The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-13
WHAT DEMOCRACY OFFERS

1C IS now time to dismiss rom our minds all doubts regarding the merits or demerits of convention divisions, for they are minor and secondary to the great national questions long pressing for attention. The real question before the American people is whether they de- sire to continue drifting or whether they desire at the helm the strong hand of a party with principles and convictions. That issue is sharply drawn. The Re- publican record is barren of those re- suits which the American people have come to associate with constructive gov ernment. The Republican record is re- sponsible for the dissatisfaction that ex- ists in certain portions of the country. The unrest among the farmers of the Northwest, for example, may be traced directly to the curtailins of the wheat market because of the Republican fail ure to iraugurate a foreign policy con- duciye to American commercial and pro- ductive interests. tz
 The formation of the LaFollette third party would never have been feasible if the Republican administration had turned it's attention seriously to the study and modification of the conditions com plained of by LaFollette followers The various legislative nostruns hailed as off, fering relief only aggravated the situa- tion when the expected relief failed to materialize. There was ip the last con- eress an oversupply of fake remedies prepared in ignorance or disregard of the facts, and dearth of that careful study and exact knowledge indispensable to proper and effective legislation. Not only with respect to farm problems, but in the formulation of all other laws, the Republicans proceeded along the lines dictsted by special or political consid- eration, instead of along the lines which science and commonsense directed. The question of taxation, for example, is one that has from the beginning been han dled inexpertly, usually in ignorance of the fundamental principles of tax philos- ophy. The tariff presents features in de- fiance of the laws of economies.
 The reciprocal relationships which are the basis of harmony and mutual profit among firms in the United States are denied to those who would extend sim liar relationships to clients and business or commercial correspondents abroad. Laws are designed and passed because of their probable effect on the next cleo tion, rather than because of their per manent value to the general welfare. Never in all our history has this been more the case than during the present administration. The forces of prejudice, of ignorance and of invisible government have been in control. The whole end and purpose of administrative acts have been to keep the Republican party in power and not to advance along all lines with an eye single to the public welfare.
 It would not be true to say that the Republican administration has been thor oughly corrupt. But there is irrefutable proof that the Republican administra- JAOA uAS UCSA duA66AuBAJ COHARA0SCnO amidst the revelations of corruption in high administrative position. The admin istration was moved to action against these corrupt officials only when forced to do so in order to save its face before the. American people. The first effort of the administration was to belittle the efforts at investigation and to seek to shield the offenders from detection. It is only because that policy failed that the present course, of court procedure was adopted. It is not because the ad- ministration was altogether corrupt, but because it tried to protect and hide cor ruption among its members that the dis trust of the American people has been aroused.
 No legislation of merit was put through the congress during the present administration, except such legislation as was supported and at times even intro duced by the Democratic minority. That minority, united and organized for con- structive effort, prevented legislation of the wrong sort and forced through at times amendments and substitutes that actually accomplish what the supplanted measure falsely pretended. Under the broad and enlightened leadership of John w. Davis, and with a Democratic con gressional unit committed to a program of progressive and constructive legisla- tion, there seems to be no reasonable alternative to the thoughtful and inde- pendent voter except to cast his ballot for the Democratic ticket