, 1922-08-30
Lest We Forget"
BY JOHN t. ADAMS,
Chairman Republican National
Committee

When the Republican administra-
ton took over the executive depart
ments of the government after eight
years OF their administration by
Democracy II found a badly damaged
cry.
There was no coordination among
the departments and bureaus. There
was no economy in the administra-
ton of public affairs. The Demo
cratic president had vetoed a budget
law which woul rave brought to the
administrative agencies of the gov
eminent some system and order in
the operation of the offices and econ
omy in the use OF public funds.
Although two years and a half had
elapsed since the armistice. Secretary
Weeks found more than 500, 000. 900
In old war claims unsettled. Action
upon a large proportion of them had
not even been started by the outgoing
administration. The department of
justice had thousands of old untried
cases on its dockets; over 81. 000. 000,-
900 in claims We're awaiting its action.
The several auditing bureaus Of the
treasury department were from
months to two years behind their
work. Revenue laws were being fla
GRAVITY ~disobeyed and millions of
taxes overdue were being evaded.
The state department was without
morale. policy or standing. At no
time in the 145 years OF the nations
history had the prestige of the United
States in diplomatic circles been at
so or al b as when the Demo
cratic administration went out of
power. In practically every depart.
ment and bureau there were useless
employees. there was lack of office dis
cipline or system, an enormous &C
emulation OF back work and gross
waste OF public funds in needless
expenditures.
The various agencies dealing with
e~x-service men were a reproach to
the nation. condemned by practically
every organization of ex-service men
as well as by tens of thousands of in
dividuals whose treatment by those
agencies had been shameful in most
cases and brutal in many cases.
Although the war had been over for
two years and a half. the Democratic
administration was still making enor.
nous loans to foreign nations. The
democratic administration had loaned
S11. 0oo, 900 900 OF the peoples money
to foreign nations without requiring
either a pledge to repay it or keep
up the interest or even so much as a
written legal evidence OF the indebted.
ness. Moreover. during the closing
weeks OF the Wilson administration
1t was negotiating with foreign coun.
frfa~ F4r nv t,loffst.
OF tho payment of either principal or
Interest OF any Of our foreign loans.
"a postponement that would have in.
evitably resulted in the cancellation
OF these loans and a shifting of the
burden of paying them to the backs
Of the American taxpayer.
Due to tho sudden withdrawal or
restriction OF agricultural credits by
the Democratic administration, h
agricultural and livestock interests of
the country were bordering on bank
ruptcy when the Democratic admins
tration went out Of power. Prices Of
farm products and livestock were
lower than the cost OF production on
The one hand while the most of liv-
Ing vas higher than It had been
at any time since the year, 1916. Over
8 ,000.000 working men were in idle.
ness. The federal rea-ve bank was
still charging seven and one-half per
cent interest. Business was still
throttled by oppressive war taxes.
This was some of the w-sckaee
left by the Democratic administration.
1t was wreckage which had to b,
cleared away before new constructive
work could be done. OF equal import
arce with the obstructive work of
the Republican administration since
N5:t,ch. 1921 has h,cn Its work in
straighteu.,g oIt 'se ungle left oy
eight years 81 imocra.ic rule.
1t has been a titantic task: getting
the governmental machinery in run
ming order gain. bringing work up