The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-28

were opened up to commerce and de- |
velopment. Dollar diplomacy was de-
stroyed. A corrupt lobby was driven
from the national capitol. An effect
i've Seaman's Act was adopted. The
federal trade commission was created.
Child labor legislation was enacted
The parcel post and the rural free de-
livery were developed. A good roads
bill and a rural credits act were pass
ed. A secretary of labor was given
seat in the cabinet Of the president.
Eight hour laws were adopted. The
Clayton amendment to the Sherman
Antitrust Act was passed, freeing
American labor and taking 1t from
the category Of commodities. The
Smith-Lever bill for the Improvement
of agricultural conditions was enact
ed. A Corrupt Practice Act was
adopted. A well considered Ware
house Act was passed. Federal en-
ployment bureaus were created. Farm
loan banks, postal savings banks and
tablished.
These enactments, and many other
provisions of remedial character, hac
q cleansing and quickening effect
upon the economic life Of our coun-
| try. The farmer was freed from the
deadening effects OF usurious financial
control. Labor was given its Magma
Charta of liberty Business and fl
nance were released from the thraldom
of uncertainty and hazard. The eco
nomic life of America was refreshed
by the vitalidng breath Of economic
freedom.
This extraordinary narration sounds
like a platform Of promises. The
sober fact is that ii is an inadequate
recital Of actual performance. 1t con-
stitutes democracys response to the
demands of social justice. 1t is our
answer to the antquated slander that
the democratic party is unable to un-
derstand the great affairs Of the
country.
The Federal Reserve System
If the democratic party had accom-
plished nothing more than the pass
age Of the Federal Reserve Act, 1t
would be entitled to the enduring
gratitude of the nation. This act
| SuDDleu lllt COuUlIy WIN lh NAe'~'e'S
currency controlled by the American
people, Panics-the recurring phe-
nomena of disaster with the repubn-
can party could neither control nor
expain-are now but a memory. IN
der the republican system there was
an average of one bank failure every
q days for 4 period Of nearly 40
years. After the passage OF the red
eral reserve system, there were, in
1915. four bank failures in 1916 and
1917. three bank failures; in 1913,
one bank failure; and in 1913, no
bank failures at all. The federal re-
serve system, passed over the oppo-
sition of the leaders Of the republican
party, enabled America to Withstand
the strain of war without stock or
! panic and ultimately made our coun-
try the greatest creditor nation OF the
world.
Achievements i'm War
And then the great war came on.
Ultimately, by the logical steps Of
necessity, our peace-loving nation was
drawn into the conflict The neces-
sary war legislation was quickly sup
piled.
A war finance corporation was Gre
ated War risk insurance was pro
vided. Shipbuilding laws re-established
Emerica's supremacy upon the seas.
The office of alien property custodian
was created A war industries board
was established. A war trade board
was created. Food and fuel regula-
.ions were formulated. Vast loans
were successfully foated. Vocational
, training was provided. A national
council of defense was created. In
, dustry was successfully modified
Almost over night, the factories
Of the nation were made part of the
{ war machine, and the miraculous re-
, vival of the shipping industry filled
, the ocean with our transports.
, Our fleet laid the North Sea mine
t barrage. We sent fighting craft tc
every sea and brought new courage
and inventive genius to the crucial
fight against the U-boat.
( In transporting our troops tt
France, we Aver lost man in a
, ship conveyed by the American navy
One of the first decisions was be
5 tween the volunteer system" and the
y sclective draft. Many patriotic citi
zens strongly deprecated conscriptior
and dreaded its possibilities The ad
' ministration, however, placed its in
fluence behind the measure, secured
it's passage, and made possible the
, winning of the war.
: It proved a democratic system as
! suring equal service, equal danger
e and equal opportunity. At one stroke
4 of the pen, bounty jumping, and the
r hired substitutes that had gathered
s he management of the Civil War were
G made possible. The selection Of mef
! TO go to the front was placed moi
D merely in the hands of the civil au
4 thorites, but actually in the hands
s of the friends and neighbors Of the
< men eligible for service. No funda
/ mental law was ever administered with
t such scrupulous honor. Not one breatf
h Of scandal touched this legislation
Z and so cheerfully was it accepted
e that today, the term draft dodger'
e is an epithet Of reproach IN any com
munty.
Partisanship was put aside in th'
i selection of General Pershing as lead
o er Of our forces and no military com
T mander in history was ever given
e freer hand or more unflagging sup
e port. The policy of selecting OH
ccrs through training camps avoided
e the use Of political favorites ant
n guaranteed competent leadership TO
f the youth of the land. Ten milliol
e men were registered within thre
e months from the declaration of wa
Il and 90 camn cities, complete in every