Evening star., 1924-08-12

Is to the farmer that the railroads
should be adequately paid for the
service that they render.
Prcnises Tax geductisn-
Believing that no people are truly
free who are unjustly taxed, we
promise to the people OF America
not only revision and reform. but a
further reduction In the taxes that
weigh them down and sap the vigor
of their productive energy. The ex-
orbitant rates and discriminatory
provisions OF the present tariff law
must be wiped out, ard In their place
must be written, with fairness to-
all and favors to none. a statute des-
ignated primarily to raise revenue
for the support OF the Government
and framed on a truly competitive
basis. We have no hostile design
toward any legitimate Industry; we
purpose no action that would tear
down or destroy. But we are re-
solved that the laying and collecting
of taxes shall remain a public and
not private business, and that
law behind which to hide itself. The
rates of the income tax should be
further lowered. Unnecessary taxa
tion is unjust taxation, no matter on
whom the burden falls. I am ready
to agree that there is no right in
government to tax any man beyond
Its needs solely because he Is rich;
and yet stoutly hold that every die
tate of reason and morality supports
the rule that those who derive from
the common effort of society a great
er share of it's earnings than their
fellows must contribute to the sup
port of the state a proportionately
larger share of that which they have
received. Nor will we overlook the
sound distinction which exists in
principle between those incomes
gathered without effort from invest
ed capital and those which are the
product of exertion day by day.
Economy Held As Requisite.
And with reduction, indeed as
condition precedent to it, there must
be economy In every part Of the gov
ernmental establishment / shall il
elected welcome the opportunity to
support and strengthen the begin
nings which have been made in the
direction of a national budget and to
cooperate with Congress to that
end. We must have. in addition, an
economy which consists not merely
in securing dollars worth for
every dollar spent, but that far less
popular form of economy which imi-
tates the prudent householder in do
ing without the things one wishes
but cannot at the time afford Econ
omy, however, begins at the wrong
end when it attacks the pay of Gov
eminent employees, who are Justly en-
titled to pay equal to that they would
receive from private employers for
similar work. Every business execu-
tive knows that underpaid service
is the dearest Of all.
Will Enforce Dry Law.
ITO the enforcement of the law, and
all the law, we stand definitely
pledged. We shall enforce it as fear
lessly against wealth that endeayors
to restrain trade and create monopoly,
as against poverty that counterfieits
the currency: as vigorously against
ambition which seeks to climb to of
flee through the corrupt use of money
as against the lesser greed that robs
the mails. For no reason that is ap-
parent to me the question has been
ask ed. as perhaps 1t will continue to
be asked until 1T has been. definitely
answered, what views I hold con-
cernfng the enforcement of the eight
eenth amendment and the statutes
passed to put It into effect Why the
question; Is II not the law? 1 would
hold In contempt any public of'icial
who took with uplifted hand an oath
to support the Constitution Of the
United States. making at the same
time a mental reservation whereby
a single word OF that great document
Is excluded from his vow. An ad-
Sfaf too 81 ,
to choose what statutes he will or
viii not enforce than is a citizen to
choose what laws he will or will not
obey. AS we'll might he ask to strike
from the Ten Commandments those
he was not inclined to keep. Obedi-
ence to the law Is the first duty Of
every good citizen, whether he be rich
or whether he be poor: enforcement
OF the law against every violator, rich
or poor, is the solemn obligation of
every ofilcial.
Pleads for Arms Cat.
But all that we do will be undone !;
all that we build will be torn down;
all that We hope for will be denied.
unless in conjunction with the rest OF
mankind we can lift the burden OF
vast armaments which now weighs
upon the world and silence the re.
curing threat of war. This We shall
not do by pious wishes or fervid rhet-
oric. We will not contribute to it as
a nation simply by offering to others,
no more concerned than ourselves.
our unsolicited advice. Providence
does not give the gifts OF peace to
those who will not labor to achieve
them. In the name of the Democratic
party, therefore, I promise to the
country that no enterprise sincerely
directed to this end will lack our ap-
provAl and corporation.
I'VE favor the world court in sin
cerity and not merely for campaign
purposes or as an avenue of escape
from the consideration of larger
questions. We believe it real ad-
vance toward the peaceful settlement
OF International disputes; an advance
from which America cannot turn
away without proving herself false
to the teaching of century. we
wish to see America as a nation play
her part in that reconstruction or
the economic life OF Europe which
has proven itself 50 indispensable to
our own well-being and prosperity.
Ready for Array Pariey.
I'VE are ready for any conference
on disarmament, provided it Is SO gen
eral in it's membership and SO wide
in its scope as to be able TO oeai
broadly with SO broad theme. We
do not ard we cannot accept the
dictum unauthorized by any express
sion OF popular will that the League
of Nations IL q closed incident so far
NJ we are concerned. We deny the
right of any man to thus shut the
rates Of the future against US ana 70
write the fatal word Never across
the face OF our foreign poticy:
MY own beliefs on THIS paIueu.a.
nvcveed and are. I believe. SO wen