Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-28
WHEN COOLIDGE TALKS
A REAL AMERICAN SPEAKS
His Address Of Acceptance Pro.
claims the Doctrine OF self.Re.
spectins indivldualIsm as
Opposed to Socialism

Oppcsco TO socialism
GOVERNOR COOL1DGE'S speech
~ accepting the Republican nomina
tion for the vice presidency was inspired
by the essential spirit of Amcricansm.
At time when quack rcformers arc
prescribing nostrums for the cure Of
political and economic ills. this sound
thinking New Englander reminded us
that il thrift and industry arc taught
around the hcarthstopc. If the example
of self sacrifice oft appears. if honor
and high ideals abide there and If the
building of fortune be subordinate to
the building of character. America will
live in security. rejoicing in an abun
dant prosperity, with good government
at home and in peace abroad
This is the doctrine Of self respecting
individualiSm.
1t places the responsibility for what
ever ills may trouble US. not on tho
government. which is but the agent of
tho Individuals but on the people them
selves.
The euro lies in fuller understands
ing of the duty Of the citizen rather
than in revolution Of any kind.
lie is aware that there are rcvolu-
tioniStS plotting for the overthrow of
our institutions; not many. it is true,
but active and persistent. They are
fompnting discord. aggravating indus
trial strife and doing their best to stitie
production in order that a condition
may be created which will be favorable
to their seizure Of power for themselves.
He perrcivrS tho Importance of com
batting this propaganda by p"rSuading
the peonlc that "thCSC ScditiOuS efforts
are not for their welfare but for their
complete economic and political de-
struction." Yet he protests against the
abuse of power by the government in
dealing with the aSitator>. a protest
which has been made many times by
those who perceived that the course of
the Department of Justice in Washing
ton has too often been such as to fan
tho flames which it was trying to cx-
tinguish.
Still further evidence Of the sound
ness Of Governor Coolidgc's thinking is
found in his declaration that the great
est need of the nation at the present
time is to be rescued from the reactions
of war and to have the control of their
government and of their property re-
stored to the people.
The government was surrendered to
one man during the war. 1t was done
willingly because there could be no di-
vision of authority if the war was to
be conducted successfully.
We not only surrendered the govern
mcnt to one man. but we also Surrcn-
dcrpd our property to the government.
Heavy takes wrrc levied and enormous
sums were borrowed from the people.
The war taxes are continued and the
war movers Of the President have not
been restored to the Congress which
delegated them. although the war has
been ended for eighteen months. We
arr still living under war conditions.
for the President vetoed bills which the
Republican Congress passed to put an
end TO the executive control OF matters
not properly within government control
at all in time of peace.
Tho United States trcaSurcr'S report
Of the revenues Of the government dur
ing the fiscal year which ended on juno
50 shows that the inrom" and excess
nrofts taxes. levied for war purposes,
have yielded one and a quarter billions
moro than in either Of the years during
which we were at actual war and that
the pconlc have hoon taxed more heavily
than at any other period of our his
tory.
Governor Coolidge would have these
taxes lowered and he would use the
tariff more intclIigcntly for producing
revenue, The income and excess protltS
taxes are a burden on production. They
tend to check industry at time when
a Deprecated dollar and high prices are
making greater production necessary.
The tariff IS tax on consumption
II does not check domestic production,
bur rather fosters il.
Without increased production the
rri.oS cannot very we'll come down, even
if there i dcfation Of the currency.
Mr.. Coolidge insists on the govern
nont'> coming to the relief of industry
50 far a, possible. in order that inti-
vtdla initiativo may rcaSSert itself IN
checked by governmental interference"
md thus restore the business of the
country to a sound basis.
Governor Coolidge is undoubtedly in
favor of the League Of Nations. but in
view Of the attitude Of Mr.. Harding he
.nrmg In regard it as cxpPdicnt to speak
,f,rrcotIy on the subject. He defends
tho Senate for opposing the !"agu"
covenant in its original form, which
means that he favors the Lodge reSeT.
vations.
But he insists with truth that the
PARTY and It's representatives IN IN"
Senate arc on record as favoring the
Of agreement among nations
10 preserve the peace. and that they
nlcdgn themselves ITO the making Of
such an agreement preserving Amrrl
can indepondcncc and rights a. will
meet every duty America owes to hu-
manjty." This pledge he insists IS in
elusive and not exclusive; that Is, II
docs not exclude the LNagu" nj Ma
tions with proper reservations.
This is about as far as the second
man on the ticket can 80 until the
candidate at the head Of the ticket takes
a more advanced position. But it indi-
ratos that Governor Coolidge j. a man
,vho does his own thinking and j. de.
tcrmined TO exercise his right Il, one Of
tho leaders OF the party to face in the
direction in which he thinks the party
should go.
The speech is characteristic Of the .