The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-19
COMMON SENSE RECOMMENDED

COMMON SENSE RECOMMENDED
 The call of MT. Charles G. Dawes to forsake demagoguery and to return to common sense in the coming presiden- tial campaign is directed to all Ameri- cans and not alone to his own party. MT. Dawes informs his public that he has recently returned from a sojourn among peoples whom demagoguery has ruined and whom common sense alone can re- store. The people of Europe have turned their backs upon the demagogic politi- clans and are demanding a practical so- lution of their problems, irrespective of the political and diplomatic jealousies that have so long obsessed the capitals of Europe. The people of America, in. lesser degree, but still in a measurable manner, have been misled by political quacks into embracing weird remedies for fancied ills. The result has been to worsen situation that in the begin ming was in no respect seriously wrong. In fact, American conditions have been so healthy that even the political wreck ing crew that has been in charge of af- fairs for the past three or four years has been unable to cause fatal results. But it cannot go on forever without in- volving the nation in gratuitous damage. Although MT. Dawes makes his re- marks general, there can be little doubt that he has in mind some of the quacks iY, f,o yL0 how blocked the party program and who have fathered all manner of strange legislative medicines for imaginary diseases. These quacks have been trying to cure symp- toms instead of proceeding first to careful diagnosis. Being quacks, nat urally they are not skilled in diagnosis. Indeed, like all quacks, the purpose has been not so much to effect the cure as to win the recompense, the reward for the medicines they seek to give. Those who have sought to involve the government in schemes 'to. help the wheat farmer, for example, are among the quacks. Wheat prices dropped for a reason, and now, for the same reason in reverse, wheat prices are rising. Yet the value of wheat to the human race has not varied during the period of price fluctuation. If the known business and distribution rules were applied to wheat as they are ap- piled to the sale and distribution of other commodities, such as coal, iron, steel and manufactured goods, then it would be discovered that the symptoms would disappear.
 It is very likely also that the remarks of MT. Dawes are addressed to those whose emotions and imaginations are stirred by the meetings of the com munists in the Northwest, with their inn practical dreams of a Utopia which is at variance with all the rules of govern ment and of common sense. Theories are beautiful things, but the hard facts of life demand also that they must be workable theories. When visionary con- captions are applied to an imaginary situation, who is there that can disprove them? But in government the situation is not imaginary. It is real and stub born and will yield only to the most rig idly practical treatment. As Grover Cleveland once expressed it, government is "not a theory, but a condition which confronts us."
 Speaking in a strictly non-partisan manner to a group of his friends and neighbors, MT. Dawes said: "The man who distorts facts - the man who breaches pleasant doctrines to one DOT tion of our people and another pleasant but absolutely inconsistent doctrine to another portion, is menace to the safety of our fundamental institutions As good citizens irrespective of party we must demand from our political leaders strict adherence to the truth, including disagreeable truth" Nevertheless, such sentiments on the part of the presidents running mate may we'll strike the Re- publican politicians with misgiving, for undoubtedly they are laying their plans along lines quite counter to those pro- posed by MT. Dawes. For one thing, they are probably feverishly planning to steer clear of "adherence to the truth, including disagreeable truth" for that would include the official acts of those formerly high in Republican executive and political counsels, as well as the very lamentable record of the Republican con- gress. MT. Dawes has given more com fort to the Democrats than to the Re publicans by his maiden utterance as political candidate.