The Donaldsonville chief., 1922-03-11
REPUBLICAN RULE FAILURE.
Democratic Chairman Issues State
ment Showing Shortcomings.

Cordell Hull, chairman Of the Dem
ocratic national committee issued
statement a few days ago, IN when
he called attention to "the patent
failure of the chief Republican poll
cies and the astonishing breakdown
of the reactionary leadership after
March q, 1921" The statement
says:
"Two or three Republican leaders
are trying to picture to the country
a creditable record for the Harding
administration thus far.
''In order to measure the heights
to which a person OF political party
rises in any endeavor, there must
first be established base line.
Republican accomplishments must
inevitably be weighed and their mer-
it's determind in the right Of Repub-
lican prediction promises, and also
in connection with the unusual op-
portunities for greater service than
in normal times when the opportuni-
ty and the need for service are only
ordinary.
"The true test of Republican sue
cess or failure in the past twelve
months is the question of whether
the party leaders were able to vlsua-
lie the physical facts showing the
true position of America, political
and economic under postwar condl-
tions; their true relationship to the
world situation, and to conceive and
apply such sound economic and other
policies as would safeguard our
economic and other essential in
| terests and meet our responsibilities
| in the same connection, and thereby
| enable America to steer such wise
and correct course as would most re-
dound to the safety and prosperity
Of herself and the world.
'The mere pointing to lnconse-
quential budgetry paper savings at
the treasury or to the usual public
highway appropriations or to the
| passage of many bridge and dam
bills, or to the taking of only minor
and partial step in dealing with
combined domestic and world peace
and economic conditions by re-
stricted disarmament conference
these accomplishments, when COM
pared with the really great and fun
| damental problems to be solved and
the corresponding duties and oppor-
tunities to do SO and to the lasting
good Of the people here and else
where, dwindle into comparative in
significance. A political party that
has thus signally failed on great
occasion is estopped from offering an
excuse or even plea of mitigation.
"Republican leaders were supposed
to have a grasp of postwar condi-
tions and problems, and a program
of sound remedies when they made
their promises in 1920. If they
did not have such program matur-
ed, or, if, having it, they maneuvered
themselves into such an impossible
position, by antagonizing most all
the domestic and foreign policies of
the party then in power, for the pur-
pose of getting control of the gov
ernment, with the result that they
could not later execute any intelligi-
BILE program, their condition of fail
ure as party is all the more glaring.
''In the light of the true facts,
charge that the Republican leader
ship from 1913 to 1921 wholly failed
to grasp world facts and conditions
and Americas true relation to them.
Instead of so doing, these leaders
early in 1919 proclaimed the policy
of every nation for itself and of
| commercial isolation for ourselves.
At this very time the need was the
further establishment of peace condi-
tions everywhere by the close moral
and economic cooperation of all ma
tions, especially the stronger ones.
''The second step was that which
is even still demanded, that all gov
ernments should speedily balance
| their budgets, establish sound cur
rency systems, maintain trade rela-
tions and proceed with the work Of
catching up with production. Re-
publican opposition at every stage
was a chief factor in deadlocking our
own government from 1918 to 1921
and in keeping Europe at a standstill
at the same time, with the result
that no concerted efforts to avoid or
to lessen the violent panic conditions
that came largely as result were
made by the various nations"