Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23
'ONE GREAT ISSUE"
WILL SWAY VOTERS
Dawes, in Speech, Says
maintenance of Prosper.
lily" Is Paramount.
b the Associatsd Press.

NEW YORK. October 23.--FollowinI
Is the text Of the address by Vice Pres
dent Charles G. Dawes hsre last night
THE campaign is nearing its close
The two party platforms, both Of then
too long and argumentative perhaps tc
have been carefully read and conSid'
cred by the majority Of our voters. have
been presented and discussed. We art
hearing from the partisans Of both
sides the strong and inconsistent claims
which are always incident to the close
OF o national contest. The confusion
Of appeals thickens.
."It the average citizen In voting made
up his mind as to his duty by mentally
weighing the opposing arguments, he
too, might be confused In reaching his
decision, but he does not do SO. On the
contrary, as the argument becomes
more voluminous and acrimonious, his
mind becomes cleared, for he is apply
ing his common sense to the situation
One Issue Held Supreme.
"The average man will go to the polls
on November with some one great
consideration In his mind which deter
mines his vote-not half dozen con-
able to state that consideration in a
few words, and those words will be his
Interpretation of the common sense OF
the situation. II one can now define
what the common sense Of the situation
is as visualiSed by the average man, he
win have stated the argument most ac-
ceptable to voters as guide to de-
cision. In addition he will be brief, for
common sense demands brevity.
Common sense tells us that the real
and cvershadcwing issue In this CAM
paiRn. urged by the instincts and up
pernaost IN the consciousness Of the av-
crase voter, Is the issue always donii-
nant when tranquility and prosperity
exist In the country.
THAT issue is the maintenance Of
prosperity.
Confidence Chief Need.
Nov, the average voter realizes that
the maintenance Of prosperity depends
upon the maintenance Of general con-
EXCEPT for o short period during
times Of panic, when loss of conn.,
dence induces active but disastrous
liquidation, what we call prosperity is
simply activity in exchanges Of goods
and services based upon confidence.
The average man senses the dangers
OF impairing general confidence by q
changing of governmental adn1inistra-
ton in q period Of prosperity. The
slightest reflection on his part upon
the situation suggests Immediately what
be feels instinctiyely- a change in
administration means confusion and
change In governmental programs and
policies and that, in turn, means the
passing of confidence, which Is the very
foundation Of our present national
prosperity and comparative industrial
and social peace.
"Of course, discussion of the many
collateral issues presented by the plat
forms. and of other issues outside Of
platforms which candidates in their
speeches. may endeavor to inject INTO
the campaign, viii influence many
voters pro and con, but not the average
voter Of whom ! am speaking.
Prohibition in Campaign.
CONSIDER the question of prohibition.
Many will vote in the election one way
or the other with this in mind, but
wheu the platforms Of the two great
parties take practically THE same POSI-
ton Ia upholding prohibition, and pro-
hibiti0n is a part of the Constitution
Of the United States, the average citi-
Ben win not regard it as an issue which
should determine his vote.
As a result of the expressions Of
Gov. Smith adverse to prohibition as
3 national policy, some dry Democrats
may vote for Mr.. Hoover and some wet
Republicans may vote for Mr. Smith,
their votes tending to Offset each other.
But not so with the average citizen.
If to vote his sentiments on the prohi-
bition policy, which Is not an issue and
which cannot be decided in this cam
paign, means that he votes adversely
to his own views on the real and great
er issue Of prosperity, which affects him
directly, he will not throw away his
vote. His vote will be cast upon what
Is the real issue in his mind, irrespective
Of the collateral discussion of prohi-
bition.
The existence Of this dominant is
me Of prosperity renders it hopeless to
regard the result at the November polls
Rs q sentimental referendum on the
prohibition question, and it renders
mat result untrustworthy even as an
Indication Of the state of public Senti-
ment on prohibition And yet, for no
other practical purposes than the two
! have mentioned. could a wet or dry
vote be cast in the presidential cam
pAign. The average voter senses this.
Farm Relief Is Pledged.
Again the existence of that DOM
lnant issue OF prosperity renders 1t
useless where both parties have pledged
themselves in their platforms to at
tempt farm relief to hope that either
the economic principles or details of
any particular measure to effect 1t can
become major issue in the campaign.
The average voter senses this.
again the Democratic party for
decades has been the continuing and
bitter opponent Of the protective tariff
which has been firmly established as q
national policy by the Republican
party and under which we have
achieved our unparalleled national
prosperity. While, in its last platform
the Democratic party promises GER
tain aSquiescence in the policy Of pro-
lection, 1t is manifestiy to avoid the
Issue IN the campaign. A promise to
do something which for years the
Democratic party has schooied It's
members to abhor is not easy for 1t to
carry out If placed In power
To attempt to unite itself in Con-
greSs to right-about-face upon the
tariff would mean instead some oblique
movement since 1t would involve an ef-
fort to square its traditional policy with
p platform plank adopted as campaign
expedient. The revision of the tariff
at the. hands Of its traditional enemies
instead Of its traditional friends would
unsettle business confidence and destroy
prosperity.
Sees Democrats Confused.
Democratic success would plunge
that party into utter confusion In car
Tytng out legislative program, when
q upon prohibition. the Chief Executive
would be out OF sympathy with the
party platform. and upon the tariff, the
rank and file Of the party would be out
OF sympathy with the platform. ThC
average citizen senses all this.
These are the reasons which leac
me to believe that the average voter