| This
campaign will determine whether the
country wishes to return from progressive
forward-looking principles of government
to a reactionary regime. Governor
Cox came on the field of public life
in 1918, when the country started
to go forward in thought and action.
He was a member of Congress in 1910,
when the country showed its disapproval
and lack of confidence in Republican
leadership by returning a strongly
Democratic house. In 1912, the people
of Ohio chose him as Governor, putting
on his shoulders the heavier responsibility
of enacting into statutory law the
provisions of the new Constitution.
The Republicans, as represented by
both branches of the legislature,
opposed a great part of this legislation.
It has been particularly advantageous
to Ohio. Her people believed in Cox;
they know his value. And I, as chairman
of the Democratic National Committee,
intend that what Ohio knows shall
be made known to every state, city,
town, village, crossroad, and cottage
in America.
The Republicans
have criticized the Democratic war
Congress. Their criticism will have
no effect, because they have been
in power two years and have accomplished
nothing. The people know that they
can trust Cox. It is his proud record
that every promise he made in Ohio
has been lived up to after his election.
Americans can know what to expect
if they elect Cox because, as he
has said, the platform adopted at
San Francisco is a promissory note
that must be paid in full. This
is no idle phrase. It means that
as far as humanly possible, every
promise made in the platform shall
be kept.
Can the Republicans
say as much? They promise that a
Republican Congress of businessmen
would relieve the country of the
burdensome burden of tax bills.
We shall sharply attack them for
their failure to make good in that
promise. We shall attack the party
for not dotting an "i"
or crossing a "t" in revenue
bills which they have so bitterly
criticized -- for what they have
not done -- the excess profit tax
-- which admittedly contributes
to the high cost of living. This
tax was passed under war conditions,
and approved by the Republican membership
of the Ways and Means Committee,
and later by Congress. It should
have been repealed by the recent
Congress but it has failed to do
so.
I do not
believe that the independent vote
of the country, which will be a
controlling factor in this election,
will support a party that looks
at the hole and not at the doughnut.
I believe that the workmen of the
country will realize that President
Wilson's new freedom is reflected
in their conditions as to wages
and living -- that they will realize
that they do not hold their jobs,
nor does their pay depend, on the
alleged benefits of a high protective
tariff. As chairman, I am going
to have the assistance of the whole
democracy to place these facts squarely
before the people. Our party is
united. We are all working together.
We have the support of the modern
thought of the day . With peace,
progress, prosperity as our slogan,
and with Governor Cox and Roosevelt
as our nominees, we expect to win
a glorious victory in November.
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