Evening star., 1924-10-05
Secretary, in First Campaign
Speech, Denies Democrats
Claim to This Virtue.
ISSUES JOINED ONLY
ON PRESENT REGIME
If Question Is One Of American
ism, Ayers Coolidge Is It's
Incarnation.
By the Associated Press

BY the Assoc ted Press
CINCINNATI, Ohio, October 4--The
Republican presidential campaign in
Ohio was formally opened here to-
night with Secretary Hughes as chief
speaker, his address covering almost
every issue raised thus far by either
Democratic or Independent orators
Whatever may be the subject of
campaign speakers" the Secretary de-
clared, there is really only one issue
| in this campaign and that is: Shall
! the administration of Calvin Coolidge
be continued?
Ihe average man. who is not in
terested in the tactics of the cam
paign, says to himself and to his
neighbor-Why should there be a
change"
Taking up first the arguments OF
our historic opponents of the Demo
cratic party" Mr.. Hughes dismissed
briefly what he termed eloquent dis
courses on the fundamental princi-
pies of American Government
Does 1t occur to our friends. that
II the question is one of America anism
you could not find in the length and .
breadth of the land, more typical
! American than Calvin Coolidge?" he
asked. Calvin Coolidge incarnat.S
Americanism. There could be no bet
terment in change"
Honesty Common TO Both
1t was equally vain" to seek ar
issue in common honesty, Mr. Hughes
declared.
Fortunately. honesty is common.
he added. 1T is common to both
parties, because il is common 70
Americans. 1t is not the special
quality of any party.
we detest political corruption and
we demand the punishment of the
guilty. The Republican who soil,
his hands in corrupt dealing is as
treacherous to his party as to his
country. Every demand Of
justice is being met and every in
terest of the Government is being
safeguarded- No guilty person is
being protected; every guilty person
will get his just deserts according
to the law of the land"
The speaker decried. however, "our
opponents swiftly shifting to general
denunciation mingling the innocent
with the guilty in diatribes which
are the last resort of desperate
partisanship."
There are no dividends for honest
men in sweeping denunciations" he
said. This lesson should be taken
to heart by our Democratic friends
lndlscriminate denunciation might
serve as a partisan policy if you
could monopolize it. But while the
Democrats are damning US, they are
in turn damned. While denouncins
the Republican party as the servant
of privilege, they are themselves
denounced as the tools of Wall street.
the supple, experienced instruments
of predatory wealth.
Attacks Upon Character.
attacks upon character. The Oemo-
Gratis assan the Republicans ald the
Ihird Party pours out its vials OF
wrath and condemnation upon both
When it comes to indicting a whole
nation, the Third Party has the best
OF IT. But we not only have common
honesty in this country; we have a
sense of humor'
From these matters. Mr.. Hughes
said, he would turn to more sub
Stantlal issues" He took I'D FIRST
the need of economy in government,
citing figures to show since June
1921. "a reduction in the annual cost
of government of S2.04l 900 200" Re
plying to Democratic arguments
that release from war expenditures
accounted for this situation Mr.
Hughes said that even on the state
ment of our opponents there would
be left over billion dollars OF re-
duction in expenditures" not 10 be
accounted for in that way.
How was this DONE he de-
manded 1t has been done by up
right courageous and determined
executives in TIE face of the great
est difficulties"
Credit to Administration.
Mr.. Hughes insisted that credit
for tax reductions be onged to tho
Republican administration because it
reduced expenses and made tax re-
duction possible" He denied that
credit was due to those who block
ed more adequate tax reform.
Passing to the tariff, the Secre-
tary described the present law as IL
highly successful revenue producer,
yielding more than any previous
tariff adding that at the same time.
contrary to the prophecies OF our
opponents" American foreign trade
had notably Increased.
Questions of particular tariff sched-
ules were not to be settled in q
campaign or avoided by having a
Democratic tariff" Mr.. Hughes said.
"The fundamental question is wheth-
er you are going to adhere to the
principle of protection" he con-
tinued I'VE favor protective
tariff, not to give privilege to u
class, but to promote the general
prosperity. The Democratic project
of rewriting the s--iff law means
uncertainty and confusion"
In taking up the subject of foreign
affairs, Mr.. Hughes charged that "our
opponents offer nothing of construc
tive value" although they had criti-
cized for three and a half years
with much fluent inaccuracy."
Not Partisan Issue.
Il deprecate making partisan
ISSUE" Mr.. Hughes said, "of foreign
policy, although, of course, this is
unavoidable if there is a real issue.
In the conduct of foreign relations
we are not seeking party advantage.
but to maintain the honor and to
protect the interests of the entire
country. For the sake of these inter-
ests we should have so far as pos
sible. continuous foreign policy.
Our strength abroad largely depends
upon our unity at home.
Unfortunately, we became in
volved in bitter controversy in con-
nection with the peace settlement
after the Great War. Efforts to pro-
mote peace in which our people have
a profound and abiding interest were,