Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-04
Big Convention at Portland Endorse Coodges Candidacy

third party Is actually suggesting
itself to some extremists as q
practical possibility.
In other words. the Democrats
have aimed at US and hit America.
Party Government
No man with a sure footing and a
clear head can doubt that the safety
of this Republic depends upon the
existence Of two great political
parties. continually contending with
one another in an effort to win ana
keep public confidence. II one OF
these parties, in the scramble Tor
power, adopts tactics which destroy
confidence in both Of them. there is
incidentally afforded an opportunity
to the apostles Of discomfort to
launch wild schemes, to block con-
structive legislation and to limit the
capacity OF both particles to serve the
people. II this process Is carried Tar
enough the party which runs amuck
might even create conditions under
which a dangerous demagogue could
Chamber into power over the wreck
age of American institutions.
l am here today to affirm my be-
lief that the Democratic party has
recently forfeited whatever claim to
public confidence 1t may have pos
sessed. l am here to register my
conviction that upon us who call
ourselves the followers of Lincoln,
rests the weighty responsibility Of
strengthening and safeguarding the
Republic.
Republicans of Maine, this Is the
task to which l summon you-a task
which should stimulate the enthu-
siasm OF every man and woman who
holds the Republican tradition and Is
ready to go forward to victory under
the leadership Of Calvin Coolidge.
Scandal
But at this point an effort Is GER
tain to be made by somebody to dis
tract attention from the great prob
lens which await solution and to
confuse judgment by giving to the
names of three officers in the great
Republican army an Importance rot
in the least justified by the facts.
When sensible people are waiting to
be told about President Coolidges
position on public question and what
the party Is attempting to ac-
complish for good government, some
body Is sure to shout, How about
Forbes How about Fall?" and
How about Daugherty?" Thereup-
on the air resounds with discordant
cries and we find ourselves showered
with threats and accusations in
which a modicum of truth IS OBJ
scured by q mass of fiction.
In regard to the situation, 1 want
to make my own position perfectly
clear. The appointment of Forbes
as head of the Veterans Bureau and
of Fall as Secretary of the Interior
have proved to be terrible mistakes;
while the selection Of Mr.. Daugherty
as Attorney General seems to me to
have been grave error in judgment.
You will remember, however, that
when say this l am speaking of the
mistakes not Of the living but of the
dead; OF the mistakes of beloved
leader whose virtues were many and
whose lapses were few-of a leader
who left behind him long catalogue
of notable achievements and who
gave his life for you and for me as
truly as any soldier who ever died
in battle. When any man for CAM
paign purposes or to gain a partisan
advantage undertakes to disturb the
repose of that leader, l brand his as
political Shoul and declare him to
be unfit for the society of decent
people.
Brave Talk
During the progress Of these So
called investigations many good citi-
zens and wise editors have been ex-
horting Republican senators to show
the fighting spirit Since we have
lacked actual legislative control. this
ADVICE has amounted to nothing
, more than an appeal for brave talk.
AND brave talk without power to
make it effective Is the sure sign Of
u sallow mind. If a majority of
senators want to do things which
are offensive to the spirit of fair
play they will go ahead with their
program just as long as public
opinion will permit. A front page
dlsngured by sensational headlines
and def1led by lurid utterances of ir-
responsible witness is a poor COM
panion for an editorial page in
winch minority senator's are scored
Tor permitting what they cannot
control. The time for talk that is
really brave is when you have n
position to defend which is funda-
mentally sound though at the mo-
inent unpopular. When party mis-
taxes nave been made 1t is best to
ADMIT them and to limit your talk TO
the long list of Republican achieve
ments in the past and of Republican
pans Tor the future which are the
real basis OF our appeal for public
confidence. p~'1
Republican Program
IN december last President
coolidge delivered to q Joint session
OF the Senate and House a messaga
remarkable for its soundness' Re
clearness and it's candor. The mes
sage of a President to the Congress
10 not or course n party platform.
In delivering 1t, the President speaks
no. as party leader but as the
servant OF all the people. The sug-
ses.ions made In this particular
nnss1 however, were found to ac-
cord SO nearly with the views NJ
thoughtful people all over the Conn
Try that the message was promntiv
accepted as a kind of chart hv
Whlcn the Republicans In Congress-
might well shape their course.
Republican Minority
DO not speak of the Renuhiioor,
party as the majority party. he
cause In the d-fashioned sensa ~
.ne term 1t Is nothing of the sort
we are charged with air the re-
sponsibiiities which in times past
were properly charged 10 III
oo,nlnant party. In important
votes to make our will effec,ivo
n nhIs Deing Presidential year. the
Democrats have been prompt 70
xan ne .ne most OF their strategic ad-
t.nage and have created a sitl,o-
lion in which constructive ,aa,s,a
ton Is difficult, IL not impossibis
a result, we have been able m do
niue more than make n ber,nn,,o
VI tne good work. During ths
resluue OF this session we shalt do
wnat we can to move forward n,
.ne Iight direction and rely upon tho
great popular endorsement Which,
we expect to receive next Noyember