The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-19

Continued From Page One)
and 30 fhe youth Of today 1
nledre nv word that ] shall
never let them down.
In former days America was
described a. country in which
any young man might become
president. Il Is stu that kind Of
country. The thousands Of my fell
low townsmen standing hereabout
know how distant seemed that op-
portunity to me so years ago. We
must fight to preserve America as
a country in which every girl and
boy has every opportunity for any
achievement
TALKS TO YOUTH
To the millions Of our young
men and women who have been
deliberately disillusioned by the
political influences I now oppose:
TO the millions who no longer be-
lieve in the future of their land
TO them ! want TO say in all hu-
mility-this boy I knew started
like you. without money or posi-
ton; but America gave him the
opportunity for a career.
81 want to assure n similar
opportunity TO every boy and
girl of today. who Ii willing 10
stand on his own feet. and
work. and fight.
Il have more reason than most
Of you to feel strongly about this
because the United States gave my
family their first chance for free
life. The ancestors Of both my
father and mother. like the ances-
tors of millions of Americas, lived
in Central Europe. They were
humble people-no members of the
ruling or wealthy classes.
ZONE WAS ExILED"
Their opportunities were re-
stricted by discriminatory laws and
class distinctions. One was exiled
because Of his religion: another
was prosecuted because he believed
in the principles of the French
revolution: and still another was
jailed for insisting on the right of
free speech.
AS their descendent, have
fought from boyhood against
those restrictions, discrimina-
tons and tyrannies. And 1
am still fighting.
My grandparents lived in Ger
many. They were supporters of
the democratic revolution in that
country, and, when the revolutions
failed. they fled to the United
States. How familiar that soundsl
Today, also. people are being
oppressed in Europe. The story of
the barbarous and worse than
medieval persecution of the Jews
IA race that has done so much to
Improve the culture of these coun-
tries and our owns the most
tragic in human history.
RECITES A PLEDGE
To-day there are millions OF
refugees who desire sanctuary and
opportunity in America, just as in
my grandparents time. The pro-
lection Of our own labor and agri-
culture prevents us from admitting
more than a few of them.
But their misery and suf-
fering make ms resolve 20 pre-
serve our country rs n land
free of hate and bitterness, OF
racial and class distinction. 1
pledge you that kind of
America.
My mother was born in this /
country. My father was three or
four years old when his parents
settled in northern Indiana. II was
then trackless forest. As a young
man, he helped to clear that forest.
He worked his way through the
Fort Wayne Methodist college,
taught school. and became super
intendent of schools here in FL
wood.
My mother was also a school
teacher. Whenever they had time.
they both studied law and evenA
tually both took up the practice of
law. ] doubt if any two people
ever appreciated or, loved this
country more than they. i
FIERCELY DEMOCRATIC
"As you who lived here with /
them well know, they were fiercely
democratic. They hated oppression.
autocracy. or arbitrary control of
any kind. They believed in the
qualities that have made America
great an independent spirit. an
inquiring mind, courageous heart.
AT school they taught those
virtues to many of you who
are here today. At home they
thaught them TO their chill
dren. IL Is a tribute to their
teaching that when the United
States entered the World war
of 1917, three of their four
boys were volunteers. In the
uniform of the American
forces, within one month after
war was declared.
They withheld no sacrifice for
the preservation of the America of
1917. In an even more dangerous
world. we must not withhold any
sacrifice necessary for the preser-
walton of the America of 1910.
A COMPARISON
To-day we meet in a typical
Arr,arieau fouvu The otrief sf reefs