The Washington times., 1920-08-07

follows:
Chairman. Robinson and members
message which you bring from the
great conference OF progressive
thought assembled under the formal
auspices OF the Democratic party In
spires within me q pride and an ap-
probation which i cannot voice. Al
the same time / am mindful OF the
responsibility which this function
now officially places upon me. As 1
measure my own limitations the task
ahead of us should be Approached with
more than q feeling of dinidence II
I were not strengthened and reas-
sured by the faith that one has only
TO practice true fidelity to conscience
II 10 not the difficult thing to know
what we ought TO do; the sense of
right and wrong has been given with
divine equality. The mistakes Of his
terry are the result OF weakness in the
faee of tempting interests I thank
God. therefore, that / take up the
standard of Democracy a free man.
unfettered by promises and happy In
the consciousness of untrammeled op-
portuptty to render q service In the
name of government that will hold
for II the confidence which It de-
serves.
We are in q time which calls for
and straight acting. This Is no time
for wobbling. Never in all our his
tory has more been done for govern
ment. Never was sacrifice more sub
lime. The most precious things OF
heart and home were given up In a
spirit which guarantees the perpetu-
ity OF our institutions-if the faith
is kept with those who served and
suffered.
The altar of our republic Is drench-
ed in blood and tears, and he who
turns away from the tragedies and
OBLIGATIONS of the war, not consecrat-
ed to a sense Of honor and of duty
which resists every base suggestion
of personal or political expediency. Is
unworthy of the esteem Of his country
men.
LAUDs DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
The men and women who by ex-
pressed policy at the San Francisco
convention charted our course in the
open seas of the future sensed the
spirit of the hour and phrased 1t
with clarity and courage. 1t Is not
necessary to read and reread the
Democratic platform to know It's
meaning. 1t is a document clear In
its analysis of conditions and plain
in the pledge of service made to the
public. 1t. carries honesty Of word
and intent. Proud of the leadership
and achievement of the party in war.
Democracy faces unafraid the prob
lens Of peace. Indeed, its pronounce
ment has but to be read along with
the platform framed by Republican
leaders in order that both spirit and
purpose as they dominate the oppos-
ing organization may be contrasted
On the one hand we see pride ex-
Sn a
promise of service easily understood.
On the other, captious. unhappy spirit
and the treatment Of subjects vital
to the present and the future In
terms that have completely confused
the public mind. 1t was clear that
tho Senatorial oligarchy had been
given its own way in the selection Of
the Presidential candidate, but 1t Is
surprising that 1t was able to fasten
haf1 and bitterness and the vacil-
lating policy that possesses it
SENATE CABAL SCORED.
In the midst of war the present
Senatorial cabal, led by Senators
Lodge, Penrose. and Smoot was
formed. Superficial evidence Of 10y
atty to tho President was deliberate
in order that the great rank and file
of their party, faithful and patriotic
TO the very core. might not be Of
Tended But underneath this mislead-
ing exterior, conspirators planned and
plotted, with bigoted zeal. With vic
tory to our arms they delayed and OBJ
structed the works of peace. II Deem
ed useful to the work in hand no arti-
flee for interfering with our constitu-
tional peace-making authority was re-
1ected. Before the country knew, yea
before these men themselves knew the
details of the composite plan. formed
at the peace table, they declared their
opposition to ii. Before the treaty
was submitted to the Senate In the
manner the Constitution provides,
they violated every custom and every
consideration OF decency by present.
ing q copy OF the document, procured
unblushingly from enemy hands, and
passed 1t into the printed record OF
Senatorial proceedings. From that
hour dated the enterprise of throwing
the whole subject into a technical dis
cussion, in order that the public might
be confused. The plan has never
changed in it's objectiv but the meth
cd has At the outset there was the
carefud insistence that there was no
desire to interfere with the principle
evolved and formalized at Versailles
Later, IL was the form and not the
substance that professedfy inspired
attack. But pretense was futile when
proposals later came forth that clear
Iy emasculated the basic principle of
the whole peace plan. 1t is not neces-
sary to recall the details of the con-
troversy in the Senate. Senator Lodge
finally crystallized his ideas into what
were known as the Lodge reserva-
tions. and when Congress adjourned
these reservations held the support of
the so-called regular Republican lead
ers.
POLITICAL EXPENSE DROPS.
From that time the processes have
been interesting. Political expedi-
ency in it's truest sense dwarfed
avery consideration either of tho
public interest or OF the mainte-
nance OF the honor Of a great POLITICAL
party. The exclusive question was
how to avoid a rupture In the Re-
publican organization. The country
received with interest, to say the
least the announcement from Chi
cago, where the national convention