Evening star., 1928-09-25

and the majesty Of our great republic
in time of war. Following the armistice
the outpouring of the American heart
was ready to meet any cost to contribute
to the comfort and the wellbeing of
those who we're injured in the service
of the country. If public money appro-
priated for the sacred use of caring for
the afflicted soldier is wasted and Squan-
dered-and I use the stronger word
stolen-is there anybody to say that the
party in power bears no responsibility
for this theft of funds appropriated for
the care of wounded soldiers.
The Veterans Bureau at Washington,
for the care of disabled veterans, under
Republican administration was brought
under investigation by the insistence Of
Democratic Representatives and Sena-
tors joined by certain Republican men,
berS.
Director Convicted.
And there was revealed in the course
of the investigation and laid bare be-
fore the Mortified eyes of the American
people a record of graft and betrayal of
the Nations wards which sent the Re-
publican director of the Veterans Bu-
reau at Washington to Federal peni-
tentiary. The responsible official traf-
ficked in hospital sites, located institu-
tions in out-of -the-way inaccessible
places. Millions of dollars worth of
hospital supplies were sold on the theory
that they were not needed, at a low
price, and bought back by the Govern
ment at five times the price for which
they had been sold.
What could be more sordid? What
could be worse? And for such perform
ance can it be truthfully said there is
no party responsibility?
| During the war the property of alien
enemies found in this country was seized
and held for them in trust under inter-
national law. There rested upon the
Government of the United States the
sacred duty of safeguarding these funds
and this property. The Republican
alien property custodian, appointed by
Republican President, made such dis
position of these funds as to bring him
within the criminal statutes and land
him in Federal penitentiary for con-
spiracy to defraud the Government of
the United States that he was sworn to
netoin. Who in this country would be
willing to say that party must assume
no responsibility for that conduct in
high public office?
Holds G. O. P. Responsible.
I full realize that to err is human,
and in all governments and at all times
individuals will yield to temptation. But
the testimony here does not indicate
that. 1t rather indicates widespread,
we'll thought-out, deep-seated con-
spiracy to defraud the Government.
participated in by many men of high
station, reaching into the very cabinet
of the President of the United States
and into the leadership of the party it.
self I am unable to understand by
what process of human reasoning it can
be said that herein guilt is personal and
that the party as a party bears none of
the responsibility.
Suppose that any such record as this
were laid before the American people
as having taken place in the adminis-
tration of President Wilson. Would not
the Republican party make glorious
campaign material of it, insist that the
American people believe it to be the
record of the Democratic party, claim it
to be legitimate campaign matter, Of
fer it as an abundant reason for the
defeat of the Democratic party and the
return to power of their own party?
Could anybody in his widest imagi-
nation believe that the Republican
managers would be prepared to say that
if such guilt, clearly proven, had ex-
listed under the incorruptible admins
tration of President Wilson it would be
regarded as personal and in no way
charged against the Democratic party?
Nobody believes that. Nobody thinks it..
Democratic Party "Unimpeachable."
The record of the last seven and a
half years is as well known to the Re-
publican candidate for President as to
any other man in the United States
Nobody will deny that. Mr.. Hoover sat
in the cabinet for seven and a half
years, yet I search in vain for any
word from him of protest. of con-
demnation or of repudiation of this
black chapter of his party's history. On