The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-08-25
NOTIFICATION OF DAVIS
Declares that Democrats will Win
This Year--SpeeCh Received with
Enthusiasm by His Friends.

Enthusiasm by His Friends.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w. VA, Aug,
l7.-Henry Gassaway Davis today was
formally advised of his nomination by
the democratic party for vice president
OF the United States and the nomination
was accepted.
The ceremonies took place in the open
air in the grounds of Green Briar White
Sulphur Springs hotel, and were marked
by simplicity. Mr.. Davis was escorted
to the flag draped platform by Repre-
sentative John Sharpe Williams of Miss
issippi, who delivered the notification
address. 1t took Mr.. Davis ten Minutes
to read his formal acceptance, but he
prefaced this with heart to heart talk
OF like duration to the several thousand
friends and neighbors who were gather
ed under the trees as his audience.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia, was forced
to acknowledge demand for a speech.
but declined and the ceremony ended.
Earlier in the day a formal letter of
notification was handed Mr.. Davis in
the parlor Of the hotel in the presence
OF the assembled notification committee.
1t was simple statement of the action
OF the st. Louis convention with refer
ence to his nomination. He took the
letter without reading it and thanked
the committee, saying he would respond
later in the day and hoped for victor
lous response in November.
A reception and cotillion in honor of
the nominee was held in the hotel in
the evening.
MIR. Davis spoke as follows in his ac-
ceptance; e.
MIR. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Committee:-The official notification
which you bring of my nomination for
the vice presidency of the United States
by the national democracy, gives me a
feeling OF the sincerest gratitude to nv
party for the honor conferred. At the
same time it brings to me deep sense
OF my responsibility to my party as a
candidate, and to my country in case of
my election.
"a spirit Of determination to succeed
IN the campaign before us appears to
peryade the rank and file Of our party
IN all ctions of the country. OF that
rank and file have for many years been
member and have at all times devoted
my humble powers to party success, be-
hevlng that success to be for the coun-
try's good. Unexpectedly called as I
to an acceptance of the obligation by
sense of gratitude to my fellow workers.
and the hope that may be able the bet
ter to assist in restoring to power that
party whose principles and past history
guarantee safe, wise, economical and
constitutional administration of the
government.
III find it, therefore, great pleasure,
standing here on the borderland of the
two Virginias, to receive and accept the
commission you bear and to send greet
lngs through you to the democracy of
the entire country. Is it not significant
OF closer and truer brotherhood among
us, that for the first time since the civil
war nominee on the national ticket
has been taken from that section of our
common country that lies south of
Mason and Dixon's line-a happy recog-
milton of the obliteration of all sectional
differences which led to and followed
that unhappy struggle.
"As an Introductory to the few re-
marks shall make, desire to say that
heartily indorse the platform upon
which have been nominated and with
the convention and its nominee for
president, regard the present monetary
standard of value as irreyocably estab
lished.
"In the campaign preceding the last
election much stress was laid by repub-
lican speakers upon the prosperous con-
dition of the country, and forebodings
were heard Of the i'll results, especially
to the laboring man, which would follow
any change in the political complexion
of the government. 1t is true that the
times then were good, but it is no less a
fact that, while there has been no
change in the party in power, many of
the evils prophesied have come under
republican rule. Four years ago factor
les, mills, mines and furnaces were in
active operation, unable to supply the
demand, but now many are closed and
| those that are open are being operated
| with reduced force on short hours.
Then wages were high, labor was scarce
and there was work for all. Now, work
is scarce, many wage earners unemploy-
ed, and wages reduced. The apprehen-
sion which now prevails in business cir
| cles and the present unsatisfactory in
dustrial conditions of the country seem
to demand political change.
sin the language of our platform, ''the
rights Of labor are certainly no less
vested, no less sacred, and no less in
alienable than the rights of capital"
The time is opportune to emphasize the
truth of this utterance. The most sac
red right Of property is the right to
possess and own ones self and the labor
of ones own hands, capital itself being
but stored up labor. For years work
ed in the ranks as wage Garner and 1
know what it is to earn my living by
the sweat of my brow. l have always
believed, and my convictions came from
the hard school of experience, that,
measured by the character of work he
does and the cost of living, man is en-
titled to full compensation for his serv-
ices. My experience as wage Garner,
and my association with labor have
alike taught me the value of individual
democratic rights and the highest stim-
ulus to that independence of spirit and
love OF self-help which produce the fin
est private characters, and form the
base of the best possible government
"The receipts of the government for