Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-29
Permanent Chairman OF The
Democratic Convention At
tacks Republican Plat
form; Says 1t Is Full OF
Antiquities And lnsin-
cerities.

San Francisco. CAL. June 29.-Sen-
ator Robinson of Arkansas, perma-
nent chairman Of the Democratic
national convention, in his speech
today assailed the Republican party
for its Chicago platform, for the dis
closures of large sums of money \on
the pre-convention contests and par
t;cularly attacked the Republican
senators who. fought the ratification
of the peace treaty with the League
of Nations covenant.
Tested by every standard which
voters usually apply" said he, 1.-The
Democratic party is entitled to VIC
tory in the coming campaign. Com
parison of the Democratic and Re-
publican records, contrasts of poll
tical policies and of party leadership
justifies the belief that the Repub-
lican party will be, driven from pow
er in both branches of congress and
that complete control of the govern
ment will be restored TO the Demo-
cratic party in the November cleo
tions. because that party has earned
the public confidence.
The Republican platform adopted
at Chicago. is an amazing jumble
of antiquities, Inconsistencies.
dies and SANDERS 1t is deliberately
unfair in charging upon the Demo-
cratic administration all responsible
ity for military unpreparedness Ev-
eryone knows that the Republican
party controlled the government for
g. long period prior to the inaugura-
tion of President Wilson. When the
March 4, 1918. both the army and
the navy were far below the au-
thorized number. If criticism of the
pre-war national policy as to mill
tary preparedness is justified the
cenSure must fall upon the Republic
can party.
Taxation Plank Insincere.
1.-THE plank in the Republican plat
form respecting taxation is manifest
ly insincere. They promised no sub
stantial relief from the exacting tax
burdens necessarily imposed during
The war. There are many vexatious
taxes that should be repealed now
that the war rs over. The big joker
in that amazing document is the
plank in the Republican platform
concerning profiteers. .
We condemn the sSDemocratic ad-
ministration for fasure to- impair
,awk ,,sxtx eaae. ..ss...s el,ean !s1s.
S"Who will be deceived by this abb
surd pretense. The Republican con-
gress enacted mo anti profiteering
laws. The amendments to the food
control act were suggested by the
president and supported by the DEM
ocrats in congress. The president
recommended four additional meas
ures to prevent and penalize prof
i.cers.
''All those measures were pigeon
holed. nothing was proposed by the
Republicans in place Of them Is
the Democratic administration to be
denounced for failing TO enforce
measures which the Republicans re-
fused to pass?
Significant Omission.
perhaps the most significant omis-
sion from the Republican platform
lis in respect to the excessive use of
money in federal elections. In spite
of the general Indignation aroused
by the expenditure of more than one
million and one-half dollars in be-
half of General Wood and almost a
million dollars in behalf Of Governor
,Lowden and the nomination of a dark
horse as a result no mention Of the
subject is found in the Chicago plat
form. The November elections.
however, will demonstrate the fact
that the presidency cannot be auc-
toned.
1T has been said that partisanship
ceases at the waters edge. The po-
litical record of the last few months
bellies this declaration. The Repub-
lican party in the senate and in its
recent convention presents to the
world the huniliating spectacle OF
discordant and conflicting factions
seeking to discredit the president in
his efforts to maintain the respect
and confidence of our allles.
Mexican Plank Ambiguous.
''The Chicago platform declared
that the policy Of the Wilson admin
istration towards Mexico is response
BILE for the loss of lives and property
resulting to American citizens in
Mexico. Nevertheless the provisions
of that platform regarding Mexico
are ambiguous and indefinite. Does
the plank in the Republican plat
form on Mexico mean that if the
property or lives of American citizens
in Mexico are hereafter endangered
this government will make war on
Why was the convention not frank
enough to announce a definite pol
icy? Why. was it's meaning conceal
ed in a multiplicity of ambiguous
words?
"The president is condemned for
asking authority Of congress to exer-
else a mandate for Armenia. 1t
has never been contemplated by any
one that the United States should
assume that responsibility without
first prescribing the terms and
conditions of the mandate. 1t would
be diflcult for the United States to
safeguard it's responsibilities as to
proceed with the united support Of
France, England. Italy and Japan,
as we'll as every other member of the
+, league, The mandate may readily
be made self sustaining. Why then
should the presidents request be
treated as audacious? The Republi-
can party would deny encouragement
or assistance to Armenia and would
force protectorate on Mexico. They
are deaf to the appeal of the op-
pressed but as always they are SEN
sitive TO the call of wealth. They
are unwilling to incur expense or
danger to protect millions Of God
fearing Christians from massacre.
but they are anxious to invade for
eign land for the protection of prop
erty rights.
Republicans We're for League.
"Great Republican leaders, includ-
4 ing Mr.. Lodge and Mr.. Roosevelt in
public addresses prior to the war.
cham pioned the establishment of a
League Of Nations They anticipat-
ed and answered with Irresistible log
&c the very arguments they now ad-
E vance against the league.
.sThe plain fact is that the enemies