Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-11-10


After our overwhelming defeat in
1912, the people Of the country added
tremendously to our Republican repre-
sentation in Congress the very next
election, and In 1915, except for .
slight delegation, we would have car
ried the country. In 1920. we did so
and have carried he country ever
since. want to te, this occasion to
out the country, in the organization
and out, who fought In this battle. 1t
is easy to fight when the odds are
with us, but 1t Is more noble TO night
when the odds are against us. I have
never seen such a lighting spirit. The
stability of our institutions rests In the
free expression of the popular will.
THE decision Of the American peo-
pie registered through orderly processes
at the polls is final under our party
form Of government, where the ma
jority rules. The majority rules IN
this country through the instrumental
ity Of party organization. Ihat means
the party which is commissioned by
the majority to rule must assume the
RESPONSIBILITIES Of Government, must
have some definite program. must be
prepared to put into force concrete
policies. must have not only coherent
leadership but coherency and disci-
pline in the ranks.
"The Democratic party has been
given this responsibility by the Ameri-
can people. 1t has been commissioned
by the people to do what 1t promised
to do In its platform. The. American
people have called upon the Demo-
cratic party and its candidate to re-
deem their promises, to put their poll
cies into effect, and In order that there
might be no alibis, no excuses, the
Democratic party has been given con-
troll OF both Houses OF the legislative
branch of the Government In addition
to the executive branch.
Responsibility Undivided.
"The popular mandate is clear. The
Democratic party Is commissioned to
do as it promised. It's responsibility Is
undivided. With the inauguration OF
the Democratic administration, the
promises issued by the party are gong
to be presented for payment. Their
redemption is the responsibility OF Ine
Democratic party. What Of the Re
publican party? It will become the
minority party. 1t repudiates none OF
its policies, abandons none OF It's
principles. 1t apologies for no part
Of the matchless record OF the Hoover
administration or the traditions and
record OF the party throughout Its IS
wears OF existence. But as minority
party. it will not pettifog. 1t Will not
obstruct any Democratic legislation or
executive proposal merely because IT
bears the stamp OF the Democratic
party.
1T will support any Democratic leg
islation which is sound In principle ana
practical in application. That has been
the unvarying history OF the Repuo-
lican party when 1t was IN tne ml!lol-
ity. One has TO 60 back no further
than last January for proof OF this
statement. When the Democratic tax
bill was before the House last Winter
the Republican minority gave 1t far
better support than did the Democratic
majority, although 1t was framed Ill
the Democratic House Ways and Means
Committee without dissenting vote. II
was the Democratic majority that de-
serted their own leaders, mutilated the
bill and finally killed it. On the test
vote, only 40 Democrats stood by the
Democratic House leadership In sup
port of the Democratic Ways and
Means Committee bill, while ll3 OF
the Republican minority, realizing the
Importance of the measure, put parti-
Sanship aside and supported the bill
such instances could be multiplied.
1t should be enough, however. to re-
call that Republicans in both branches
OF Congress gave practically unani-
nous support to the Democratic lead
ership In the White House and in Con-
gress during the World War crisis under
President Wilson.
The record clearly shows that the
Republican party. when in the minor
ity, has never played partisan politics
at the expense Of the country or con-
trary to the welfare of the American
people. However, the Republican party
during the next administration will
perform the legitimate and highly nee
essary function of minority party
that Of keeping check on the majority
party.