Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-11
The Republican Record.


Republicans are to meet in Lincoln today at
an opportune time The political skein. unusually
snarled few months ago. is being untangled aud
woven into cloth OF definite pattern. There is
record OF specific achievement by republican
officials OF certain response TO the will and need
of the country to which republicans may poin,
with the knowledge that discerning minds must
recognize its worth
In fourteen months OF service the republican
administration at Washington has made progress
in both foreign and domestic fields. At its call
world conference has fixed limitations upon
the military strength Of the leading nations which
puts an end to the mad race for armed suprem-
acy, and which permits a reduction OF tax bur-
dens amounting TO hundreds Off millions OF dol
lars in this country and billions OF dollars in the
world at large. With wise discernment the ad
minstraton has kept clear Of the allurng in
vitation to a general European political confer
cncc. decision whose soundness is increasingly
evident with each added day of activity at Genoa.
The country's foreign trade in agricultural
products, in the face Of democratic predictions
and claims to the contrary, has been almost ex-
actly twice that OF prewar years. The value of
farm and forest products exported in 1921 was
$2,204 100000, as against a fve-year average of
Sl,l420OO0O0 in l9l0-l9l4. Wheat exports in
1921 amounted to 279949,999 bushels, compared
with 2ls,287,0O0 bushels in 1920 and 7S,39O,O 900
bushels, prewar average In 1921 the combined
exports OF wheat and wheat -four Computed in
terms Of whcaO were 355, 900 bushels. This
was the largest quantity OF wheat ever exported
from the United States during any one year and
the first time in the country's history that the
value of wheat and wheat -four exports ex-
ceeded that Of exported cotton. Very evidently.
the League of Nations was not necessary for the
maintenance Of American foreign trade. At the
same time, following the establishment Of the
emergency tariff, imports OF agricultural and for
est products dropped from $3,537 100000 in 1920
to $l.470,0O0.0O0 in 1921.
Confronted with serious crisis in the
financing and marketing of agricultural prod
ucts, the administration revived the War Finance
corporation and extended its power to permit
loans to finance various agricultural activities.
This one act enabled thousands Of farmers to
escape absolute ruin, to re-establish their credit,
to rebuild their herds and to hold their grain for
more advantageous sale.
Congress enacted and the president approved
the Sheppard -Towncr maternity bill in response
to the expressed wish of the women of the
country.
n The necessity for reducing the cost of gov
eminent from the unprecedented height inherited
from the Wilson administration brought definite
response from the national government As
result Of economies effected by Charles G. Dawes
a. budget director and by joint effort Of ex-
ecutives and congress, total OF $l,6000O0,O00
was pruned from the annual expenditures, 1922
over 1921
This same effort toward lifting the tax bur-
den was shown by the republican state admins
tration. Thanks to the operation Of the state
budget, adopted by the legislature of 1919 at the
suggestion Of the governor, special session OF
the legislature was able to cut appropriations
for state government more than 100000, en-
abling reduction Of approximately 50 per cent
in the 1922 state general fund tax levy.
During the three and one-half years of state
administration under republican control the state
has been criss-crossed with improved highways
Changes in the organization of the state govern
inent have been made which have demon
strated greater efficiency. A constitutional con-
vention has been called and revised the funda-
mental law Of the state in manner approved by
n overwhelming vote Of the people. Corpora
ton promoters charged with misuse Of in
vestors' funds have been sent to the penitentiary
and others have been indicted, now awaiting trial
state capitol has been authorized, plans selected
and work started.
A fund OF $2000,OOO was set apart by the leg
islature for the relief Of disabled and needy Ne
braska ex-service men. The federal government
has expended more than $500 900 in rehabilita-
ton and relief work since the Harding admins
traton took hold, and has completely reorganized
the inadequate arrangements made by the
democrats for caring for the soldiers.
This is a partial account of the major items
in the record Of accomplishment with which the
republicans of Nebraska 60 into the 1922 cam
paign 1t is record Of past events but it is
/ important, as it indicates the desire for good
government and the capacity for administration
upon which the people will wish to depend in the
coming still critical years.
International Business.
Oil appears to Be troubling the waters al
Genoa, with the oft-deuied and affirmed story o.