National Affairs: Candidate Coolidge

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Most generous laws for the relief of disabled veterans have been enacted and the Veterans' Bureau established. More than 71,000 men and women have been rehabilitated, of whom over 38,000 are earning more than they earned before the War. . . . Forty million dollars has been provided for hospital facilities. . . .

"To preserve American standards for all our inhabitants, whether they were the descendants of former generations residing here or the most recent arrivals, restricted emigration laws were passed. I should have preferred to continue the policy of Japanese exclusion by some method less likely to offend the sensibilities of the Japanese people. I did what I could do to minimize any harm that might arise. . . .

"By means of a protective tariff we have saved American agriculture, labor and industry from the menace of having their great home market destroyed through the dumping upon it of a flood of foreign products. . . . As a source of revenue the tariff surpassed all expectations in producing an annual return of the unprecedented sum of about $500,000,000. . . . "The people have never come to a full realization of the importance of the Washington Conference. It produced the one effective agreement among the great Powers in all the history of civilization for relieving the people of the earth from the enormous burden of maintaining competitive naval armaments. ... A policy was adopted which was more than revolutionary. It was sublime. . . ."

Honesty in Government. "There are those who would disregard all this for an undertaking to convince themselves and others that the chief issue of this campaign is honest government. In all my studies of political history, I cannot recall an Administration which was desirous of a dishonest and corrupt Government that, for the purpose of checking extravagance, ever undertook to introduce a budget system, to cut down taxes, to purge the payrolls, to make enormous reductions in the public debt and to lay firmer foundations; for the peace of the world. . .

"Individuals charged with wrongdoing are being prosecuted. ... If the evidence warranted, those suspected of crime have been indicted; and without favor, but without malice, they will be tried on the charges; returned against them."

Mr. Coolidge's Principles. "I believe in the American Constitution.. I favor the American system of individual enterprise and I am opposed' to any general extension of Government ownership and control. ... I believe in a reduction and reform of taxation. ... I am in favor of protection.

"I favor the Permanent Court and: further limitation of armaments. I am opposed to aggressive war. I shall avoid involving ourselves in the political controversies of Europe, but I shall do what I can to encourage: American citizens and resources to assist in restoring Europe, with the sympathetic support of our Government. "

"I want agriculture and industry on a sound basis of prosperity and equality. . . . The domestic affairs of our country appear to me to be: by far the chief concern. From that source comes our strength."