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"Peace, Progress and Prosperity"
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 It should have been repealed by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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