Show THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN I D By Frederic J J. J Haskin Will the election of 1924 1921 turn upon the personalities characters and records p pf the three presidential l Coolidge Coolidge Davis and La toilette upon ollette upon the records of the Republican Democratic and Progressive Pro Pro- parties or upon the issues in the party platforms Will Wul new issues arise and become dominant during the course course of or the campaign Will anybody be able to determine just what Issues are re the decisive ones even after the election electron elections s is s over and the quadrennial explanations explanations explanations nations and analyses are in order Party leaders are always read ready if not anxious to tell the public what the real issues of qC a campaign are but the public is not always willing willingto to take the judgment of the lea leaders ers and amid not Infrequently the lard best party plans are knocked into a ahat cocked hat as a result As a matter of fact it is extremely extreme ly difficult to define campaign lU issues S clearly and sharply so that the VOler voter voter vot vot- er may know lenow exactly what he will get in return for the vote he casts For Foi example if the candidates themselves are arc the Issues the v voter ter will be guided by opinion and prejudice rather than by positive knowledge i that he may acquire I I Coolidge Davis and La i 1 ar are widely dissimilar individuals II They do not resemble one another in their mental processes an any ny more I than they do In personal appearance I and Idiosyncrasies Their public ut utI ut- ut vary distinctly in style and I tone Their public utterances rances arc are scarcely comparable because they I have been made in iii varying varying situations situations situa situa- lions and under differing conditions Their training and have been essentially different All are men of recognized ability none Is a weakling I But how is it to be proved to t tie ITie Je average citizen which vh one ne of oC tad three is the ablest and the best qualified q for the high gh office to which I all aspire Politicians concede that this is something that cannot xe too o I proved The he average citizen Corms torms his opinions of or men in public life lire unconsCiously unconsciously unconsciously un un- un- un consciously and often illogically and when they are formed they ther stick He lIe likes one ana amid dislikes another for reasons that he I may not not be able to state clearly or I to vindicate in an argument but once he has arrived at an opinion opinion opinion ion or a prejudice he is not easily dissuaded from it Similar is the matter of party records records records rec rec- which necessarily are made under varying conditions co because two parties cannot be in power power at atthe atthe atthe the same time By way a of illustration illustration tion e economy onomy of administration and reduction of or- orthe the public debt may be cited Republican leaders are proud of the record their party has made mad along tho those e lines Jines But how is isit isit isit it to be demonstrated ted to the voter o of Inquiring mind that the Republicans cans have done the best that could have been done or that the Democrats Democrats Democrats Demo Demo- or Progressives Progressives- would not have done equally as aswell well had either of those parties been in n power since March 4 1921 Again gain it is found that the average voter necessarily must reach a a. a Conclusion or acquire a prejudice without exactly knowing how or pr why Comparing Platform I Pledges However when it comes to a consideration consideration consideration con con- of what the parties stand for as shown by their platform remises or pledges comparisons comparIsons' may be made that are enlightening and Informing The The- voter can cant as ascertain ascertain ascertain as- as certain just what the the parties are committed to with respect to varIous various various vari varI- ous questions On the tariff for instance the J Republicans indorse the Fordney- Fordney McCumber protective tariff and stand for the policy it embodies The Democrats condemn the Fordney- Fordney McCumber tariff act as an aid to tom m monopoly and amI advocate te reductions of tariff rates and the establishment of or r reciprocity agreements with other nati nations ms while the Progressives pledge themselves to drastic reductions reductions reductions of ot the Fordney McCumber schedules Here the voter may know what ho lie will get get or or at least what h ho ha is promised promised for for his ballot As to honest government the lines are not so sharply drawn The Dens Dem DensI DeJu I and aHI Progressives promise u II th thorough rough housecleaning in the executive executive ex ex- departments and the punishment punishment punish punish- ment o or 11 r prosecution of derelict officials officials officials of of- while the Republicans bl cans pledge vI vigilance ilance In maintaining clean and honest t and the bringing On Last Page ISSUES OP OF THE CAMPAIGN From Page One to justice of those who have ha s 1 Jated the public trust n Both Republicans and Democrats when hen it comes come to the prohibition issue committed are to the full enforcement enforcement enforcement en en- of all laws The he Progressive Progressive sive platform i is silent With respect to industrial relations relations rela rela- relations the Democrats and Progressives Progressives elves both approve coll collective cUve bargaining bargainIng bar- bar gainIng paining the Progressives de denounce the I I use of court Injunctions in labor disputes and the Democrats favor legislation regulating the hours and conditions of labor The Republicans indorse the child labor amendment to the constitution tion lion and the hour eight-hour day aw au and favor more federal employment ment agencies What to do With ith the Railroads The Democrats are to a revision of the Esch CummIns trans trans' f p r n act ct while e- e eth th the Progressives Progressive SS V 3 1 want that law repealed The latter II also declare for government owner- owner Snip as the ultimate solution 01 of or me the railroad problem and for a revision of of railroad rates rates on th the basis of actual actual ac ac- actual ac- ac investment and cost of ot service The Democrats promise a reduction of rates on basic priced low maw law commodities The Republicans s affirm af- af firm the go i right to regulate r rg reg- and control public utilities and ure E car ful sni SinI scientific scientific rate adjustments and the consolidation of the railroads into fewer and larger systems Taxation is a question that strikes s home to most voters The Republicans cans cans promise economy ani constant I reductions of federal taxes and approve approve ap ap- prove the Coolidge plan for a conference conference conference con con- ference of or federal and state officials to devise means of reducing loch local taxes The Democrats ls indorse the tax hill bill passed at the last session of of congress congie s' s in place of the the Mellon Mellon tax I plan The Th Progressives Progressive's s favor a reduction reduction re- re of i taxes on n moderate incomes in- in n-I n I conies comes increases In the rates of inheritance In- In taxes taxes excess profits taxes i and publicity of all federal tax re re- re- re turns The Republicans would aid time tIle American Americ n farmer b by a reorganization of or the marketing system government government govern govern- government ment assistance where crop diversification diversification diversification cation of ot the marketing system ampie ample ample am am- pie credits and adequate tariff taril protection protection protection pro pro- on agricultural products Democrats would do the same Bame thin thins thins- by 3 y tariff reduction lower tation lation costs credits operatives co and end encouraging trade frade with foreign nations The Progressives promise he dhe farmer larger credits through the farm loan system lower freight rates and the the St. St Lawren Lawrence Great Lawrence e Lakes waterway as a means of provIding providing pro pro- viding rIding cheaper transportation s to Europe I Governmental reform called for no iio platform expression by either the I f nep Republicans or Democrats The r Progressives however have haye much 10 to toLay say Lay on that subject urging the direct nomination and election n of the president president dent popular election of federal judges for tor year ten terms a amendment restricting rest the power of the supreme supreme court to decare declare declare de de- de- de clare care acts of ot congress unconstitutional unconstitutional unconstitutional the extension of ot the initiative and referendum to federal affairs and md the use of the federal power to restrain monopolies Th They y also denand demand de- de nand mand the restoration of the rights of ot i j free speech and political liberty As to foreign relations the Democrats Democrats Democrats Demo Demo- want a referendum on tile the league le-agu-e of r nations hatlon while time tIle Re Republicans Republicans Republicans' publicans pub pub- oppose the league but approve the world court Both these par parties e favor measures looking to perm permanent perma perma- permanent m I nent world peace The Progressives Progress want a revision revising cf tlc tb b s peace treaty peace treat treaty armament reduction the outlawing of war by International al treaties and popular referendums on questions of peace or war To be sure sure- suretha that tha he e knows just justI I what the three parties stand Tor tie voter will be compelled lIed to read and analyze na a Republican Pla platform or I words and a Progressive platform platform of ot 1500 words I Then in addition to that he will j have to listen as the several and II various party authorities exactly how the platforms are to be Interpreted After Alter which he ma may exercise his inalienable right to vote VOle exactly as he pleases He may not k know ow W what lt he lie e is v voting ting for but lira hrs 3 vote yote will count for tor as much as if he l I had written t the platform l he prefers |