The Washington times., 1924-08-12

Democratic. party and, II they
will II so. the people of the
United States.
Many and grave are the prob
lens of the hour. and all the
resources Of patriotism and states.
maIlship at our command will be
taxed in their solution. The al
lied forces Of greed and dishon-
esty, of self-seeking and partisan
ship, Of prejudic6 and ignorance,
threaten today as they have rare.
~ done before the perpetuity of
our national ideals. traditions and
institutions.
Men are looking askance at
one another; are mistrusting one
another; are doubling each the
Others good will and honesty
of purpose, The solidarity OF the
great war has given way to q
chaos OF b.ocs and sections and
classes and interests, each striv.
ing for its own advantage. care
less of the welfare Of the whole.
Government itself. to which the
humhlest citizen. has the right
to turn with confidehtt reliance
in its evenhanded 4stice. has
fallen under the prevalent dis.
trust.
Corruption and Impotence.
There is abroad in the land a
1eeIlng too general to be ignored.
TOO deep seated for any trifIin6.
snat men In office can no longer
De \ trusted to keep faith with
Lnose who sent them there. and
tnac the powers OF Government
are being exercised in the pur-
SUIT OF personal gain instead of
the common service. Out OF this
and because of 1T there has de.
Veioped an alarming tendency to
take the administration OF the
law out OF the hands of con.
stituted officials and to execute
It's processes through individuals
or through organized societies,
by methods little. different from
those Of private revenge.
A situation so threatening to
the very foundations of the
social order demands boIdness in
facing the causes which have
brought it about, and. tireless
exertion in the effort to remove
them. To bring the Government
back to the people is and always
has been the doctrine Of De.
mocracy. Today. in addition, it
is the supreme need OF the hour
to bring back to the people con.
fidence in their Government.
The search for the causes OF
this state Of affairs leads us at
once to the history of the last
four years. In 1920 we. passed
through political campaign in
which naterialism was preached
as creed and selfishness as a
national duty. All the forces of :
discomfort were marshalled, and
the embers of every smoldering
hate were famed into burning
flame.
We have eaten of the fruit
Of the tree that was planted and
1t has been bitter in the mouths
Of even the most Indifferent.
speak with restraint when 1 say
that 1t has brought forth corrup-
ton in high places, favoritism in
legislation; division and discord in
party councils; impotence in Gov.
eminent and a hot struggle for
profit and advantage which has
bewildered us at home and hui
INFLATED us abroad.
For all these things the party
now In power cannot escape the
responsibility that is it's due. No
repentance at the eleventh hour
and no promise CT reform can
caRcel half a line Of the indis-
putable facts.
Crimes Of Administration.
The time demands plain speak
ing. 1t is not a welcome task to
recount the multiplied scandals Of
these melancholy years; Senator
victed of. corrupt practice in the
purchase Of his senatorial seat; a
Secretary of the Interior in re.
turn for brides granting away the
naval oil reserves SO necessary to
the security Of the country; a
Secretary IF the Navy ignorant of
the spoliation in progress IL not
Indifferent 20 it; an Attorney Gen.
eral admitting bFibe-takerss to the
Department Of Justice, making
them his boom companions and
utilizing the agencies of the law
for purposes OF private, and po-
litical vengeance; chief of the
Veterans Bureau stealing and help
ing others to steal the millions in
money and supplies provided for
the relief of those defenders of
the nation most entitled to the
nations gratitude and care. Such
crimes are too gross to be forgot
ten or forgiven.
/ do not believe that the millions
Of sincere and patriotic men and
women who have composed the
rank and file of the Republican
party are more ready to condone
these and similar offenses or to
pardon the offenders than those
Of other political faiths. Indeed,
their indignation has perhaps a
sharper edge, for 1t is coupled with
the chagrin that must follow from
the knowledge that under author.
ity issued in, their name corrupt
men have crcpt to places of power
and then, betrayed the trust that
placed them there.
There are circumstances, how.
ever, which spread responsibility
for the effect Of these things upon
the public confidence beyond the
list Of the criminals themselves.
There ID, first, the fact that the
revelation Of these crimes was
not the result OF any action taken
by the Executive. No burning in
dignation there put in train the
forces Of investigation and Of pun
ishment. ~, = 5.
Shell Shock Too Late.
The disclosures came only as
the result Of the painstaking ef.
fort of faithful public servants
in the legislative branch Of the
Government who could not close
their eyes even when others
chose to slumber. Again, when
discovery was Threatened, instead
of aid and assistance from tho