Marion Progress

McDONALD AFFIRMS
FAITH IN STATE'S
POLITICAL SET-UP

Former Candidate For Governor
Opens Drive for National and State Tickets.

Walnut Cove, Oct. 1. -- Opening the campaign for the Democratic party in Stokes county here tonight, Dr. Ralph McDonald said "President Roosevelt and the New Deal provide the only effective means of saving and strengthening American Democratic institutions."

He declared that if it had not been for Roosevelt, "we should see around us today the crumbling casements of collapsing democracy, with communism and fascism growing apace."

"Before Roosevelt became president, dangers of communism were real, not imaginary," he continued. "Conditions among the masses of the people were so intolerable that communism was taking root and growing like the proverbial mustard seed. If the reactionary and revolution-breeding policies of the Hoover regime had continued, this communistic growth would have been so fertilized and watered that by this time it probably would be entirely beyond our control."

Delivering his first address for the Democratic party in the present campaign, the former candidate for governor made a vigorous plea for party loyalty.

"There has never been a prouder time for the Democratic party than now, with Roosevelt pointing the way to true Jeffersonian ideals under twentieth century conditions," said the speaker. "I subscribe completely to the tradition and principle of Democratic unity which has made our party strong, and I expect to support every nominee and every action of the party against the Republican opposition, maintaining fully my own right to fight openly and vigorously within my own party for those things which I think are right."

The militant anti-sales taxer affirmed his "complete faith" in the Democratic party of North Carolina to "wash its own linen, clean its own house, and right whatever wrongs may have been done by scheming politicians in its name."

"Those who fought side by side with me in the recent primary can and will support the Democratic ticket," he said. "Our fight is for principles and the very principles for which we fought are embraced almost entirely in the platform of the Democratic party. Probably never before in the history of the state has the official party platform adopted so completely the principles of any primary candidacy. These principles are contrary to all Republican doctrine."

Dr. McDonald paid high tribute to Frank Hancock, the Democratic congressman from this district, and to the Democratic leadership and officials of Stokes county.