Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-07-09

Clup at the convention TO OCOSt the
candidacy.
Elk Governor Brumbaugh introduced
Due to the fact that he has a
summer home in Maine, the former
pennsylvania chief executive was
introduced by President Frank e.
Mace. as resident of the Pine Tree
State. Emphasis was placed by Mr..
Brumbaugh in opening his discourse
on the statement of critics of this
country that one Of our most dis
tnguishing traits Is the ease with
which we forget things. So after
the War most of us have forgotten
1t; most of us don't care to think
about 1t. 1t is closed incident to
US.
1t is a great truth that all wars
everywhere lie , in their trail great
problems to be settled and 1t as
much a test of the patriotism of the
people how to solve peace problems
as how to solve war prblems, he
declared. We should tackle these
problems with the same zeal that
was exhibited by those men who
went overseas to fight in the World
War.
War Is a destructive agency. de-
stroying life and property. We mea-
sure our prosperity by the debt that
the Nation incurs and leaves to be
paid. Our war debt of $4,000, 000. 900,
a hangover from the Civil War,
could have been paid, but there was
a feeling by some people that a
debt was a good thing as a check
upon spending. But by the appro-
priations by some Congresses. 1t
doesn't seem that they could have
been more extravagant,,. he asserted.
Need To Reduce War Debt
After the World War this debt
which following the salvaging Of
war materials was reduced to about
$23, o00.00o.O0o. This debt has led to
much industrial unrest. 1t was
pointed out by the speaker that
whereas we just about pay the in
terest on this debt it would be an
excellent thing to pay a part of the
principal and IL Congress was as
patriotic as Mr.. Mellon we would be
paying not only the interest but
portion of the principal. AS long as
we have this heavy war debt, there
will be industrial unrest in this
country.
In addition to the loss of life and
property there is another loss more
fatal and serious. War breaks down
TIE LlluIl u tilC pCOPlS d1lA
skaters in year what we have
builded through ages. Civilization
is broken by war. We must turn
now to the rebuilding from these
fragments to make of this Republic
the fine thing we have learned to
love.
We are going to work out these
problems; the only irritation is the
delay in facing them. When war Is
here we work fast So in private
life, we should proceed quickly. But
America likes to delay. We hold to
the theory that God will take care
of fools and Americans" This is
not true-delay is as fatal in peace
time as well as in war time. Amer
lea is pushing into the future things
that it ought to do now.
What war Did Not Settle
We went into the war on the theory
that we were going to have war that
would make an end of wars. It hasn't
made an end of war. There has not
been day since the Versailles treaty
that there has not been war in some
country.
We went into the war with the idea
of making the world safe for democra-
cy, but with nine imperators now rul-
ing the dictatorial policy has been in
creased.
The war settled nothing. War as
rule settles nothing.
When we came out of the war and
the armistic was signed we quit
"Hooverizing." During the war many
people took heed of the governments
request to save food and other i'm
portant supplies. After the war the
people turned to period Of waste
fulness and extravaganza without par
allel in the world. AS proof of this the
speaker cited cases of laborers buying
silk shirts costing from sic to $50
each.
Danger from Extravaganza
We are more boastful of the money
we spend than the money We earn and
save. That is the dangerous situa-
ton that exists in America today.
When a people enter on a period of
wasteful extravaganza law operates
the law of Almighty God, written
in the pages of history When people
become extravagant their morals de-
cay.
America Is reaping its harvest of
decadence. If you doubt this read the
front pages Of any newspaper any day.
One-half of the stories you read in
these papers are of crime in your re-
public. You can change this situa-
tion by teaching the people 10 get
away from the thoughtlessness and
extravagan and to come into a Pc
Rod of thrift and industry.
Pointing to the drop in certain
states from a 10-hour working day to
an eight-hour day, Ex-Governor Brum-
baugh stated that when the hours of
toll are shortened the hours of leis-
ure are heightened. America has more
leisure than ever before. The peak
of crime in any community is coin
cident with the peak of it's leisure
hours.
Seventy per cent OF the crini-
nails Of this republic are under voting
age. They are boys and girls who
ought to be kept at home and In school
instead of being turned loose on the
streets to waste themselves in law
lessness.
The cure for this crime wave in the
country today Is through education
and advancement IN religious, indus
trious and social application.
With a rising vote of thanks and
enthusiastic applause the Kiwan.ans
expressed their appreciation of the dis
course given by Ex-Governor Brum-
baugh.