U.S. PRESIDENCY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 June 1924, Page 7

U.S. PRESIDENCY

THE DEMOCRATS. ATTACK ON REPUBLICANS. DRIVING AND PICTURESQUE. 21 OABL3 FSIB9 ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT NEW YORK, June 24. Senator Harrison, delivering a keynote speech at the opening of the Democratic Convention, made a driving and picturesque attack on the Republicans, especially corruption in office, and briefly indicated the Democratic virtues. He said that despite the promises made during the 1920 campaign to reduce -the cost of living every line of the Fordney tariff had' increased the cost. The Taft Administration’s defeat was due to the Payne-Aldric-li tariff measure providing an eleven cent duty on wool, and the same reactionary’ group now fastened a thirty-one cent duty on the same goods. The tariff not only aded a four billion dollars burden on the American masses, but revealed the nation’s hypocrisy towards war-torn Europe, demanding payments upon the one and preventing payments upon the other.

“Republican morality is Spartan,” he added. “It is not corruption, but the discovery of it that constitutes a crime. Shall Mr. Daugherty go unpunished? .The Republican nominee stands forlorn and deserted, pilloried by his own party.” Senator” Harrison asked what had become of the 1920 pledges that the United. States would join an association of nations, and he attacked the Senatorial negation of the World Court. He praised ex-President Wilson’s foreign policies and courageous Democratic participation in world undertakings The speaker next attacked the State Department’s activities to aid American private interests to obtain control of the world’s oil sources. Senator Harrison concluded : ‘ ‘We will restore the dignity and integrity of public office, punish the rascals and enforce the law, whether it be violated by a Congressional bribe-taker or a disreputable bootlegger. We will readjust the tariff rates, we will go to the relief of distressed agriculture, we will bare the campaign of bribery and punish election frauds, and we shall assume in a manly fashion our responsibilities to the world.”

The great quadrennial* jubilee of democracy is passing through the final fevered stages of pre-convention rivalry and enthusiasm. Manhattan resounds to the tramp of cheering delegations and the blare of marching hands, while the outrunners from the forces of the principal candidates scurry everywhere to bring the new arrivals into camp and to consolidate the legions already assembled behind their favourites. From a balconv Mr. McAdoo exhorted a group of howling western delegations to stand by him to the last ditch. They shouted back assurances that they would. New York noisily acclaimed allegiance to its favourite. A. L. Smith, in the greatest parade in the history of the city. ‘i The McAdoo and Smith supporters continue to claim a victory. The Democratic National Convention will meet in Madison Square at noon on Tuesday with twentv aspirants for the Presidency. Mr. W. G. McAdoo stands well ahead, with Governor “Al.” Smith, the idol of New York Democracy, having enough backing to put him second on the opening ballot! A rally in both camps to-dav kindled enthusiasm to fever heat.