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The Democratic
party came into power on the fourth
day of March 1913. Its achievements
in the way of domestic reforms constitute
a miracle of legislative progress.
Provision was made for an income
tax, thereby relieving our law of
the reproach of being unjustly burdensome
to the poor. The extravagances and
inequities of the tariff system
were removed, and a non-partisan
tariff commission was established.
Pan-Americanism was encouraged.
The great reaches of Alaska were
opened up to commerce and development.
Dollar diplomacy was destroyed.
A corrupt lobby was driven from
the national capitol. A workmen's
compensation act was adopted. The
Federal Trade Commission was created.
Child labor legislation was enacted.
The Smith-Lever Bill for the improvement
of farm conditions was passed. The
parcel post and the rural free delivery
were developed. A corrupt practice
act was adopted. A good roads bill
and a rural credit act were passed
and a federal reserve system was
established.
This last
law not only reformed an archaic
currency system, but placed our
financial affairs upon such a sound
basis that we successfully met the
vast expenditures made necessary
by war, and without strain or panic
were able to supply the needs of
our allies. When war came, we provided
the necessary legislation; a War
Finance Corporation was created.
The Office of Alien Property Custodian
was established. War risk insurance
was provided, while a ship-building
log reestablished America's supremacy
upon the seas. Vocational education
was provided. Industry was successfully
mobilized, and the navy was expanded
until it became the second in size
in all the world and the first in
efficiency. An army of three million
men was organized, and more than
two million soldiers, fully equipped,
well officered, and indomitable
in spirit, was safely transported
across three thousand miles of seas,
where it turned the tide of battle,
won imperishable glory, and triumphed
in the greatest war that the world
has ever known.
Heady criticism
of minor defects and individual
officials may for a time attract
a superficial attention, but the
significant things, the great outstanding
facts of the last six years, plead
eloquently for the Democratic cause.
Not only were these results accomplished
under Democratic authority, but
the very terms upon which hostilities
came to an end were formulated by
a Democratic president.
Our leader
has become the world's leader. In
very truth, the hopes of mankind
look to the American President.
It is his purpose to secure a just
and enduring peace. The best thought
of the world is in accord with that
purpose. The ghastly tragedy which
has overwhelmed the souls of men,
the unspeakable horror which for
four long years has desecrated the
faith of God's fair fields must
be banished forever. All who love
America and peace and liberty will
take a solemn pride in supporting
the President in his efforts to
secure a treaty of peace based upon
a stabilizing league so that war
may not recur and the standards
of justice may be applied to all
nations alike.
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