Evening star., 1924-10-05
HONESTY IS HELD
COMMON PROPERTY
Hughes, in First Campaign
Speech, Denies Democrats
Claim to This Virtue.
sy rs Associated Press.

Ohio was formally opened here to-
2!Sht with Secretary Hughes as chief
speaker, his address covering almost
every issue raised thus far by either
Democratic or Independent orators
Whatever may be the subject of
campaign speakers" the Secretary de-
clared. there is really only one issue
IN this campaign and that is: Shall
the administration of Calvin Coolidge
be continued7
The average man, who is not in
terested in the tactics of the cam
paign, says to himself and to his
neighbor-Why should there be
change"
Taking up first the arguments Of
"oC- historic opponents of the Demo
cratic party NJ. Hughes dismissed
s-:aSy what he termed eloquent dis
s32.sss o. r. tG3daa:eata! p-:ne:-
PIES 90 Ac:e-.ca- Government"
Does II Occur to ou- friends TIA.
= tie quest:o. IS o-s % 1.c.e-:car:s...
EoC could rot e-5 n the length and
breadth Of the land. 2 more typical
American than Calvin Coolidge?" he
asked. Calvin Coolidge incarnates
Americanism. There could be no bet
terment in change"
Honesty Common to Both.
1t was equally vain" to seek an
issue in common honesty, Mr.. Hughes
declared.
Fortunately. honesty is common"
he added. ut is common to both
parties. because it is common to
Americans. 1t is not the special
quality of any party.
We detest political corruption and
we demand the punishment of the
guilty. The Republican who soils
his hands in corrupt dealing is as
treacherous to his party as to his
country. Every demand of
justice is being met and every in
terest of the Government is being
safeguarded. No guilty person is
being protected; every guilty person
Will get his just deserts according
TO the law of the land"
The speaker decried, however, "our
opponents swiftly shifting to general
denunciation mingling the innocent
with the guilty in diatribes which
are the last resort of desperate
partsanship"
There are no dividends for honest
men in sweeping denunciations," he
said. This lesson should be taken
to heart by our Democratic friends
1ndiscriminate denunciation might
serve as partisan policy if you
could monopolize it. But while the
Democrats are damning us, they are
in turn damned. While denouncing
the Republican party as the servant
of privilege, they are themselves
denounced as the tools of Wall street,
the supple, experienced instruments
of predatory wealth.
Attacks Upon Character.
1t is the open season for reckless
attacks upon character. The Demo-
Gratis assail the Republicans and the
Third Party pours out it's vials of
wrath and condemnation upon both.
"hen 1t comes to indicting a whole
nation, the Third Party has the best
of it, But we not only have common
honesty in this country; we have a
sense of humor"
From these matters, Mr.. Hughes
said, he would turn to more sub
Stantlal issues. He took up first
the need of economy in government.
citing figures to show since June,
1921. "a reduction in the annual cost
of government of S2,O41, 600. 900" Re-
plying to Democratic arguments
that release from war expenditures
accounted for this situation, Mr..
Hughes said that even on the state
ment OF our opponents there would
be Lett over a billion dollars OF re-
duction in expenditures not to be
accounted for in that way.
How was this done?" he de-
manded. 1t has been done by up-
right. courageous and determined
executives in the face of the great
est difficulties"
Credit to Administration.
Mr.. Hughes insisted that credit
for tax reductions belonged to the
Republican administration because 1t
reduced expenses and made tax re-
duction possible" He denied that
credit was due to those who block
ed more adequate tax REFORM"
Passing on to the tariff, the Secre- |
tary described the present law as a |
highly successful revenue producer,
yielding more than any previous |
tariff adding that at the same time, |
contrary TO the prophecies OF our |
opponents" American foreign trade |
had notably increased.
Questions of particular tariff sched- |
ules were not to be settled in a |
campaign or avoided by having |
Democratic tariff" Mr.. Hughes said. |
THE fundamental question is wheth-
er you are going to adhere to the |
principle of protection" he con-
tinued. We favor protective !
tariff, not to give privilege to a /
class, but to promote the general |
prosperity. The Democratic project |
of rewriting the tariff law means !
uncertainty and confusion"
In taking up the subject of foreign |
affairs, Mr.. Hughes charged that "our !
opponents offer nothing of construc
tive value" although they had criti- |
cized for three and a half years
with much fluent inaccuracy."
Not Partisan Issue.
IT deprecate making a partisan
ISSUE" Mr.. Hughes said, "of foreign
policy, although. of course, this is
unavoidable If there is a real issue,
In the conduct of foreign relations
we are not seeking party advantage.
but to maintain the honor and to
protect the interests of the entire
country. For the sake of these inter- |
ests we should have so far as pos
sible, a continuous foreign policy.
Our strength abroad largely depends
upon our unity at home.
Unfortunately, we became in
yolved in a bitter controversy in con-
nection with the peace settlement
after the Great War. Efforts to pro-
mote peace in which our people have
a profound and abiding interest were, |
as I think, unnecessarily linked with
commitments foreign to our institu- |
tions.
"As a result of this controversy,
the Republican administration had an |
inheritance of difficulties. To sur
mount them, to safeguard the inter- |
ests of our nationals, to keep from |
being embroiled in foreign quarreIs |
and rivalries, to be helpful accord |
ing to the American tradition when |
ever there was opportunity for help !
fulnesS, to promote peaceful adjust |
ments and humanitarian endeavors, |
has been our constant aim. What |
has been accomplished is so we'll |
known throughout the world that