Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-22
SENATOR REED
CONTINUES PLAN
OF VITUPERATION

TULSA, Okla, Feb. 81 lP)-The
republican protective tariff law was
blamed for the ills OF the farmers
by Senator Reed Of Missouri tonight
in the second prepared address or his
western democratic presidential cam
paign
If the farmer could buy on the
same price level upon which he must
SELL" Senator Reed declared, 'he
would have an even chance in the
race Of life But the manufacturers
chiefly of the east, were determined
to deny him that natural right
Renewing the war on corruption
III government which he deciarsS'
last night in Texas, the MisSourian
insisted the present tariff was enacted
in response to "the vast sums OF
money put up by these manufacturers
TO elect the republican ticket"
Because of the tariff ne argued
that the farmer was compelled to
sell upon the European level "and
then to buy upon level which had
been artificially boosted by tariff
law and by combinations back of the
law"
The militant Missourian found a
fertile field here to preach the gospel
OF party harmony to which he pledged
his campaign in the west He took
cognizance of factional difficulties in
this state but said he knew nothing
of the merits OF these Controversies.
I'VE all hope" he, said, ito see the
Oklahoma democrats fall in line. right
Nress and eyes front, advance against
the common foc."
He found Reed for President
club" already organized under the
leadership OF j. H. Make and he
was assured by Mr.. Make of friendly
sentiment in this state but III two
receptions during the. day with demo-
cratic leaders of the state VINO called
at his hotel room, the senator steered
away from political discussions.
With no reference to prohibition in
his prepared speech, the senator was
asked about that subject here today
by a newspaperman and ne replied
in measured words that "Democrats
have bigger fish to try than prohi-
hition"
At noon he, spoke informally tc
the Tulsa Chamber OF Commerce and
in what he described as a non
political speech he put forward a
proposal Tor a s1000O00,000 bend
issue by the government to be used
ia inland waterways and haroor
improvements.
He called the present RIVERS and
harbors program ''idiotic" and insisted
the job of making rivers navigable
must be completed at cnce to be
OF help 1t would be OF help, he
said, in reduced freight rates.
In this city surrounded by oil fields
ard oil tanks the -oil capital
Senator Reed was severe in his de-
nunciation OF the "capitalistic group
which he said had exercised control
over the republican party FOR the
benefit OF themselves and to the
detriment Of al of the people c.
the country, but especially CT the
west and the Fgrear central west"
But he emphasized that Il am no.
fighting wealth = wealth properly
handled"
Generally" he said, "tnese grcups
have bought their favors by huge
contributions Contributions so large
as to leave no other inference than
that they were mere options paid
during the campaign with the right
Of delivery after the electici1.
''Latterly, we have the ev1-ence OF
direct bribery OF cabinet officers and
other high ofticials-an orgy CT cor
ruption for which the present repub-
Iican management and the admins
tration itself cannot escape respcn-
slbility."