Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-08-15
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
Corruption Made Chief Issue.

IOf the Presidency, maze corruption IN
Government the paramount issue OF the
1924 campaign when in the course Of his
speech of acceptance last Monday night at
Clarksburg. W. Va, he trained his heaviest
guns upon the mal-sdministration Of the
last three years.
This speech. delivered in the presence
Of great throng Of men. women and chill
dren gathered from the far ends Of the
country, laid down in precise terms the
lines Of battle which he will wage against
the party in power. He said. in part, as
follows:
Il charge the Republican party with
corruption in Office. charge it also with
favoritism in legislation. do more. charge
II with that erossest form of favoritism
which gives to him who hath and takes
from him who hath not. To pervert high
Office to personal gain is an offense de-
tested by all honest men; but to use the
power Of legislation purposely to enrich
one man or set OF men at the expense Of
Others is robbery on larger scale though
done under the forms Of law. In the pas
sage Of the Fordney-McCu tariff act 4,
imposing the highest rates and duties in
the tariff history Of the nation. there was
an unblushing return to the evil days Of
rewardine party support and political con-
tributions with legislative favors.
In the language Of one of the advocates
Of that measure: II we take care of the pro-
ducers the consumers can take care Of them
selves. For every dollar that this statute
has drawn into the Treasury of the United
States 1t has diverted five from the pocket
Of the consumer into the pockets Of the
favored few. Although the Republican
platform adopted at Cleveland holds out to
the taxpayer the elusive promise of relief
to those who are daily paying their taxes
through their living expenses. as indeed
they are, ii nowhere offers any promise Of
a reduction in tariff duties. but lauds the
existing bill as the summit of human wis
dom. Is there not something of humor as
well as honesty lacking in those who in
one and the same breath can promise re-
duction Of the cost Of living and praise
statute which raises the price of the elemen-
tai necessaries of life; who can demand, as
they should, the payment of our foreign
debts. but refuse to accept from the debtor
the goods in which alone payment can
be made; who clamor for an American
merchant marine. but deny 1t the cargoes
necessary for its existence
when a reduction in the burden of in
come taxes could no longer be denied, the
country was presented with the Mellon
bill, offered by the administration to the
people as the last word on that subject.
When it met the test Of impartial analysis
here. too. there appeared the motive to favor
the few possessors Of swollen incomes
beyond the many Of moderate means.
Under Democratic initiative and guidance a
bill was passed in its stead. SO changing the
weight and emphasis Of the proposed re-
duction as to give the greater relief to
those whose tax payments pressed upon
their scale Of living. Although the execu-
tive approval Of this bill received was
grudging and reluctant. not even the sub
missive convention at Cleveland dared to
suggest that the Mellon bill be revived and
adopted as substitute.
We assert in our platform that the Re.
publican party believes that national
prosperity must originate with the specia
interests and seep down through the
channels Of trade to the less favored in.
dustries. to the wage earners and small
salaried employees. II has accordinel,
enthroned privilege and nurtured selfish
ness. repeat the words. and | register
the emphatic dissent Of the Democratic
party from that doctrine.
7 charge the Republican party with
corruption in administration, with favorit.
ism to privileged classes in legislation
charge it also with division in council
and impotence in action. No politica
party has the right to hold the reins Of
government unless II can exhibit the
cardinal virtues Of honesty. sincerity and
unity. OF these the last is by no mean.
the least important, No matter how lofty
the ideals or how pure the purposes oil
any party. the country is not served unless
II possesses both the will and the power &c
carry these ideals and purposes into effect
When II becomes a leaderless and inco.
herent mob ii must give way to some riva
better fitted for the task Of government.
Il indict the Republican party in lis
organized capacity for having shaken pub.
lie confidence to its very foundations.
charge it with having exhibited deeper and
more widespread corruption than any that
this generation Of Americans has been
called upon to witness. charge 1t with
complacency in the face Of that corruption
and with III will toward the efforts of hon
est men to expose it. charge il with
gross favoritism to the privileged and with
utter disregard Of the unprivileged
charge II with indifference to world peace
and with timidity in the conduct Of our
foreign affairs. charge it with disoreani-
cation. division and inceherence and on
the record shall ask the voters through
out the length and breadth of this land to
pass judgement Of condemnation, as a
warning to all men who may aspire to
public Office. that dishonesty either in
thought. word or deed will not be tolerated
In America. ] cannot doubt what verdict
they will render.
The season for hunting yellow-lee. black
breasted and golden plover will open next
Saturday and continue until November 80.