Newspaper Article from the New York Times, "Text of Vice President Curtis's Acceptance Speech"

THE NEW YORK TIMES, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1932. Text of Vice President Curtis's Acceptance Speech TOPEKA, Kan., Aug. 18 (AP).- of immigration connot be doubted. products only 12 per cent. Since week should and will come. the situation in our own country The text of the specch of Vice The result of the enactment of the its enactment world conditions have The rise of organized labor is the than we are in any other, though law in 1924 has been beneficial to been such that its main benefit has story of muscle and brawn united we wish other countries well and President Curtis, accepting renomi- the workingmen of the United been to shut out the products of with intelligence-labor in fighting hope they may soon recover from nation, follows: States; beneficial to those foreign agriculture coming from other for its rights meets intelligence their troubles and their depressions. born as well as to those born in countries, but the condition of the with intelligence, reason with rea- We realize that this is a werld-wide Mr. Chairman, Senator Dickinson, this country. consumers in our own country has son and facts with facts. depression and know that anything The number of immigrants ad- been such that there has been a The strikes of the past have to improve conditions in other parts Members of the Notification mitted to the United States from greatly depressed home market." largely disappeared, and in their of the world will help our own Committee, Friends and Neigh- all countries in 1914 was 1,218,48 This condition at home will be place has come the ever-increasing country. We are, therefore, ready bors: while only 303,338 departed. In cured when our own people have recognition of the wisdom of arbl- to help other countries in every It gives me pleasure to add a 1928 after the law had been amend- a greater purchasing power, which tration and cooperation. Today it way possible provided we are not word of welcome to these distin- ed the number admitted dropped to can only be brought about "when is gratifying to note that the work- drawn into their political quarrels, 290,297, and 77,599 departed. In our working men are employed at ers and the employers realize that and this has been shown on many guished guests in the city of my 1931 when the law was rigidly en- reasonable and just wages. they are complementary to and de- occasions, but this does not mean a birth. Let me say to you ladies forced onlv 43,353 were admitted, I was privileged to introduce two pendent upon each other, and that cancellation of our foreign debts. and gentlemen that this vast as- while 33,186 departed, of which measures to relieve the agricultural If either is to prosper they must be Personally, I am opposed to can- semblage of my fellow-citizens is departures 18,868 were by deporta- situation. One was to provide for a allies, not enemies. cellation and I know the sentiment gathered without regard to party tion. The reports show that dur- national cooperative marketing or- We all desire to see labor fully of a large majority of the members to show its good-will to a lifelong ing this present year more have ganization. It gave the farmers employed at good wages, for this of the House and Senate is the neighbor, and-to recognize a com- departed than have been admitted. complete control of the organiza- means an increase in the purchas- same on that question. We are pliment paid him by your presence The intelligent devotion to the tion. It made provision for the ing power of the conntry, which is first anxious about our own depres- in this city today. Dull would 1 task of Americanization given by farmers to be informed as to sup- so much needed at this time by the sion, our own unemployment and be in feeling and lacking in taste the Daughters of the American ply and demand. It enabled the producers on the farms and in the our own trodbles and these we did I fail to sense this and to ex- Revolution and other patriotic so- cieties in their dealings with the producers through their organiza- factories of our land. shall solve by a continued, united press gratitude for this generous manifestation of friendship. I foreign born who came to this tion to hold their non-perishable country in good faith; the rigid en- products in case of an oversupply Money in Circulation. effort of our own farmers, our own business men, our own laboring thank you all for your presence in the market centres. There was and your esteem, which I shall forcement of the immigration law, The present administration has men and our own financial and in- and the deportation of alien crim- no handling, either buying or sell- dustrial leaders. ever prize and ever strive to merit. inals, racketeers and other unde- ing, of farm products by the gov- taken active steps to put hoarded I have great faith in the future Ladies and gentlemen of the com- ernment. and idle money in circulation; in of our wonderful country because mittee, you represent the Repub- sirables have been helpful to all This measure was pronounced other words to put it to work in there never were greater men and lican voters of forty-eight States our people. of the Union. You bear the com- Having briefly covered the tariff sound by many of the leading industry so as to give labor em- greater women than those we have mission of the Republican conven- and the immigration questions sep- friends and supporters of the ployment and to add to the pur- today, and we shall change the vention which met in Chicago in arately, I desire now to consider farmers in Congress and it was chasing power of our people. present times into prosperity be- June. That convention declared them jointly. Periods of economic unanimously reported from the The records show that it has cause of the efforts of these men anew our fidelity to the historic depression and after-war world- Committee on Agriculture of the been successful in its efforts. When and women who are working to- Republican party. Our purpose is wide readjustment, such as every Senate on June 6, 1924. It was the crash came in October, 1929, gether and doing so much for our to carry forward the work it has so nation is now going through, ap- claimed that it would take time to there was $40.23 per capita in cir- beloved country. In my opinion there ought to be established in so- well done since its organization ply the acid test to party policies, work out its provisions and that culation: the amount decreased to and to promote the further prog- administrative acts and legislative emergency legislation was needed $36.30 in October, 1930. Since then ciety such an order of things that ress of the United States. The enactments. In these trying times so this measure introduced by me the amount in circulation has in- everywhere the aged and dependent convention adopted a platform of world-wide economic distur- was not acted Lupon by the Con- creased and on June 30, 1932, may have a place of refuge and the which rings true for patriotism and bances Republican tariffs and im- gress. The other measure which the amount per capita in circula- poor employment and food. We constitutional government and migration restrictions account introduced was one of the twenty- tion was $45.50. were the last great country to feel worthily bestowed a renomination largely for American wages being six that received favorable consid- the cold, hard 'grip of depression upon our present Chief Executive, more than in any other- country. eration. It made provision for the The Constitution. and I feel sure we will be the first Herbert Hoover, Not only a.re our wages higher government to invest $50,000,000 to to recover. May that time come You, ladies and gentlemen, notify than in any other land, but Ameri- help the Federal Land banks to It seems to me that the state- soon, is the prayer of our people. me that the convention named me can standards of living are far meet the applications of the farm- ment on the Constitution and the No President in peace times ever as the party's candidate for Vice higher, hours of labor shorter and ers for loans. One of the members manner of its amendment made by had so many difficult problems to President. Our party has but once working conditions better than in of the board expressed his approval solve, no President ever worked before conferred a renomination any other nation. in the following terms: the great statesman, the bicenten- harder to improve conditions, and for the office upon a Vice Presi- The object of a tariff is to bene- "I can hardly conceive of any- nial of whose birth all the people none ever took the people into his dent, and this distinction is appre- fit and protect our workingmen thing that you might have done of our country are celebrating this confidence as has the careful or- ciated and its value is augmented from the lower wages, longer hours which is going to have such far- year, George Washington, might ganizer, the great student of the by the generous words in which and lower standards of living of reaching and lasting beneficial ef- with propriety be repeated today. needs of our people-Herbert you, Senator Dickinson, announce other countries and to protect our fect upon the agricultural situation He said: Hoover. it. I assure you it gives me pleas- manufacturers and American pro- now and in the future. "This government, the offspring ure to accept. As a loyal Repub- ducers in every industry and in- In this last Congress further re- of our own choice, uninfluenced lican, a disciple of the party of sure them our markets. The Re- lief was given to the farm loan and unawed, adopted upon full in- Abraham Lincoln, I stand upon the publican party by its twin tariff banks. vestigation and mature delibera- party platform. I approve of Mr. and immigration restriction planks In addition to the legislative tion, completely free in its prin- Hoover's admirable statement of recognizes that our first duty is to enactments of a general nature the ciples, in the distribution of its Republican principles and achieve- our own and those already here, Republican Administration has powers, uniting security with ments contained in his address ac- native or foreign born alike. sponsored special relief measures energy, and containing within it- cepting the renomination for Presi- It is, indeed, fortunate that in for conditions brought about by self a provision for its own amend- dent. these times of world-wide liquida- floods, droughts, the fruit fly and ment, has a just claim to your con- The Republican party has never tion, stagnation and readjustment grasshopper plague. fidence and your support. Respect claimed to possess within its mem- there were on the Federal statute The Republican party has always for its authority, compliance with bership a monopoly of patriotism books tariff and immigration laws considered that the various indus- its laws, acquiescence in its meas- and virtue. Just as in the period placed there by Republican admin- tries of our country were entitled ures, are duties enjoined by the of the World War we Republicans istrations, and that there was in to equal and fair consideration at fundamental maxims of true lib- put patriotism and loyalty to our the White House a President who, the hands of the Congress and the erty. The basis of our political country above party politics, so in sensing the situation at its very National Administration. systems is the right of the people the present economic crisis I was start, with real statesmanship and I have always had the greatest to make and alter their constitu- pleased indeed to witness in the administrative foresight and a keen confidence in the fairness of the tions of government. But the Con- last session that our friends on the regard for the workers and the American people and I know of no stitution which at any time exists, other side of the aisle put patriot- people. two years ago adopted a reason for the people criticizing the until changes by an explicit and ism above politics and supported policy intended to prevent any party under whose policies great authentic act of the whole people, many of the recommendations of more job hunters starting for the and important questions have been is sacredly obligatory upon all. our President, Herbert Hoover. United States. This action has solved and which is anxious to set- The Republican platform recog- Upon three different occasions done more good than any other tle all questions in the best interest nizes the fact that the people since I have been in public life and thing could have done to avert of all our people, and under whose should have full opportunity for when very serious situations exist- more increased unemployment, policies our nation has become the the expression of their will on the ed. I have seen both sides of the more human misery and more hu- man suffering. greatest and most powerful in the question of amending the Consti- aisle stand by the President re- world. tution and makes no distinction as gardless of party lines. The first Agriculture. to the Republicanism of the mem- was in 1898; the second during the Government Activities. bers of the party because of their World War, and the third during Because of the desire of the Re- the last two and one-half years. The President has given special stand on the prohibition question. publican party to aid and assist It clearly points out that the Con- Protection. attention to the machinery of gov- stitution provides the manner in the farmers of our country, I think ernment and has asked Congress to which amendments to it may be We should not only retain our it important to refer briefly to authorize him to consolidate the made, and if changes are desired home market but we should build some of the departmental and/Con- in it, they should be made in the governmental agencies with a view way the Constitution designates. it up and increase it as much as gressional efforts to relieve some of increasing efficiency and reduc- While the people may differ as to possible. This is necessary not of the !verse conditions affecting ing the cost of administration. For the wisdom of the enactment of a only to give American labor em- the farnicrs. years there has been a continuous particular piece of -legislation, or ployment, but also to procure for The farmers and stockmen of as to the amending of the Consti- expansion of governmental func- agriculture a just reward for its Kansas remember quite well their tution, it is impossible to ignore the tions in every direction and Constitution, labor. If the farmer can not sell, troubles began after the great necessary increase in expenditures. The Republican party pledges it- he can not buy. Likewise, if World War, in the Fall of 1919 There should be a systematic in- selfe-to the faithful enforcement American laborers are unemployed when the deflation policy of the vestigation and reorganization of and the vigorous execution of the they can not buy and when these Federal Reserve System was in- governmental agencies with a view Eighteenth Amendment to the Con- two are unable to buy there is a augurated. At the time I was at- to eliminating duplications and of stitution and to oppose the return decline in the demand for Ameri- tending a meeting at Eureka, Kan., uniting bureaus, when union is pos- of the saloon. can-made goods and for American when I was called upon by a sible without impairing the effi- I believe in meeting the issue products. number of farmers and stockmen ciency of the departments. Four squarely; I am a strong believer in The extent to which the wage who informed me that they had years ago I advocated the abolish- the rule of the majority and feel earners of the country can pur- been notified they must take up ment of all unnecessary boards and that the people should at all times chase depends upon the extent of their obligations which were soon commissions and the consolidation be given full opportunity to ex- their employment and the amount to become due. This would force of bureaus. I was encouraged to press their opinion on the Consti- of wages earned by them. There them not only to flood the markets do this because of the savings tution or amendments thereto, but must be an ability to buy what- with cattle and hogs, but to do so brought about by the movement personally, I am not only in favor ever may be the price, high or even before the animals were started by me, some twenty years of honestly and fearlessly enforcing low, at which the thing desired is ready for the market. Of course, a.go, to authorize the President to all our laws but further I am op- sold. So the two great problems it meant ruin to these men. I consolidate the ports of entry. posed to the return of the saloon which we must solve are to secure made a trip to Washington in their This was authorized, and $300,000 a and I am opposed to the repeal of employment for the unemployed behalf and was soon joined by a year has been saved every year the Eighteenth Amendment. and to make a market for the committee of 28 farmers and stock- since the order of consolidation products of the farm and factory. men, but we were unable to get was signed on March 4, 1913, by Loyalty to the Common Good. relief. The application of the principles President Taft. Since then a few of the American system of protec- This was followed by the importa- other consolidations have been Today there is in this country a tion is necessary in order to keep tion from other countries of a flood brought about, and every one has loyalty to the common good among out of our country goods which of agricultural products in 1920. resulted in a saving in expendi- come into competition with our The importation of such products tures. our people which will go forth to home-made goods and home-grown in that year amounted to, in round It is pleasing to note that the rout the economic peril which products. numbers, $3,000,000,000 This was President has been authorized to a hangs over us. It is not confined We produce a surplus of many disastrous to the American farmer, limited extent to make consolida- products and articles in this and resulted in the demand for tions, and it is believed that the to one sect or one creed; it is uni- country which the markets of and the enactment of the emer- result will be beneficial and that versal: we have gone through other countries must seek and gency tariff act of 1921, to protect the savings will be worth while I many such periods since the organ- have. These articles should be farm products. This act and the hope changes may be made that ization of the Republic, but our handled in a way which would regular act that followed resulted will result in a reduction of taxes people have come out of every one of them and gone forward with give our producers the command in drop of over $1,000,000,000 in place of increasing them. Ex- of the market where such articles in the importation of agricultural penses of government should be greater speed and our nation has are needed. products the first year it was in reduced wherever and whenever it become stronger and more power- It was the great protectionist, operation. is possible to do so. A policy ful each and every year since its The Congress has been trying to should be adopted that will bring organization until today it is the our martyred President, William McKinley, who in his last great solve the farm problem for the our governmental expenses within leading nation of the world. last eleven vears and that time its income. When we read of the depressions