The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-28
'Distrust of
Europe Is
.Uppern1ost
Californian Urges Indepen-
dent Action-Against Con
ference-Seeks Bonus
and Tax Cut.
Wants Aid for Farms

BY Associated Press.
Chicago. Nov. Ex-senator Hiram
Johnson. in his first public address
since announcing his candidacy for
the republican nomination for prest
dent. tonight condemned the foreign
policy at Washington which he said
had been attempting to commit Amer.
lea to "undisclosed European adven.
lures" ever since the armistice It is
the first duty of citizens to resist this
policy, he said In an address to ths
Cook County Real Estate board
Senator johnson went on record. not
only advocating the national bonus
and also definite reduction in taxes,
but outlined his ideas Of how these two
things could be accomplished.
lie also advocated a constitutional
amendment that would make child
labor laws and women's minimum
wage laws legal; suggested remedies
for farmers troubles, and then launch.
ed into an attack on the administra-
ton policy toward the European sit.
uation and also against America join
ing the reparations conference.
Il do not protest against an Amer.
lean policy toward Europe" said Sen
ator johnson. II protest against an
American policy which does not know
what it is. and which seeks 10 discover
itself. or to hide itself, by first going
into a conference with Europe.
Would Doom America.
at is humiliating that we cannot
speak our mind. save with the consent
Of other nations. or in conjunction
with them. II an administration does
not like an existing situation abroad.
why not say so? Our position in the
world is such. our financial and poten
tial power so great, that our utter
ances would be Of supreme impor.
tance. Throw it into conference where
there are no morals. where it is in
helpless minority. and il is lost.
1T is undeniably 10 the interest
of every country that all other coun-
tries should be prosperous and that
the world should be at peace. II the
administration at Washington. ont Il
its knowledge Of the diplomatic facts.
Is able TO see in Europe an oppor-
tunity for American action. I ask it
to say precisely and definitely what
that opportunity is and what that ac-
ton should be- Its endeavor has
been merely 10 put US into interna-
tional organizations Of which the ulti-
mate action IS unknown, or. al least.
undeclared.
What venture TO denounce is the
continuous effort TO postpone having
an American policy in favor Of going
into European international organi-
cations where the policy reached is
bound to be not Amriecan but Euro
pean.''
In taking up the bonus and taxa
ton questions. Senator johnson said:
Obliged 10 Pay Bonus.
"The responsible heads Of the domi-
nant political party have for some
years pledged themselves and their
party to the soldiers adjusted COM
pensation act. You may say il is un-
wise. 1t IS emoionally. and normally
impelling and long ago Il was decreed
by those In command Of the govern
ment 10 be just 1t constitutes now
in reality promise. q solemn pledgs
and we must keep faith. But brief
period ago itswas insisted we should
delay. not deny il because the money
was not forthcoming. The passage
of the act. you may assert. TO be fl
nanclally bad. but our pretexts and
delays. our shiftings and evasions are
morally worse. But We can reduce
taxes and we will, I hope. reduce
them"
senator johnson then read figures
computed by the Treasury department
and the American Legion. and said;
III the computations be correct. We
may do our duty by the soldiers TO
whom we were so grateful while they
fought and Of whom some are sc
forgetful now. and still reduce tax
alton.
In round numbers 1s.see 900 ara
paying taxes on incomes under Si0.-
too. Three hundred aud thirty thou
sand pay on incomes exceeding $4,000
BY reducing in the manner that has
been suggested. the taxes OF those
3. coo 0o0 We would reduce the gov
ernment's revenue sl4o, coo .0oo. There
is. according 10 the figures. OF the
secretary Of the treasury. surplus
OF 100000. ooo. Upon the basis ot
every computation. this surplus is suf-
fioient 10 Justify the tax reduction SIN.
mediately TO the 1s,eeo.ooo Of our
people most needing 1t and to pay.
too, the installment required under
the adjusted compensation act. Taxes
must be reduced. We stand Tor tax
reduction that Is Just, and we stand
for the good faith 81 the American
people"
senator Johnson. early IN his al
dress. said that what l say tonight
is in no sense a political platform"
Fer Lower Rates
senator johnson also discussed the
AGRICULTURAL situation. saYing. when
agriculture languishes the nation -
n. Il is obvious that the farmer
has been compelled 70 sell Tor less
than the Gust of production. some
would have the Amerios0- taNpSycr
generally make up to the farmer thai
which Is un1nstly taken fron him.
first by the reilroad companies. and.
secondly. hy the middlemen 4 10
uet wish 10 embark the goNcrnment
ON this Kind ef enterprise. The I'M.
iial s,,p Is tho relief II the farmer Ia
rutR TO rsSs rhr~c celanas onsS