Fr a nkJin D. Roo evelt - "The Great Communicator" The Master peech Fil es , 1898, 1910-1945 eries I: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Political Ascension File No. 218 1920 October 19 Dayton, OH - Campaign Speech
FrankJin D. Roo evelt - "The Great Communicator" The Master peech Files, 1898, 1910-1945
eries I : Franklin D. Roosevelt' s Political Ascension
File No. 218
1920 October 19
Dayton, OH - Campaign Speech
opJ.e
are atUl in axlat noo wbo wolll4 ww a part)' :Uotot wlt
a.nniu cUare r4 of wh.t.her t not~inu o! tlw~ pGT\;:r h tH
tor tba ot:t1oo or no~ . !ble 11 p rt1oularlJ true .a tboco
• u.lto no wbo have boo~• 4la uate4 Wltb aozat or Eardiae'l oa.
P"ltn, ~o ft•l•it t the 1a,. tN&l: oan41bta , od that bo w111 not
m~ko a r.ooa ~a14ont. rha .. people , io nearly aver7 oeao, 110
a4o1 t qui to fl'o111t17 that Covon or Co:K U a tar abler ana a tron&er
IUJI and woul4 aabl a be ttor raei4ent. Yet on t op ot ill thie,
t hey ea7 - I aa a Rl~>t~blioanl thoro:to~e .. ehnll ~vo to vote :tor
Ilana t or Ral'f.ing.
'l'ho 111110 thine u true ln repoord to the ~ueation o:t tho
Loap a of llat1ono laolf. :..omo people have told me that the¥ ware
in tavor ot tho •.ota«UO of lie tiona; that. they oi!Ult 1M 1Jn1 ted Statea
to r o in; t hat thaJ roalho that a vote tor wonator llar41DS 1B a
vote apinat tho .IAagu.e , t.nd )'Ot that the)' mut vote tor ::enat or
llar 4il!lf beonuua thq are <apublioana. 1 wiah that n oryboll)' wou4
think over thoua a t atomante on4 oak tbam~elvae whether tho purpoea
upr auuad in tho11 11 o lul:till:lonL o:t t bo purpoooo of t ha bo.llot..
Tho ballot WDe intended, o:t oourua, :tor the tu1 expronion of
opioion aa t o tho aolootion of tho boat oan4i4&taa, and a dooieion,
pro or oon , on i 11por tant i eauea . l t wae modo a Beorat b~llot in
or der too auo to1n tho troadoa of tho Yotor to axproae hio or her
a ind. If all t ho Yotar• wore def1n111ol7 line l ~:~p with p&rll1ee a n4
voted atra1&ht part7 t1okote without ~aoation it ~ould ba a eilly
axponao to hold 1111 elaot1on at all . - realetration would be ~oll7
n f :t1o1oat.
2 -
otll tor ~h Count •• " y tlL'oa
lll1ntl pArUeanahiJ> 1fl he p at. ao.oeraUon, -.n 1wrec.aill
~n~~:~kr ot Totara llpll\ their llot Let.w .... n na11Uduta or 41tfar-
ant partlaa . ora sn~ mor •~r.v yoar votaru oro OGatit tbeiz
'bnll ota 1r accord r.oa with tl.oir o m cOI'lY1otlona ou big 1~;.uu and
on the t 1t1>aaa or the lnt.hldnal oonHdA'tea.
t Ia wh7 Ia thla aleotl on, outuldo or tha profeaclou41
ocunpa lgn CVO.Jl&f!8:t8 and orkara, tilaN wall BUcl• " trocen oue a1lanoe
tlurlnl! the early part or the C&IM'Pilio!n on tl•" p~rt of 1100 and wooen
who were atlll thinklns and 414 not ~ ·t want to co~o out opoD11 one
&1 or the other. lt h tha1. thinking vote wl:..ich doea not ax,l'lroaa
itael t ~oh up to within two or throe waeka ot the election - it ia
that thinking Tote which is the renl axpl&nation o! tho tremendou.
awing toward Conrnor Cox durill8 tho 'paat ten dqa, ln ot.bar woNa,
men and wcrnen in an17 aeotion o! the Countrr and in ancy w.lk ot
lifo , who are not t.ollfld hsnd and toot b;ji' part1 tl.ea, avo though tba7
-Y bo 114 turll.ll;t 1n ona puty o; t.ho other, hAn kept a1lent and haTe
watohod the ~ro~reaa of tha o~paitn • l ow they a re oonaiJI!I; out epenl7
and eho·wi •~' the reault or their ailant thought. Tho:v haTO ba"n eotu
atod lly ti&JlY lll}ltlvaa, but two ot them appear very ol ear ,
11rat, rbey are diaguatad with the oampo1gn conducted b7
eenator l!ardin&, with hia T&g~Utnaaa and ah1tt1D& or sround . .lhey are
41aguate4 too at hla obviouu alignment with the ruao\ior~y elomout
in the RoiJUblionn J.'arty . Tlle7 have oaen tho oloar-out, open and
brnTa oupaip of Governor cox. They have li!lldo up their mind on the
direo1. quostion or the fi tneaa of tho i'.lo oalldidutew to hold tho o!tioe
or :·raaidant.
lleOOlldl7 1
I.eea• ot tar th&D t t of rtloa or
4o u their >1n4 4of1n1telr ~h t t~o
Lo U•e ooruo; thllt :..onator ' Uard lnr: ' u >leoUon
t. ~ Ov• ?~ .ox' a ol ,ot1on wottld u.uro it .
t 1. •1 d •l Yo to for o . •
One otMr eh nt hf'.a boon ~J.owl;y bllt r11ro!y uwln 1
thouonda of Totoa durin£ the oourae or t.he oampa1gn - that ia tho
4ol1borotal3 uni'air a tt1 ~udo of oortain .opubl1oan O'Wp&i£%1 manag.ra
and ot a r oot1on o! the .epu"Llican l·r • •· 'he~ "hnn ovorrl ,.yed
thair bal:ld , In their att.e!11))t to help ~heir candidate the7 ban mado
a a .. rt1ona wh1oh the aTor4go voter kuowo are cloar aDd dlroot •1•
roproaontatione, and tho7 haYo 1alled to print the other oldo of tho
qu.ation or oept .. agrely or in a diatortod f orm. Uiarepreoentutiona
an4 liD:I'Birneue &Ill' euooeed in deoe1 Ting 1•ooplo f or a weak or t " o ,
but oont1 ~ue4 tbreu&h •••oral month& tho public oomoe to realize
tha ottenoo and takol atf'ront a t .. tJ ,ode auoh an thoee.
~ltbout doubt, thouaande of votora woo a t tirot were 1n
ol1ne4 to t>U.pport tho ,opubUoan 'J'1otet havo been 4r1TOD nw117 by tho
oa.pai gn .-thode uae4. Jaorioa lite& a tight, but only a tnir 11ght.
11M roaonta orool:odne .. in JoOl1Uoa Jut ~ • • llha dooa in baae
ball . When the YO\e~a ~re oountod on ~o?ombor eooon~ a n~ber of
oampa ip ~~nnaaor11 ana parthan nowapapor edi tora Will eu4donl;y wata
llp to the old ear1DB - It pa;ya to l:.e honeat. 'l'bo7 will han l.oet
thia elootion, but ono oannot n.lp hopint that the leaeon ~earno4 ~ ,.
will bo ronwtcabero4 for tbo good of our .t.aMrioan eithon in the
olootiona of tho tuturo ,
' -C&rrJirP oat Unooln ' a t WI llllJlr - ~Yo oun fool
all U\e pe ple aor or tile u .. "- l ct11 11bolly wl.lltn to :rMl
that two on\ha o n auff1ole4t nuobar of ~otera hud been leoolTe4
\o 1nBUre tM eleotlon of :llr· Jlnl"dtn:; , 'Lut tho l ot part of :::.ir·uoln 'a
reDarlt - "Yoa o..nnot to<>l oll Lho poople l'll.l tho t!r~e" - llaa been
aplen41dlr borne out f or the 05111 atr,.n h>~n l>eon o llllfr1o1ent lenl!th
to dro~ the wool a~y from the eyes oo the votero , to toar the
111&811: Of deoeptiOD h"Orll the f&08 Of p&Tt1P&l111 1 all4 to iDOilr& the
tri~h of honeat, ~lain ~gl1sh, •nd blth moral principle in DoTember.
IZTBACT8 PROW 9 u oa 'HOI . r .D.ROCSEVKLT DAYTOn, OBlu, OOTOBXR 19, '20
l t 1e an intereot1ng foot t hat a good lllllny pe ople
are still i n oxi stonoo who would vote a party tioke t with
definite disregard of whethe r tho nominee of that party 1e fit
for the of f1oo or not. Thio is particularly true among thooo
Republioana who have become disgusted with Senator llar ding ' e cam
paign, who a4mi t that he i e a weak candidate, und that he will not
make a good Prooident . These people, in nearly ever y oaee , oleo
n4mit quite frankly that Governor Cox is a far abler and stronger
man and would make a better l:'reaidant . Yet on t op of ~ this ,
they eay - l am a Republican; therefore l shall hove to vote for
Senator Harding .
Tho some thing is true in regard to the que otion of the
League of !lations ieelf. Some people have told me that they wore
in favor of the League of notions; that they want the United States
to go in ; t hat t hey realize that a vote for Senator llarding ia o
vote against the League, and yet t hat they must vote f or Senator
Har di ng because they are Republicans . l wiah that everybody would
think over these statements and ask themselves whether the putp oee
expre ssed i n them i s a fulfilment of tho purposee of the ballot.
The ballot woe intended , of couree , for tho full expression of
opinion as to the oeleotion of t he beet candidatee, and a dec i sion,
pro or oon, on important i ssues. It was mode a secret ballot i n
or de r to sustain the f r eedom of the voter to expr ess hie or her
mind. If all the voter s wer e definitel y l ined up with parties and
voted straight party tickets without qaestion it would be a silly
expense to hold any eloot ion at oll . - registration would be whol l y
eutfioient .
tendency hna been awa1 ~rou
blind portieanohip in the past generation . Each year an increasing
number o~ voters split their ballots between candidates of dif~er
ent par ties. Yore and more every year voters oro casting thei r
ballots in aooord~noe with their own convictions on big ioeuoa and
on the fitneae of the individual candidat es .
That i s why i n this el ect ion , outs ide of the profeesl onal
campaign managers and workers , there was such a tremendous eil*enoe
during the early part of the oampatsn on the part of men and women
who were still thi nki ng and did not ye t want to come out openly one
way or the ot he r . It i e that t hinki ng vote which does not expr ess
i tsel f much up to wi t hin t wo or thr ee weeks of the el ection - i t i s
that t hi nki ng vot e which is t he real expl anation of t ho tremendou s
ewing t oward Governor Cox during the pant ten days , In other words ,
men and women i n *lrory section of tho Country and in every lllll k of
li fe , who a re not bound hand and foot by party ties , eve r. though t hey
may be na tural l y i n one party or t he a ther , have kept silent and have
watched t ho progreos of the campai gn, Bow they are coming out oponly
and ehOYii ng t ho r e sult of t he ir silent t hought . They havo been notu
atod by ma ny mbtive s , bu t two of them appear vory clear ,
First , They ar e disgusted wi t h t he campa i gn oonduot ed by
Senator Harding , with hi e vagueness and shi f ting of ground, They are
diogusted too a t hi e obvious alignment with t he r eactionary element
i n t he Republican Party, They have seen t ho olear - cut , open and
bravo campai gn of Governor Cox . They have made up their mi nd on t he
di r ect ques t i on of the f itness of t be ~~o candi dat es to bold the of f ioe
of Pre sident .
Seoondly, Kay of t h••• voters believe wi th u s tha t t he
3
League ot !lotions ieauo i e even gTdoter than that ot parties or
oondidotos . They have ·••do up their oinde dotini tely that the
United ohould bolong to the League ; that Se!Uitor' Harding'o elect ion
wollld prevent this, und that Governor Cox ' s el ootion wollld as sure it .
That i u ·~ thoy wi ll vote tor Oox.
One other element has been al ~*lY but surel y swinging
thousands ot votes during the oourae ot the campaign - that is the
deliberately unfa i r attitude of cer t ain •lepublioan Clll!lpaign manager s
and ot a section ot the ~epublice.n Pr eas. They havo overpl ayed
their hand. In the ir attempt to help their candidate they have made
aesertiona which the average voter knows a re cloar and direct mis
representations, and they havo failed to print t ho other aide ot the
que stion ex cept meagrely or i n e. distorted form. Uia repreaente.ti ons
and unfairness rns.y auocoed i n deceiving peopl e f or a week or t lfo,
but oont i nuod through s everal months tho public oomea to real ize
the offence s.nd t akea affront at met hods euoh as these .
Without doubt, thousands of voters who a t first 1vere in
clined to support the Republi oan Ticke t have been driven &way by the
campaign methods uoed . Amerioa likew a fight, but only a fair fi ght.
She resents orookedneaa in polit ics just ~ aa aha does in base
ball . \"/hen the votera a re count ed on November second a number of
oarupai gn managers and partisan newapaper editors wil l suddenly wake
up to the old oaying - It pays to be honeat. They wi l l have lost
this elootion, but one oannot hel p hoping that the leaaqp learned ~~·.1
will be remembered f or the good ot our Amerioe.n ci t izen in the
elections of the fUture.
4
Carryi ng ou~ Llnouln' s f ..t~~oue sa;ring - You onn fool
nl l tbe pe pl o oome of tho til!lfl" - ~ ut1 >~holly w1J.l1ng to agree•
tba t two oont he ego a suf f i oient nur:~bur o. vo t e re h.tll.l been deoei vecl.
t o insur e t ho election of~ . Hardi ng, uut the laet part of Lincoln ' s
r emark - ''You cannot f ool al l tho puopl o all the time " - hae been
splendi dl y borne out f or the campa i gn hne been of suffi cient length
to drag t he 1vool avmy f r orn the eyee of the voters , to t ear the
mask of deception fr om the f ace of partisans , nnd to i nsure the
triumph of honea"!<, pl nin r:nglieh, and high n1oral principle in november.
£l'l'R4C'l'l laCII li 0' ILl , 't/ , , ROOSJYIL'l' ll.\TtOI , 0: .10, (){;full •. 1 1!1, '1!0
~ ia an 1n" nat1tt,1 tao• h at a s ood llolll'QI JMillple
aro at.ill l n exiDhnoe who wollld YO" ll put:/ Uot.. with
do1'lu1 te Uc•e!llrd of who thur '.ho uom1ueo ot tlliA ~ .(,lurt;v ia i'i t
! or the o!fJoe or not . !hiu 1a p r ttoulnrl7 t~ aa tlloM
mtke a r ood ~roeident.. !boeo pooplo , Ju uear11 eYe~ oaae, &lao
nd~lt ~lte ~7 that ~oY&rnor Cox 1a a !U' abler ao4 at.r..«e•
mOA IJ14 would ul:o o bettor .vrooUont. let em top oi W t. a,
tmy Dll7 ~ I a a a n. ubl1oa.u; thorofore l a 11 hAn to vo\ct f er
tena tor Bar4111$.
! ho eAme thlo~ 11 true i n r•~~d to the queotion ot ~~~
Loasuo of l lo t10il8 1eel1:. u OI:ICI JlOO}Ile haYe told lie that. ~, N1'e
Jn i'&Yor ot the taa8Uo ot .lintiollfl; thd tb&7 want tbe United atatea
to go 1n1 that the7 roali&o that n YOta t or Cenator llard1Dg is a
vote ota1nllt tho :Leo.!IW' , and ;vet that t he;p tauat wte f or lAutor
Barding beoo.uae thq are R.epublicano. 1 wiSh that evarrbod;p woul4
thlnt over thtee atat eceota and aek themaolYDII whether tho pu:poae
expr eeeed l n them l u a tultilmo11t ot tho purpooee of the ballot.
The ballot ne Jnt.ondod, o:r oouroe, tor the tull expreaa1oD of
oplnlon aa t o t he eeleotlon ot tha boot oao411&toe , aD4 a dooialon,
pro or oon, on 1QPortant ieunoe . lt ¥nl mode a neoret ballot Jo
or4er to auetain tho troedo~ of tha Yotar to axpreea bla or bar
mln4. If all tho vot•r• ere deflnltal) lined up with partiee ant
vote4 atraiaht t>artl' tiokete w1 thou.t qaeat1on 11. wo\1.14 ba a alll:y
ezpenee to hold ~ election at all.~ res iatratlon wo~4 be wboll7
IU:ffloient.
t -
I.uok14' for loW ~ouu tr)'. t be wntono:r liU been ...... frOII
'tllnd p ... r tlaanrJbl:• in t.M ,PtA8't 8•HieTti.t1on . 1'".a.oh f8Al" an jnoreaaiDI
number of -.o tero oplit tholr b.' llote ~t.aon oo.ndld• t.e• of otfftr
ont p3:rt1u. .ton o.n4 mor e , ,..l7 :r• " r Youn aro ..,.,Lilli .-uUolloto in nooord.Sl\CJI 1d th 'tbo1l" O'l·'m uomiotion• on b18 1olltMHt aD4
on tho fl tlltl .. o! the tndl rtdual oan414oue.
'lhat 11 wb;r in 1.b1a oleoUon, oatalto of \IIAI prof eoo.lonal.
Cf...!APtJ. ltrD c::u:.DAf.•ttTa kUd T;>•orkere , tbore waa auoh e. t.TO.,DdOU all.&aaoe
4urlnr. tho oo.rl.y pnrt of tho oampaip on tho P"r t of .. en Uld wo1:1all
wbo wero 1tlll tbl nUna Ul4 414 not :r•' nnt \0 •- oat opeDlJ -
'IIDJ or ""' otbor. lt 11 that t blnkill8 vote wbic b 4CU not ospn11
1toolf much ..p to wUb1n two or tbrvo weoke of 1ho alooUon - it la
t hat ~b lnltlng -.ou wblob 11 t bo real osplaaat10D or tbD t:roa•4ou
.,ring towl:r4 Oo'fDrnor Coz 4urill8 tho 'PDit ten daJI• Ia otlle:r -:r1.1,
men llllil wo:~en in •Jror:r eac tton of the Co\Uitl7 a1!4 1n O'YI:rf ..n: of
l ifo, wbo an not bound .bnnd Wid i'oot b7 po.rt:r u u, o'fln \boqll tbe7
1101 bo natuall;v in ono p3rt 7 or tha otbu, 1!4TO kop1 e lloat ••• bA'fl
..,.tchod the pro(lr .. a of tbo cnmpnt sn. ~ow the;r an aoalng out o:ponl7
and ahowl ng tho nooul t of tho1r a1lollt tho\lf!ht . 'l'U~ lla'fO boon aotu
o.toa by r.lllD;v mbtl"YU, 'but t-eo ot t lwa appoar 'fl:rJ oloar.
llrat, 1'M:r nn ll1aguato4 wl t b tbo oupl\ll;ll oondu.etaa. b7
eonutor Uar41tll , wl\11 bl l ~no .. an4 o.b.1ft1DI of p o&lld. ~1 are
Alef!'IB\84 too a\ hle obT1o~• a11gmunt with tho rao.ot1ou&r7 al....,n \
1n t ba .'"publ1D&ll Jnrt;r. •.o-.e7 bAn aoon t he ol oar-out, O.POD anA
br nvo CIII'P&la;n ol Conr nor Co:<. :l'ba:r bt.TI ~~&du llp tlw1r a lo4 • tb.o
41root qun\1oo ot ""' f 1tnou of the w o o811414o.tel0 to b.ol.G. tllo otfilll
of .t reeld.en._. OooOJIUJ , lla;f of tbo11 -.oure bolin l with u 111a t tbo
II -
I.e• uo o1' ' · u on• ie v t.a •~en tT• 11ter 'tbaa t.h• t of ·tlrtiee or
o'nd11!o ,o~. 'Mt lL•o 4u uo t.h41!' n l11de 4otllllt.f1J \ \ tne
nit•! • •ouH lto\oa• ~o tile t oo.,. ; t'h&t ll<oMtor'UIIrdl>VJ 'G elohl<lll
·,.,uld l•ro.,.nt tht , nd that lovu1to7 Cox'a • l aot .lon wo12ld. aaOIUfl u. ,.. t 1a tlli tb•r .,1 U vote f or Cox,
One ot hn el....,t !leo boon ol"'ll7 bu~ surol:V lnllDulDB
thooo U'dl of ~too dan~~ Ole oo"Uree or tlle OOIIIJ>Blcn - tloa~ 1a tboo
«oUboratel)' unf IT o ttHU!lo o.r " rt,.in opublioa n o~lcn .....-a-n 110d or a c~•o'1 on o t the .epublioan .?r.JII. "bey ha'fd ovorpl.qed
their bend , ln \holr at tonpt t o belp thol r oanMda\e they llll.,. 1111140
•• .. r t.1 CZ.t'l ,(,11oh the avttr a.r• vo'tor kno«o oJ.r d oloa.r a~ dlreo'\ aJ.a
rop:ruontaUona, and tho7 bnYo ftl1la4 ~o print t he otber o14e ot tboo
q-..auon ooept Matroly or in a clUtortea toruo. Uloroproaentatlono
e nd unfatTneao aay aucoeo4 in dooe1VlD£ poogl o tor a weolr or tvto ,
but oontlnul04 throaah onorul montba tbo J>llblio oomuo ~ r .. u ..
the offanoo o.n4 totes nf'Cr ont at mot.hoda auoh na thouo .
fl l t.hou t doub t , t.houaw.n.t• of vo tera .tho a~ t1rat: ware 1n
oUno4 to support tho "'Jlllblioan ·tokot han bean drlnn a•o.7 b;y tho
ce=pal tn rHtho.la ~aod. 41Mrica. llll:ea a f16h~, but only a talr tlf!M ,
Uha rooonta orookednuo In ;vollti.,. juot jwot ao aha aooa ln taoo
ball . Len the YDt.ll'ta aru cou.ntAd on O'VOllber •• on1\ a nu."tber o!
uuropalgn rul.UtllOJ"O and partlaan Mwwpnper odiwre 11111 n44enly -
UJ> to tile old CG)OID!' • Jt t&J'I to ~ .. honoDt, 7hey will ba .... loot
thla olooUon, but or.o oannot help hopl.Jit! that tbe lo .. on learned
wnl be Nt!Oaboro>t :for tllG 100<1 of our .I.Mrioan o1t1HA in tllo
alootlono ot tho tutlD'e.
- 4 -
~rryin ou~ luoolf'l'B t!.JBQu.e ea;rln_~; - ''You oo.n roul
all tli.o l'G plo t·~ of" thu 1.1me" - n_'] ..-bolly wtll~n to e.tr•·oe~
tb t. t :) O'Qt.~.n 0 ~~ nu.41 tioluut Clll'Uc:r \I V•lt.u_•e 1 ... 1 \rOtlll .e001Y84
t.o lr.n\""ll t.ho ul.:lot.i ,r.; O! ~r • lar<ll.ng, but tho lr•llt. ,LJJ.i.Tt. of .~,~Jn.coln'D
ral':!.'\'t"k - -you o~nnot toll all tbll p ... oplo tlJ.l the t.1me" .. hlla been
eplant'il\l:y bOl'TJ. out. ""'ut Lbo 0 Q ~1t"n lu:.y 1JI.JUil or t.U4 ""1o1ent. leu~tb
to 4T.V' the wool a•v 1"rom the •le• o "" the TOteru , to toa't" tb4t
msBt of l!oce.~- tlon hOG tM face ot pa"rtlen-na , ana to \niUre the
~rlu,.,.h of honoetl lhin .n<,lieh, -.,4 h1£h "lOrr.J. l'r lnolple lu "n .. bor.
/ U':':U C':'8 JI'R'lJ 3 C~ Jl" UC:J • .11 • .- . R0093V&L'I' D-'Y'l'OI , O.lilO, OOTCIIL~l 19, '20
t 1e . _., i nhree t1n !no'G t hat a aood lllll tl)' poople
aro ot ill i n exlotenco who would vote c party t1oke• with
daf1n1te d1Bn8tlrd of whethe r tho no::~ineo ot thllt pe rt;y 1e fH
tor t he oftloe or not . '!'Ilia h p~rt1oul.Drly true among thooo
'lepubUoenu Who hove booome <l1Bt"UIItud with lloMtor llardl..D6'n cam
pa i gn, who ndc1t th4 t ho t e c weak onndtda ta , and tha t he wi l l not
m.'Jlce n good : roe1dent, Thooo po oplo , to nearly ovor;v ooee, alao
a dmit quJte fr~okly thSt Covernor Cox 1a e tar abler and atrooger
mon ond would 11112l:o 11 bottor . root <lent.. Yo1. on t op or Ul t.hio ,
they any ~ 1 am 11 !le r ubl1oM ; thOro t'ore 1 ehtlll hove t o vot.o :ror
Con&tor lln rdlllft.
'rho enmo thi ne; 111 truo i n roe;t1rd to t.ho quootlon of tho
Leneuo o f nt 1on11 icolf, :;occ p<> OJ>l e hAve told me t hat the;v wore
tn tavor of the ·~a~o ot ~ationo; t ha t thoy ~ant tho United Statou
to t o in; thAt thny roali•o t hAt n voto t or Cocator l~rdlnc 1o a
vote atainot tho Loaeue , a nd ¥•t t hat t hey muat TOto f or ~nator
Uar 1UJ16 baonnllo thO)I " r o ~opubl1ouno . I w1oh th~>t ovorybody woul4
thln~ over t hofte eta tomento and oak tbeMool~eo whothor tho purpoeo
expraueoa i n t hclm 1a 11 tlll1'1lr:lont of t ho purpooea o~ the ballot.
Th8 luu lot woo intondod, of oouroo, ror tho i"ull oxpreaeion of
opinion • • t o the onlootion of tho boat condid&toa, and a 4oo1o1 on ,
p ro or oon , on 1mport.Mt i oouoa. It wee ondo a aeuret bnllot in
ornor t o e11attll n tho troodoa or tho ~otor to exproao hio or her
mi nd. It "11 t ho vot ra uaro dof1nltoly ltn~a up with partioo and.
~otod otral eht ~arty t icketo wi thout qaoation it wo~d be a silly
oxpen eo to hol d any ol ooUon at all , - roghtratlon would be Wholl.7
1Nff1o1ent,
- 2 -
Lll41t1l7 for ~be Coun~r), tile ~endenc;v baa been awa7 !roll
blln4 partllanobl t> in the put sonerotlon. Each ;vur "" l.lloraaolnl!
n..,ber of 'f'Otero 1pl1 t their boll.ote between oo.ndldauo or 41ttlr
ent partt••· Uore ona more eYory ~ea.r voteru a.ro co.•U.ng tbel r
bo.l.loto in aooordonoe wl tb their om con't'1otlonl on 1118 town Ulil
on the fitMDI ot tbo 1ndi'r14ual onn41dawo.
'!'bat 11 wh)' 1n ~b11 eleotiOll, 011\1140 or !rut prOfiODlODAl
~1611 aa23agera and workere, thoro wa.a au.ah a trel40n4oua all..a.noe
olv.ritJ8 t he oarl7 part ot ~bo ownpaJa%1 0 1 the part of 11011 and .....,.n
who were etlll thinking ant dlt no~ l'll wan\ to cocne out opeDl;v one
wn;v or the other. n le that think1nc voto whloh dooa not Olq)rooo
1 teel f ""'oh up to wUbin t \'lo or throe woobl of the aleotlen • 1 t 1e
tbet thinking YOU vbloh l8 the rao.l •'~Planation ot tllo tromendOWJ
owing toi'Jtlrd OoYOrnor CO% dv.rin6 lbe past ten da;va. I11 otbtr wa rda,
,..n an4 wo:aen 111 •nr, 1100tlon ot the Countr;v am in &Tor, ...n: of
lit e, Who ore nol bound b!llld r.~nd foot b;v part-1 Uoa, • .,., ~housh tbo;v
~ bo nattlrall;v in one port;, or the otbor, ba'YO kept a llent and bn'rl
va tohe4 the progreoa of the OtliiiP•1sn. Uow tlut;v are a0<:11.nc! ou ~ oponl:y
and obowins tho Nault of their oilont thought. Tho;;o han beon f.Otu•
a te4 b;v cal1:f ...,tiTu, but two of tboa appoar vor;v oloa.r .
i'lrat, 7be:y aro 4iaguaw4 "; th tho oamr<llsn oonduotaa. b:y
Senator liard ins, vi tb h1a VII6W'n• .. on4 oohi ttl.Q& of grollll4. Tho;v aro
4iO!;Wita4 too ot blo ol>violll llligmunt 01ltb tbo ranolionAr, olo11ont
i n the ;-opublioan f'art;r. The7 baTo oeon the llloa r-out , open an4
brnYe a&m])&i £D of Gcrvornor Cox. 'l'hu)' havo aa4e up Lbttlr U~inu. on 'tho
4ireot quoatlon of the fltneoa of tbo two uan41datou to hol4 til• otfioo
ot £reat4ea•.
llooon417, 1lq ot tbo110 Totara beline with uo that the
• II •
Leae• ot JatiOllo lu'GO ta n on ereater tbiJI ~""' ot pan!Ao u
oM4B,,o Tba7 ban "' 411 UJ> \hltlr a tndo Aathoi \el y Uoat \1111
"ntton a'li1eul4 tololl(; to tho I.oa£"81 tl:at S.JI&\ol''ll&rt.J.nl' • aleoUM
voolll.~ prnent thlo , c..nl tlult ~onrnor Cox 1a olAoUo• wU.-. u.
:'hat 1u Y1r:J thoy .. tu ... ~. t or Cox,
llDo othltr olo111011t boo b .. n elo"J.7 but 11111'017 aw1DC1ua
tllouoanda o! votoa durl"'f 1ba OO'IIJ'Oo of the -ulgn - that 1a Ul8
4ol1boratoJ.:r unf!>lr <>tt1tll!\o of oortutn .. oPQbl loan .,_11111 ....,...,..
anl of a cootion of tluo • ••ubl1oan -ron. ,.,..., ha?o ovorpl qod
their hand , In their ~~ottomDt t o help tholr oMd1dato th•1 hllon 111&4a
a aeo rtlona ""ioh tho onr&Ga 1'otor kn""o are oloar an4 (!not 111.
ropraeantationo, and thoy ha"o :!bllod t o print tho other aile of Ul8
qautlon o:rcopt UftP'Ol.7 or I n a cUatortod fon1o .aaraprooantatlolla
an4 untalru.oo _.., ouooood In dooohlnt }>oopl o tor a nol< or \ wo,
bat oo"thaod throqh onoral ••ntu tho publie oo:ooe te reallu
tile of fonoo lllll utoo CLi'n'ont llt atothodo o~<oh aa thuo •
.,1thout loub\, thouoon.l.o o! ?otero who a t flre t wro 1D
oltno4 to npport tho .opubl104n ':'lol<ot havo boon &l'IYon awq b7 the
o~~~~palr;n .. thodo uoot. 1-rloa 1111: .. a tlsht, but onJ.7 a fai r A c llt,
6ho roeonta orool<od.nua in poll \loa jut .)l.t.a1.. • • abo too a 1n baoo
b.Ul , !'hen tho 1'0\ejo are OOWl\el on 1ovoa~er oeoond • IWIIber of
eomj>al tn l!lflaor;on and partlaan lle118papor olltora •Ill 111144onl1 -
u:p to the ol4 to;vtq • It 1''"111 to bt honoo\, ~7 Ifill ha"' loat
thle elootl on, but ono o&DJiot holp hopiJ16 t hat tbo louon 1,e...,..4
will be ~uboro4 for U>o JOod of our '""'r1oan o1UMa iJl the
aleottoua of tho htvt,
C..rr;rln· out Llnooln ' a 1:.•oue n711141 - "You oan 1:ool
all tho ro r1• co•oo o• tbo LiM" • l .,. w'b.OllJ w1ll1114J to ,.gMt.
t hnt t.1o ·onthe sro n euft'lolent number of Totore lm4 bean Geoo1To4
t o lnouro tho olootlon or lir• nardlac, but tho lut part of L1nooln'•
retwrlr. - "You o1111not tool all tho peopl o all tM tl .. " • haa boon
eplondlel:~ bo•-n• o12t for the o•· s t e:n haa been of n fllolont 18J06th
to 4roe tbll wool aay f roat t ho OJ•• or tho TOtora, to tear the
•aek ot 4ocopt1on rr .. tho -race o1: parUII&Da , anA to lnll\11'0 the
trl~b ot bonoa~, pbin :nalillh, nn4 h1t h moral pr lnolplo ln Don•bor.
/ EX':'llJ.C.- Jl'lla.l SH!.!C' OJI' Jl(;ll • .lf • .> , ROOl!lfV!tt.l' DAYTOll , OHIO, OC1'0DP.:l 19 , 120
t ill an 1ntereot1nt ~ot tllat a s ooa 11141\:1' poople
aro a till l n ox1 otonca who wolll.d. vote u party tlol::e L wit h
dQt1n1to d1oresc.rd or whcthor thu n~1nee or that. pATt;r 111 fH
f or tho offioo or not . ~110 i e port1oul~rly true ~aong t hoce
':epubl1oano who have beoone dioffllatacl. Tlith :Jelll.ltor llArdlng ' o -
polen, who admit that ho 1o ~ .. ak candidate , nnd that ho will not
l!I'Jka n a ood ''roeldent. ~ooe pooplo , 1n nearlll ov~ry c:.~e , uloo
od~lt quJte trnnkly th~t Cavernor Cox 1a a far abler and atronger
111M Md wouJ.d a:.lro o bottar . reol llont. Ye1. on top of Ul thio,
tbe;y cn:v - I o11 e. Ito ubliOilll l there!ol'll l ch:..ll bnvo to vote f or
t onntor r.&rdins.
Tho acme thtnc 1e true ln re&ard to tho uoa t lon of the
Lo~guo of ~ationa 1oelf. Lo people nan told a that tbeu wore
ln !nor or tho •.a ,.guo ot .... ~t1ono ; t hat tho} <'llllt tbo United StateD
to co 1n; thnt thlty roeJ.he t hat a vote for :: nator ll4rd1no ia a
vote oto1not tho easuo , and ye~ that t hey muut ~to t or ~en11tor
uarune beoauue tl<41~· ~re " opubl1o"no . I 't'illh that everybody 110uld
thlnk over theee et~t•~•nta and oGk them~olvea w~ethor the p1up oao
e~rooeo4 1r. tho~ 1o a fUlfil~on~ of tho purpocee of tho ballot.
'nlo b lo t w o intondod, of o;mroe , for tho full oxpreelion of
opinion ae to the oeleotlon of tho bo ot oan4141ltoa , and a doo!olon,
pro or oon, on 1oportont 1eouoo . It ~a mode a aeore~ ballot ln
order t o eue~ln tbo rroe4om of the voter to expreoo biD or hor
mind. If u11 tho vot. ra era dot1n1toly 11no4 U.P wUh patties a ll4
"f''ted otrUs U pertj' ticlto ta l1i thout •raest1on 1 t wolll.d be a e111y
oxpenee to hol d any ol otlon at all . - rogletrat 1on would be whol17
ou! t1o1on t .
• 2 •
L11oklly for t.IUI Coun~17, tho wntono7 hAll boon any hol:l
blin4 partiaanob1p in the paat sonoratlon. Jtac>b 7041" ao 1lloroaa1Dg
Dlllbor of Totaro opltt tba1r ballota bot-n oc>n4idaten ot' 41~~
ent partleo. u ore all<l 110re GTOT1 yoi.U' Totero oro caa t1JI6 tbair
balloto 1n ILooordonoe wl til thoi r o1m oonv1ot1ona on bill l oii\UI D an4
on tho :rttnooa of the 1!1cUT14ual ooll<11dotoa.
'l'hot ia 'ldq in thie oloo·Uon, outeUo o! \llCI prof ea&Jcmal
0411pa1p 11"""'60re an4 workon, there wu euah & tror.oondoua uilbnoo
4ur1ns 1he earl)' part of the oli!Oj)A!gn o" t ho pnrt of mon llD4 """"'"
wbo wore atlll tblnltl ns om.4 414 not ;at want to """"' Ollt openly ono
R7 or tbo other, a 1a that th1nlcill8 vo te which don not oxprooa
itoelf 11!Doh up to wi thin t"o or throe woeka of tho eleo\1.., • 1 t 1a
thAt thlnltina TOto wbioh 1a tllO noel o:Q>lan&tlon of tho trom..,40114
ewing t O\Yilrd Oo"rornor cox 4urJns the pact ton 4o;rs. ln other wordo,
Cleft 0!14 WO':!OD 111 •Jrory acotlon Of tho COlmtry AM ill O'r0l7 wallt Of
llfo, lfho are not bound h!>n4 and foot 1>7 port1 Uca, o"rOn thcueh tho7
1ft&)' bo n.sturall7 in ono port;r or tho other, h:I.TO kapt ellent and haft
watoho4 tho prosraae of tba •-a1gn, uow they arc ooa1ng 011t O,POnly
and ahowir.S the roBill ~ of thoir allant tbo\lllh'to ~'hoy hoTU boon 40tu•
a tod b;r =~ mbtl'voa, but t'Mo or tbom appoar •ory oloor,
Pi rat, l'hoy o.ro 41111'Uato4 •. t b tha 04Zllpoign con4uoto4 by
S..nntcr !lardilljl, wl tb hie ""81111Doae IUid all1ft1ns ot (SJ'OUDd. fl1a7 aro
4laguate4 too at hJe obvlollw OJ.lfllliiiOllt WJ til tho ro&otionar;r olo11ont
i n tba .epulll10&11 • ert7• 1'ho7 114 ... aoon tho oloe>.,..out, o~n an4
bra"ra oai.pai6JI of OOTol'11or Cox . Tbo1 havo ll&do ug t holr 11in d on tho
41reot quoetlon ot tba t1tnoaa of tho wo ciU141datoo to hol4 the oflioa
ot 'real4et.
Seoondl7, llq of tba• yo tore be 11oft with llB that tba
!Ao.auo o~ '1:1t1 ona Ja uo 1u oYan n.ll. t..e r tblm tba.t. of partloa or
o .nUJ""~.oe , lln;v lwvu li-du up thetr olnilu <let'1nlt• l1 tha t. cne
J•nJt.o~tlOUtd l}0l01 ~ 1.0 tho .o.O&f"U-O j that. ... otl;J.to:r'liarll1ll6'e t~liO't1011
, .. Oultl • r~aYont t.hlu , un4 tbvt. Uovorn.or Cox ' o ulMu t.lon noUld. uaaru.ro i t.
'hut lt· ,~~~y thu7 "Ill -.ota for ~ox.
Ol>o otbor olemont hQa boon alo.tly bu.t aurol;r uw1DS111i
thouonndo of -.otaa c1Ur11'1 tho oouraa o~ the oupc1gn - that 1o tt'A
4al1be~t.el:J unrt.lr •ttl tlldo of oorv•in opublioan o-1Sil -e-ra
n.nO o-r~~ eotlon o! tho -Ui1Ubl1CW1 r~cc. "ho~ ht .. vo ovorplayod
tl.olr lmlld . In t belr ~tto ~pt ~o belp tholr OM41dato thoy !uno -4•
eeaert.jona which t.ho a vert.ge voter .~no•"B :.aro clo&r an4 direct ct1o ...
ro~o-r aonta:.J otuJ , an,. tho., h-YO f.d~o4 t.o print. t.llo otLGr o14o ot tho
quootion a. .. oept. mear-rcly or i r.. 41e'\.or tod fon. ..!1ertpreaontat1ona
e..n4 unfe.1rnooo C.:.:3 neoood in do co1,1nt , uopl.- for a weot OT t ··70,
'b~t. ac •ir.uo4 thrcqb aoTenl month• tho pu.bllo oomca t.o roClJ.ise
the offence UIIS takae a.t "Ton1. llt trh t .. ..>d~ auoh aa theutt.
1 thout. doubt , th')ua...,~~"..:• o! voLern wao &t l1rst were in
el l no~ t,:) t.up >art the J.6)Ubl1o ~11 • ieko~ b..&Ye 'beeu driven AJ~ by the
o•J-rpol':n motho.\o uooG. . l.roorlc" lllua a !l&ht, but onl)' " fair tl~;ht.
:.he rcoenta orool.od\'IOOC ln .,ou •tel jiUit ~ "" obo doo~ 1n uace
b.Ul. ban the votAfo Aru cou. t~t.oll on ~ OTO:u'Lar co<.on'j o n'ltiLe~ r ot
c ... ~cl£%1 .....,,t.ero &nd pArL18411 newo.,c.per odlton 11Ul uU4douly ...U
up to tl>e old c.;;l~ - It raye to \.o honoo1.. 'lh<>y will han loa1.
thlc ol uotlon. tnt ono o'-llllot h<llp htrrlnc thst tbe loaaon loa.ma4
'Ifill be romocbored tor tbo 0oo.l ot ou.r •.cor!"" oltben 1n t.be
oloot1onc or tho to.turo.
I - 6 -
Careylnif out Llnooln' 1 f ""'nl Oft11114 - "Toll oDD f ool
a.ll tho po plc r.,,. o• tho L1•" - ! r..r.~ llholly willlnf! to r.f:%"4
tlmt t 10 onthn 11ro " nurr1c1ant l!IUDbor or \Vtera hM. been aeoo1ft4
t o tnrrnre tho • lootlon ot ~o:r . :inrdlna, \rut tho laot ,p Tt of -~looolll'•
...,.,nrl: - ·'You oannot fool a.ll tho l'•Oplo all tho u ... • • hal been
erlan41ny bo:rne ont ror tbe . ... ~,.1m hu beon or llllf!io1ent llnsth
to Ins \I» .. ool 0.11111/ tra tho 11•• of tbe Yoten , to tear tiM
II&Rt of 4oeopUon :l'rOOI tlw tau ot part1"""''• and to lnnre tho~
tr11101Pb of bonut, plain :no;lieh, lUl4 hlf h 110rol pr1no1pla 1n UoY .. ber.