Evening star., 1940-07-16
ankheads Keynote Address Democrats Defends New Deal

ls: nays, Democrats 20, Republicans
14l.
Shadow Of Hitler
Hangs Over America.
My fellow countrymen, We are
assembled at the most fateful mo-
ment in the history Of mankind.
The sinister shadow Of . cruel,
savage and ruthless despotism
hangs like pail Of doom over the
homes and the lives Of every citi-
zen Of democratic and nberty-lov.
ing peoples. Already this jugger-
naut Of physical force and brutal
power has laid its blighting hand
upon the freedom and sovereignty
Of eight small and defenseless ma.
tions. Poland, Czechoslovakia, Aus
tria, Norway, Belgium, the Meth
erlands, Denmark, Luxembourg and
now France lie in the agony and
ashes Of the totalitarian destruc-
ton; and only Great Britain alone
stands against the hurricane Of the
blitzkrieg. And now Hitler and
MuSsolini have sworn her total an.
Inhalation. They have, furthermore,
sworn eternal enmity against all So
called decadent democracies, and
that includes us.
I do not know what attitude this
convention may take on that SUBJ
ject, but know that 1t is the at
titude Of the American people that
We will resist to the death any COM
promise Of our democratic principles
with those malignant disturbers Of
the peace Of the world; that we do
not propose to appease those ag-
gressors whose doctrines wage war
upon every principle Of liberty for
a free people that our Declaration
Of Independence proclaimed and
our Federal Constitution preserved.
More Republican Propaganda"
Is Assailed by Speaker.
I now propose to expose another
fragrant piece Of Republican propa-
ganda by which they are endeavor-
ing during this campaign. as they
have already done, to make the
American people believe that this
administration has been Indifferent
to and neglectful Of the necessary
steps to prepare and make instantly
available an adequate system of
national defense at sea, on land
and In the air. National defense is
a sacred trust. When a matter in
volving the safety of our beloved
country is at stake. we should all
be united, both Democrats and Re-
publicans, because we are all Amer
leans. In critical times such as
these, we should be thinking less of
the political differences that divide
us and more of the national inter-
ests that unite us. Until the inva-
sion just two months ago Of Nor
way. Belgium, Denmark and the
Netherlands. how many Of us real
lied the full portent of events over
seas. Prior to that invasion, heard
no Republican urging a national
defense program such as we have
now launched. During the II years
Of Republican administration, the
national defense record was one of
continual retrogression. During the
11-year period between 1922, the
year OF the Washington Arms Con-
ference, and 1884, the year follow
ing Democratic charge of govern
ment, they laid down a total of only
IS combatant ships. During the
last three years of the Hoover ad-
ministration, not one single vessel
OF war was laid down by our Gov
ernment: During this administra-
ton there has been laid down up to
June, 1910, 8 new battleships, II
new cruisers, 2 new aircraft car
riers, IS new destroyers and SO new
submarines, grand total of l53 new
units in seven years, as contrasted
with IS new units under the L.
year Republican regime.
81 Ships Authorized
For Two-Ocean Navy.
This Congress has, in addition,
authorized 81 ships of war to give
us a two-ocean Navy, sea force OF
such magnitude and power, includ-
ing its air force, as will make rea-
sonably certain our continued domi-
nance Of this hemisphere and the
perpetuation of our cherished in
stitutions. Let this startling SLIM
mary Of ships authorized and con-
structed for the Navy be fixed in