The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-16

gate.
 that party whose wisdom and progressive policies they were compelled, even if by indirection, to endorse?
 Alarm Evident
 In national conventions hereto. fore there has been vast amount of pointing with pride and view ing with alarm, but at, Philadel- phia, while there was much view ing with alarm, there was no pointing with pride, for the ob- vious reason that they could re- member nothing at which to point. That platform is a perfect example of the aphorisrn that Language was invented to con- ceal thoughts"
 It is contended by Republican leaders that the farmers of the country will not support our party in November on the basis of the record of this administra- tion. I refute that assertion. I do it because those farmers are men of intelligence and with a high capacity for the appraisal of leg islative action as it affects their welfare. At the end of a Hoover administration, the farmers of America had on their hands an unprecedented panic and the Hoover Farm Board. The effects of the panic were irnmeasurable and the results of such farm board activities were worse, as our farmers will remember. They also well remember the prices they were receiving for their products in that fateful hour.
 Since we came into power we have progressively enacted for their benefit the Soil and Water Conservation Program, the lowest farm interest rates in our entire history, the benefits of rural elec- trification of their homes, market ing agreements, commodity loans, research into new uses and new markets, the stamp plan for dis tribution of surplus commodities, the long range farm tenant pro- gram whereby such tenants may acquire, under reasonable terms, and on long payments, the bene- fits of owning their own homes and the immeasurable benefits to them of the policy of parity pay rnentS.
 Parity Payment
 I particularly call your atten- ton to the attitude of the Repub- lcians in Congress with reference to the parity payment program, and remember that this was a direct and vital issue as to whether or not the government should undertake by this means to equalize, at least in part, the prices which the farmers secured for their products as compared to the cost of their production or the things they had to buy in the open market.
 On March 2S, 1889, the House of Representatives. on 6 vote to ap- propriate $25O,o00, 900 to provide for such parity payments, the Democrats voted for the proposi- tion, 168, and Republicans voted for, 20, and against, 135. On May 9th of this year the vote on the proposal for $212 900 900 for parity, payments to farmers was for, Democrats 1s3, Republicans for, 2, and against, 131. You there have a concrete example of the deep and abiding interest which the Republican membership of the House took upon this most vital question for the benefit of agri- culture. By their votes shall ye know them.
 One of the most remarkable, as well as discreditable, efforts ever made by political party to fab- ricate out of the whole cloth and without a shred of evidence to support it is the charge of some Republican leaders that the Dem- ocrat party and administration are attempting slyly and covertly to lead the United States into the shambleS of a foreign war.
 I here and now denounce that calumny and assert that, not only is this administration opposed ab- solutely to a participation in any European war, but upon the con- trary, both the President and our able Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, and a Democratic Congress have done everything possible within the bounds of reason, not only to preserve peace in Europe and in the entire world, but to so conduct our foreign relations that every precaution would be taken to keep US out of involvement in 8 foreign war. He has especially and consistently addressed his ac- tivities to the consolidation of that policy in this hemisphere and especially with. our sister repub- lies in Latin America.
 Neutrality Statement
 When the President signed the first neutrality resolution on Aus gust si. 1885. he did 50 with this statement:
 T have approved this joint res0. lution because 1t was intended as an expression of the fixed desire |. Of the Government and the pco- pie of the United States to avoid any action which might involve us in war. The policy of the govern ment Is denitely committed to the maintenance Of peace and the avoidance of any entangiements which would lead us into con- bict." The only ao-called naddliug in