Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-23
nv ths Associated Press.


ny the Associated Press.
TOPEKA, Kans.. February a.
Text of an address by Postmaster
General James A. Farley at the wash
ington day banquet Of the kansas
Democratic Club here:
TIM glad to return to Topeka ana
to Join you good people in observing
the birth anniversary of the Father OF
Our Country, the immortal George
Washington. 1t is pleasure to nave
one national hero whose patriotism
and virtues we may honor and revere
without thought of party ties.
Ten days ago we observed the
birth anniversary OF another great
American, Abraham Lincoln, a man
80 universally beloved that he belongs
to the Nation regardless OF party,
creed. or geographical location. 1t
seemed a fitting occasion to review
what Mr.. Lincoln tried to teach his
country. Instead Of that the occasion
of Lincoln's anniversary was seized
upon by partisan leaders for the open
ing of terrific economic fear cam
paign" directed against the people OF
the United States.
And the leader in that doubtful
business was no less person than
former President of the United States.
MIR. Herbert Hoover, the titular head
and spokesman of the Republican
party. I quote the first paragraph OF
an impartial Associated Press dis
patch, which said:
Herbert Hoover, assailing President
Roosevelts message to Congress on
the state of the Union, pictured the
New Deal tonight as fountain OF
fear fomenting countrywide confu-
sion"
Calls Argument Weapon
OF Fright and Fear.
What a familiar ring that has
Having lost every reasonable argu-
ment. confronted by prosperous
country. the reactionary element
brings out the discredited weapon OF
fright and fear to intimidate the peo-
pie Of this country.
Eight years ago Mr.. Hoover was
promising that poverty was about to
be abolished by his election to the
White House. He was elected and
poverty became almost universal.
Four years ago Mr.. Hoover went
about the country warning that grass
would grow in the city streets If the
Democrats were placed In power. Now
he resumes his campaign to terrorize
his own countrymen. BY his own
oh "a NJ
panic.
Any man who wishes to promote
his political interests by shaking the
confidence of the country in its eco
nomic future can answer to his own
conscience. The American people will
pass Judgment on tactics Of that sort.
passed through Topeka in 1881
when Mr.. Hoover was in the White
House. Wheat was selling at less
than 30 cents a bushel and cotton
was around cents pound. There
was confusion then and there was
despair. Today wheat is selling above
80 cents and cotton at around IL.
Let me remind Mr. Hoover that the
only confusion is in his own mind.
''Picture of Contentment"
Found in Every Section.
It's a pleasure to come back here
to Kansas and find abundant evil
dence of prosperity after the lean
years through which you passed under
Republican rule. The same picture
of contentment presents itself in every
section of the country. The Hoover
panic was defeated because a cour-
ageous Congress used the national
credit to rescue the American people
from starvation and want.
Kansas got its fair share Of this
Federal money and I am informed
by Senator McGill and you three
Democratic Representatives, Patter-
son. Carpenter and Houston, that it
has turned the tide. 1t was depress-
ing to read some time back of hungry
men creating disturbances at Fort
Scott, but incidents of that kind have
happened elsewhere. The comforting
thing was that you treated them in
humane American fashion and that
the Federal Government was at hand
to help you give them food and work
Hungry men and women must still
get first consideration in this country.
] was sorry to learn that it was
necessary here in Kansas to cut the
salaries of school teachers and Of
professors in the colleges and uni
versities. Perhaps it was necessary,
but the policy of the Roosevelt ad-
n1inistration has been to save the
schools of the Nation wherever pos
sible.
On next March 4, my friends,
Franklin D. Roosevelt will observe
his third anniversary in the White
House. In that period we have ad-
vanced from economic confusion and
paralysis under Mr. Hoover to eco
nonnic prosperity. This present-day
stability is especially welcome be-
cause it is well rounded, well balanced
and well adjusted.
Prosperity is a national thing I'M
like that of the Republican era, when
finance and industry doomed at the