Republican farmer., 1920-05-07

make orogrss. Is this too general an assertion? Let me be little more particular.
 Lodge Pessinaistic.
 Was it not Senator Lodge who proclaimed in the Senate that the Federal Reserve System was fore doomed to failure? Was it not Sena- tor Root who said that the Federal Reserve System would ruin the hnan- cial structure of America? Was IL not Senator Penrose who took the same position? Did not all these gentlemen oppose the passage Of the Shipping Bill, when it was urged by war began? Was it not this same group of leaders who were respon- sfble for the opposition to the 1n- come Tax, the Farm Loan system and the Agricultural and Labor Bhis These are the same bad advisers who, hopeful that America has 1or- gotten their bad advice, are no" rendering their suggestions as to the future
 sIt is to this group of reactlonary leaders that the present Senasois from the State of Connecticut un- fortunately belong. I shall not pause to analyze the address delivered oS Senator Brandegee while presiding as Temporary Chairman over the ue Alterations of the Republican Con- yention. recently held at New Ha- ven. I cannot believe that the dls- tinguished Senator speaks either Tor the people of this State or even for the Republicans of this State A great part of his address is con fined to an explanation of his own record in opposing Child Labor leg is1ation and Woman Suffrage
 ''I doubt whether his explanations possess any great element of pub lie interest, but the mere fact that he finds it necessary to make such explanations discloses the depIorable condition characteristic of Republican leadership in this State.
 'tHe complains of the cost of the present war, seeks to explain his un- alterab1e opposition to the League of Nations and intimates that if the Re pubHcanS are triumphant in the next election they will proceed to "clean up'' the situation in Mexico. His speech throughout indicates the wide differences of opinion which prevail in the Republican Party nor can his program prove attractive to the peo- pie of this State. I believe that the people of Connecticut have learned something from the great war, and that they would rather take measures to prevent a. repetition of war than to engage in another conflict.
 Complains of Reconstruction.
 ''The Senator complains bitterly that the tasks of reconstruction have not been taken up, apparently un- mindful of the fact that the Republi- can Party carried the elections ot 1918, and has been in power ever since. If the tasks of reconstruc- tion have not been taken up, they alone are to blame. No amount ot rhetoric will shift the responsib bility for their failure to act. Of course the Senator is not content to close his speech without the usual attack upon the President of the United States. If he has omitted any politi- cal crime or blunder from the list o1 accusations it has escaped my notice
 'The whole address is indicative o1 the narrow and sordid spirit which controls the Republican Party to- day. It is a curious compound o1 ultra tism, partisanship, pro
 vincialisn, antipathy to the Presi dent and lust for power. It possesse no spiritual signifiance. There i nothing to lift it above the materia things of life. It contains no thought no purpose which can give impuis, or thrill to those who love liberty | and hope to make the world a safe and happier place for the averag,
 man.
 Americans Paying.
 The American people have pal, l and are still paying staggering pen alty for the election of a Republfca1 l House and Senate in November 1918 Since that time, all the processes o government have been impaired ant | the work of reconstruction has beel | delayed. The development and exten 1 sion of American business has beel prevented and the peace of the wor4, ] has been postponed. Rude and un 1 skllful hands have been thrust reck 1 lessly amidst the interlacing strand 1 of human destiny. The oppositio. has conducted a campaign of base | less criticism and islander of tn 1 President.
 'fIts leadership has attempted t persuade our country into a repudia l ton of international obligations(an | an abandonment of our Allies i | whose company only a few month l ago, we were fighting to save tn l civilization of the world. It is nc
 necessary to pause to discuss the de
 tails of the Treaty of Peace and tn 1 League of Nations. The crucial tes
 of those who discuss the League c 1 Nations consists in the attitude wfric 1 they disclose. Is the attitude sym
 pathetic and helpful, or is it par
 tisan and critical? Is the purpos | constructive or destructive? Is a 1 honest attempt being made, to for
 ward this great project, or is it tn ! purpose to hamper those who ar engaged in the work so that tn l whole plan may fall into confusio and become ineffective? Wanted Partisan Issue.
 Senator Lodge set forth a yea l ago to make the Treaty of Peace partisan issue He has never de 1 viated from that course. While th
 Peace Conference was in session, h
 exerted all his efforts to create dis l senSfon between the President an l the represeu tatives of the Allied go1
 ernments Political animosity fo lowed the President to the peac table. Senatorial pronounciamentC
 of a, censorious character were issue from time to time. A round robin
 was widely circulated. Every devit