
Defend War Record.
Conduct OF the War.-During the
war President Wilson exhibited the
very broadcast conception of liberal
Apprehension. In his conduct of the
war. as in the general administration
of his high office, there was no semb-
lance OF partisan bias. He invited to
Washington as his councillors and CO.
AUDITORS hundreds of the most promi-
nent and pronounced republicans in
the country. To these he committed
responsibilities OF the gravest import
and most confidential nature. Many
OF them had charge of vital activities
OF the government.
And, yet, with the war successfully
PtoSSSee0o anu sioliouSly enoeu, the
republican party In congress, far from
applauding the mastery leadership Of
the president and felicitating the
country on the amazing achievements
OF the American government, has
meanly requited the considerate
course of the chief magistrate by saw
aGely defaming the commander in
chief of the army and navy and by
assaiiing nearly every public office Of
every branch of the service intimate
~ concerned in winning the war
the government at home
We commend the patriotic men
and women, who sustained the eff
forts OF their government in the cru
clal hours of the war, and contribut-
ed TO the brilliant administrative sue
cess, achieved under the broad Wis
Toned leadership Of the president.
Growth OF Industry.
Financial achievements: A review
OF the record of the democratic par
" during the administration of Wood
row Wilson presents a chapter of
substantial achievements unsurpassed
In the history of the republic. For
ntty years before the advent of this
administration periodical commissions
had impeded the industrial progress
or the American people and caused
fnestimable loss and distress. BY the
enactment of the federal reserve act
the old system, which bred anics. was
replaced by new system, which in
sured confidence. 1t was an indis-
pensable factor in winning the war
and today it is the hope and inspira-
ton OF business. Indeed. one vital
danger against which the American
people should keep constantly on
guard is the commitment of this
system to partisan enemien, who
struggled against it's adoption and
hands of speculative bankers a mono
poly of the currency and credits of
the nation. Already there are well
defined indications of an assault up
on the vital principles of the system
In the event of republican success in
the elections in November.
Finance Of Struggle.
Under democratic leadership the
American people successfully financ-
ed their stupendous part in the
greatest war of all time. The treas
ury wisely insisted during the war
uon meeting an adequate portion of
the war expenditure from current
taxes and the bulk of the balance
from popular loans. and, during the
first full fiscal year after fighting
stopped upon meeting current ex-
Lioih SuilChI ICCcIplS uOL-
withstanding the new and unnecessary
burdens thrown upon the treasury by
the delay, obstruction and extrav-
agance of a republican congress.
After year and a half of fight
Ing in Europe nd despite another
year and a half of republican obstruc-
tfon at home, the credit of the gov
eminent Of the United States stands
unimpaired, the federal reserve note
is the unit of value throughout all
the world and the United States is
the one great country in the world
which maintains a free gold market.
Defend War Taxes.
We condemn the attempt of the
republican party to deprive the
American people of their legitimate
pride in the financing of the war-an
achievement without parallel on the
financial history Of this or any other
country, in this or any other war
And in particular we condemn the
pernicious attempt of the republican
party to create discomfort among the
holders of the bonds of the govern
ment Of the United States and to
drag our public finance and our bank
ing and currency system back into
the arena of party politics.
Tax Revisions: We condemn the
failure of the present congress to
respond to the oft repeated demand
Of the president, of the secretary of
the treasury to revise the existing
tax laws. The continuance in force
in peace times of taxes devised under
pressure Of imperative necessity to
produce a revenue for war purposes
is indefinite and can only result in
lasting injury to the people
We advocate tax reform and a
searching revision of the war rev.
enue acts to fit peace conditions so
that the wealth of the nation may
not be withdrawn from the productive
enterprise and diverted to wasteful or
nonproductive expenditure.
We demand prompt action by the
next congress for a complete survey
of existing taxes and their modifica-
tons and simplifcation with a view
to be sure of great economy and
justice in tax burden and improve
ment in administration.
Economy Is ExtoIled.
Public Economy: Claiming to
have effected great economic in
government expenditure, the repub-
lican party cannot show the reduc-
tion of one dollar in taxation as a
corollary of this false pretense. In
contrast the last democratic congress
enacted legislation reducing taxes
from $4,000 000.0 designed to- be
70 od RI &c nm mn mn For tho fi,-cf