The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-28
SOME CAMPAIGN ISSUES

QedQIOck was pEemdbuAS anu hA-AouhuOU' Although the echoes of the convention oratory have hardly died away, the all legged party schisms are as non-existent as last winters snows. The Republican temporary relief from the searching fire directed at the party's administrative rec ord is past, and already the Democratic attack is massing itself for concerted drive upon that record and its unfavor- able reaction upon the national welfare. The dissensions of the convention were purely intra-party and cannot be cited as having any bearing upon the ability of the party to govern. The acts of the Republican administration, on the other hand, are of lively public concern and are directly to be challenged as the products logically to be expected of the continued authority. of that party.
 The Republican administration failed to make adequate provision for the de- Yelopment of the American merchant marine in such a manner as to establish the American flag permanently on the | to permit the application of the provi- sions of the merchant marine act which would have given preferential treatment to American ships in the American ex- port trade. The influence of certain American railroads with alliances with foreign steamship lines was permitted to be more powerful than considerations more broadly subservng the industry and commerce of the United States. The shipping boards careful analysis of the maritime situation and needs did not re- ceive the careful study its painstaking research deserved. For that reason, the American merchant marine still comes under the head of unfinished business, without there being recorded that prog ress which was so easily possible.
 The Republican plan of tax revision, which occupied such conspicuous place in the campaign arguments, probably had far more to do with the 1920 election re- suit than did the League of Nations. AL though the Democrats also. promised tax revision and had even set about it, and paved the way by the system of refunding maturing debentures followed by the Nell lon regime, the popular reaction was in fa- vor of change in the hope of more speedy tax relief. That relief, however, was not forthcoming until just before this presi- dential campaign, when it would come in very aptly in the party's behalf. As it happened, the Mellon plan of tax reduc- tion, which was cleverly represented as beng what it was not, did not succeed, but an alternate plan giving real relief to the rank and file of the people was formulated and passed by Democratic leaders in house and senate. The Dem- ocrats, therefore, and not the Republic ans, may claim the credit for this achieve ment.
 While no one suspects Mir. Coolidge of any leaning towards corruption in high office, yet the fact glaringly stands forth that he failed to demand immediate in- ouiry into the obvious corruption that was under way when he took office and which continued after his accession. It is even of record that he deprecated the Democratic insistence on investigation of suspicious circumstances, officials and transactions, holding such investigation to be inspired purely by political pur- poses But surely, even granting for the moment that that was so, is it not far more valuable public service to expose corruption in high official position for political purposes, than to seek to con- done and protect corruption in high Of- ficial position for political purposes? If the Democrats were deserving of the first charge, was not the Republican admin istration far more guilty of the second charge? The question uppermost in the mind of the people is whether MT. Cool idge, if he had been sure of reelection in any event, would not have led the movement to oust those guilty of official turpitude. Or whether he did not with hold his hand until forced to act, because he feared for the political effect.
 Be that as it may, Fall, Denby and DduSHSIGy WSIS AlNOANCu III d VI malfeasances and derehctions that re- moved them from public office and re- vealed them as absolutely unfit for po- sitions of public trust. Director Forbes, who mishandled hundreds of millions of money supposed to be devoted to the care of disabled veterans, has been conclu- sively connected with a systematic plum der of that trust and the coldblooded sacrifice of the welfare of the country s heroes to his own riotous pleasure and that of his friends. Yet there was unsuc- cessfuI Republican effort to block the inquiry into this situation. To all these things and more are the Republicans called to give satisfactory explanation and they cannot do it.
 PHILADELPHIA AND BUTLER
 Press dispatches relate that the poli-