The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-07-02
Extracts From
Key-Note Speech

The speech of Hon. Homer s. Cum
minis, Chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, at the convenlng
of the Democratic National Conven-
ton in San Francisco Monday, is
most masterful effort and will prove
to be a valuable campaign document.
In comparison to it the Republican
keynote speech made by Senator
Lodge at Chicago recently, looks like
"thirty cents. This week The Times
has room only for the following ex-
tracts:
The people will shortly determine
which political instrumentality is best
suited to their purposes, and most
responsive to their needs. They Will
have before them many platforms
and many promises. In what direc-
ton will they turn? There is no bet
ter way Of judging the future than
by the past. We ask, therefore, that
the people turn from the passions and
the preiudices of the day to the con-
sideration of a record as clear as 1t
is enduring.
The Republican party was unsuc-
cessful in the elections Of 1912 be-
cause it had persistently served spe-
cial interests and had lost touch with
the spirit of the time. Those who
controlled its destiny derived their po-
litical inspiration from "the good old
DAYS of Mark Hanna" and neither de-
sired a new day nor were willing to
recognize a new day when it had
dawned. To each pressing problem,
they sought merely to reapply the
processes of antiquity.
There were elements in the Repub-
lican party which were Indifferent of
its mental soth and moral irrespon-
sibility. These influences sought to
gain party control in 1912 and again
in 1916. They renewed the hopeless
struggle at the convention recently
held at Chicago.
Despite these efforts, the leaders
who have manipulated the party
mechanism for more than a genera
ton are still in undisputed control.
The Republican platform, reac=
tionary and provincial, is the very
apotheosis of political expediency
Filled with premeditated ISLANDERS and
vague promises, it will be searched IN
vain for one constructive suggestion
for the reformation of the conditions
which it criticises and deplores. The
oppressed peoples of the earth will
look to it in vain. 1t contains no mes
sage of hope for Ireland; no word Of
mercy for Armenia; and it conceals
a sword for Mexico. 1t is the work Of
men concerned more with material
things than with human rights. 1t
contains no thought, no purpose which
can give impulse or thrill to those
who love liberty and hope to make the
world a safer and happier place for
the average man.
Democratic Party Is Free Party
The Democratic party is an unen-
tangled party-a free party--owing
no allegiance to any class or group
or special interest. We are able to
take up and carry through to success
the great progressive program out
lined in our platform of 1912. During
the months which interviewed between
March 4, 1918, and the outbreak of the
world war we placed upon the statute
books of our country more effective,
constructive and remedial legislation
than the Republican party had placed
there in generation.
The income tax was made perma-
nent part of the revenue-producing
agencies of the country, thereby re-
lieving our law of the reproach of be-
ing unjustly burdensome to the poor.
The extravagancies and iniquities of
the tariff system were removed, and
a bipartisan tariff commission was
established so that future revisions
might be made in the light of accurate
information, scientifically and impair
TALLY obtained. Pan-Americanism
was encouraged, and the bread thus
cast upon the international waters
came back to us many fold. The great
reaches of Alaska were opened up to
commerce and development. Dollar
diplomacy was destroyed. A corrupt
lobby was driven from the national
Capitol. An effective seaman's act
was adopted. The Federal Trade
Commission was created. Child la
Dor legislation was enacted. The par
eel post and the rural free delivery
were developed. A good roads bill
and a rural credits act were passed.
A Secretary of Labor was given a
seat in the Cabinet of the President.
EtBtH-HOuT laws were duoptCus hhc
Clayton amendment to the Sherman
antitrust act was passed, freeing
American labor and taking it from the
category of commodities. The Smith
Lever bill for the improvement Of ag-
ricultural conditions was enacted. A
well-considered warehouse act was
passed. Federal Employment Blu
reaus were created. Farm loan banks,
postal savings banks and the federal
reserve system were established.
These enactments, and many other
provisions of remedial character
had cleansing and quickening effect
upon the economic life of our country
The farmer was freed from the dead
ening effects of usurious financial con-
troll. Labor was given its Magma
Charta of liberty. Business and
finance were released from the thral-
dom of uncertainty and hazard. The
economic life of America was re-
freshed by the vitalizing breath Of
economic freedom.
This extraordinary narration sounds
like platform of promises. The so.
Der fact is that it is an inadequate re-
cital of actual performance. It con-
+