The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-29

trict.
 "In accepting the nomination I assure you I am mindful of the great responsibilities which the office carries. I sincerely hope and trust the experience I have gained since 1880 will as- sist me, in meeting these re- responsibilities. am mindful of the crisis through which our na- tion is passing, with its problem of unemployment and consequent suffering. I am mindful of the diversified interests of this con- gressional district, and, reiterat- ing what I said two and four years ago pledge my best thought and effort will be de- voted to the problems of this dis trict.
 "Ih accepting this great honor which you are conferrtng upon me to-day I want to warn the voters of this district that I do not intend to be a rubber stamp congressman. I want to think and act with freedom. I shall support measures of the present administration which I believe to be sound and oppose those which believe to be rnsound, as I have done in the past. In pass ing may I point out that our rla- tion is built on a two-party political system and it is a mighty unhealthy condition when a party in power has such a huge majority in the national house of representatives. Such 8 majority is an unwieldy one. No political party needs more than a major ity of at most fifty (50) votes to carry out it's program and plans in the house, and, under our sys- tenn there must be a sufficient number of the minority party to act as a balance wheel.
 ''In going before the public as your candidate, it is fair and fit- ting that my attitude regarding some of the major problems confronting the nation be made known. I, therefore, shall touch on some of these today.
 Unemployment.
 What men need to-day is jobs-not mass legislation. I have supported measures which we were assured would lead to increased employment. How ever, when the present admins tration took office we were told there were between ten and eleven millions unemployed. Ac- cording to the best available sta- tistical information, there are approximately eight millions un- employed to-day.
 T have advocated, and am advocating more liberal credit for industry through the Recon struction Finance Corporation so that industry may absorb those unemployed and start recovery back in this country on a sound basis rather than on a tempo rary, hit-or-miss basis.
 Tarin.
 "I am republican and be- lieve in the principle of a pro- tective tariff. I believe the pow CT to act on tariff matters should be in the hands of Congress, where representatives from all sections of the nation and repre-. senting every walk of life may present the ideas of their con- gressional districts. Tn the past session, the power to increase or lower tariff rates was given by Congress to one man--the presi- dent. Under our form of gov. ernment this vast power in the hands of one man is wrong, very wrong. With the uncertainties of this life we never know when the vast power in the hands of one man may pass to a successor.
 Under the power the presi- dent has to-day tariff rates may be changed and written into trade treaties with foreign pow CTS without the manufacturers and employees of the industries affected having a fair chance to present their side of the story. You know, and I know trade treaties must necessarily be written in secret. It is an alarm ing thought to the residents of such a highly industrialized con- gressional district as this to be confronted with a proposition under which an entire industry might be wiped out with the stroke of a pen.
 Old Age Pensions and Unempl0y-
 ment Reserves.
 "The normal development of the operation of compensation laws and the speeding up of all industrial and business enter prises makes 1t necessary, in my opinion, to make some adequate provision for the care of the cit- tzen who has reached the age where he has found himself un. able to carry the load or to ful- fill the requirements of his posi- tion under present industrial and business conditions. No one can look upon the almshouse with any feeling of satisfaction. The an- swer of course is some sound plan of old age pensions which will permit the man and wo- man, who have reached the. age which makes 1t difficult for them to continue, to be assured of their continued comfortable maintenance and support, and, under conditions which save to them their own self-respect. l am in favor of the enactment of . sound plan of old age pensions. My chief concern is with the soundness of the plan and not tho principle in itself and l am prepared to support and az. Aresaively advocate the adoption Of . proper scheme of old age pensiona.
 with regard to unemploy.