Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1920 — READ THE RECORD, MR. ROOT [ARTICLE]

READ THE RECORD, MR. ROOT

In a formal speech that was doubtless Intended to be at once an indictment of the Democratic administration and an inspiration to Republicans in New York and the country at large, Elihu Root has merely furnished a new occasion for directing public attention to the incompetence of the g. o. p.’s stewardship in the present congress. Proiposing a course of action for his party, Mr. Root urged, among other things, the accomplishment of five imlportant enterprises which can only be initiated and consummated by congress. These recommendations of Mr. Root’s contemplated: (1) Reduction of war taxes; (2) retrenchment in governmental expenditures; (3) adoption of a budgetary system; (4) withdrawal of the president’s extraordinary war powers, and (5) immediate ratification of tfhe treaty “with reservatlbns.”

Nothing is better known to the miass of the American people than that the Republican congress, in session since last May, with the exception of a few weeks, has failed and refused to reduce or modify war taxation, safeguard appropriations against wastefulness; adopt a budget or lessen the war powers—and the war burdens—of the executive, notwithstanding the president’s messages requesting the Republican majority to do these very things. It is well and universally understood that it was the Republican senators and not President Wilson who prevented the ratification of the treaty. Amdng the “war powers” which were conferred on the president were those in connection with the government’s control and operation of the railroads. It was necessary for the president to call uippn the Republican congress twice in the space of eight months to force' its leaders into framing and passing a measure that would return the reads to their private owners and thus relieve him of one of the most extensive and onerous - of his “war powers.’’

The gentlemlan who is Secretary of the committee of 171, Chosen to prepare the republican platform for the next campaign, assures the public (in this capacity as writer for newspapers) that the g. o. p. congress will have to vote a bonus for each former service man. He seems to think that the present policy of deception and delay cannot be continued indefinitely. The Republican leaders of congress find themselves in a difficult, not to say painful, situation, which is none the less unpleasant because it is of their own making. They have been promising generous recognition of the former soldiers and -sailors. At the same time they have been committing themselves to a regime of “economy.” They

I now deem it Impossible to make good their pledges to the fortnler service men—at a cost of a billion dollars or more—and simultaneously keep the total expenditures of government under $4,000,000,000. More than 4,000 farmers were accommodated with loans from Che federal farm loan hoard’s funds during the month of January. Their aggregate borrowings were were for long periods and at interest rates much below those charged by private lenders. Many thousands of farmers have been directly benefited by this federal loan plan since its inception, anil thousands more have reaped an indirect advantage through the reduction in interest rates brought about by this governmental agency. Like the federal reserve system, the farm loan act is Democratic legislation and is likely to remain on the books, notwithstanding ah the Republican threats to repeal it All those charged with complicity in fraudulent and corrupt practices to insure the nomination and election of Truman H. Newberry as United States senator from Michigan are now ready to concede, doubtless, that the attempt to debauch aw entire electorate was a grave blunder as well as a serious crime. Some of them have confessed their disgraceful parts in the criminal adventure; others have less plainly admitted their guilt by refusing to combat the charges against them. Whatever the fate of other promoters and beneficiaries of this fraud, corruption and conspiracy may be, so far as the verdict of a jury is concerned, they will have been convicted at the bar of public opinion.

With the redemption and cancellation of $60,000,000 of “loan” certificates, the last of the government’s floating indebtedness has been extinguished. The public debt has been growing smaller since last August and it is to undergo a further reduction in the next few months. Even with a lower rate of taxation on small incomes—provision for which decrease was made by a Democratic congress as soon as the war ended —the government is meeting its obligations promptly and fully without hint of further borrowings. The financing of the war and the even more difficult task of preventing a crisis during reconstruction are among the most notable if not the most spectacular achievements of the present administration.

Charles R. Hughes of Peru is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for auditor of state. Mr. Hughes was formerly a locomotive engineer on the L. E. & W. railroad, but in 1894 was elected clerk of the Miami circuit court and since the expiration of his term has been actively engaged in business in Perm and for several years has been a director and vice-president of the Citizens’ National bank of that place. Evidence submited to the court in Michigan in the trial of men charged with corruption, fraud and conspiracy in connection with the nomination and election of Truman H. Newberry as senator from, that state indicates that, in somite minds the honor of a seat in the senate justified any crime against the ballot. Not every Republican who is seen with a hammer' in his hand is at work on his party’s presidential platform. They be preparing to “knock” some other fellow’s candidate.