Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-23
ADDRESS OF; DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN FEATURES
BIC FIELD DAY At WATERv|LLE

cratic membership of Congress and
OF that portion of the Republican
rank and file which has no voice
IN shaping the course of legislative
affairs, but whose worst sin is that
they blindly follow a vicious and in
competent leadership, it would be
impossible for Secretary Weeks and
Republican newspapers to find Ian
guage sufficiently expressive to char
acterize the present Congress in &C
curate terms.
Let me repeat, why should the
American people elect another Re-
publican Congress next November?
Ihey have been electing Republican
Congresses since November, 1915,
and with most disappointing and
disastrous results. During the en-
tire period that has since elapsed,
Republican leaders have done little
apart from making profuse promises
and Boosting of Republican master
minds" These leaders prior to the
election vaguely and mysteriously
limited that these so-called best
minds" were uper-statesmen. who
would be able readily to bring about
all necessary or desirable readjust-
ments of our economic and social
affairs, both domestic and interna-
tional, and SO Immediately promote
the material. economic and moral
welfare of all the people. The coun-
try no longer hears of these best
minds" or super-statesmen, but the
people do hear of super-lo bbyists
who have displaced the super
statesmen, and. clothed in all the
habiliments of invisible govern
ment." are industriously conducting
the affairs of the government at
Washington.
Since November, 1918, all the Re-
publican master minds" have had
no other task than that of formu-
latng policies for the relief of the
American people. 1t is therefore
most amazing that after this full
opportunity of three and one-half
years, the Republican national lead
ership in control of the government
has not only bitterly disappointed
the expectations of every class of
persons and Of business by its fail
ure to make the government func-
ton in any important respect, but
by its failure thus far to devise and
adopt any broad. definite policies,
either domestic or foreign.
=. ne present Republican national
administration. although one-third
of its term has already elapsed, has
no ineligible, practical or sane
policy with respect to internal tax
adjustment and reduction: general
tariff revision except a Chinese wall
and commercial isolation: a perma-
ncnt workable immigration law:
transportation; restoration of sound,
reciprocal foreign markets for pro-
ducers of American surpluses; mer-
chant Inarine: settlement of differ
ences between capital and labor;
peace full adjustment of fair relations
between capital and labor; domestic
and international economic Condi-
tons vital to the welfare of the
farmer the laborer, and the bust
ness man: our foreign relations gem
orally; a workable foreign debt re-
funding plan; the Mexican problem ::
prosecution of criminal war and
Other profiteers and suppression of
offering: an association of ma
tions; the uncollected amount due
for expenses Of our army on the
Rhine aSgregating $241, zoo, 900 90:
enforcement of Jones Shipping Law,
after threatening to impeach Will
son Tor his refusal to do so; the set
Element OF claims against Germany
a. owing out of the war: the dispo-
sition of enemy property seized dur
ing tie war: reduction of high cost
of living: restoration OF sound. sta
bic prosperity in lieu Of the Repub-
lican Industrial panic of 1921 and
1929.
These are only some OF the big
questions, conditions and problems
with respect to which the Republi-
can national administration is, in
most instances, without the vestige
of policy or program to this day.
The administrations has appeared to
make an effort feebly to deal with
a few of the problems just enumer-
ated. but with wholly partial and
inefficient results.
Why should the American farmer
laborer and honest business man.
with the awful experiences of the
Republican industrial panic of 1921
and 1922. allow the same crowd of
Republican politicians. who fooled
them during the campaign of 1920
by innumera bic promises of good
business conditions, to fool them a
second time in 1922 by new promises
made in the same bad faith? Why
should this class of voters now be
lists Of false excuses. absurd expla-
nations, and attempted alibis. such
as these same Republican politicians
are planning TO offer during this
year as the only means of securing
votes at the ballot box?
Why. In other words. should any
employer continue in his service an
employee who has proven utterly
incompetent, inscriptions. unreli-
able and unsuited to render efficient
service?
Notwithstanding the fact that dur
ing 1919 and 1920. while the Democrat
ic administration was urging the adop-
ton of a great reconstruction program
calculated to avoid panics and continue
the prosperity Of the people. and was
also struggling to effect the wisest
possible settlement Of most vital and
delicate international problems. the
same Republican leadership now in
control OF the government. by speeches.