The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-11
Left Banquet Hall and Went to
Station to Catch Train Home.
Persuaded to Return, He
Makes Sensational
Speech on "Dc-
lnocracy."

lanta Georgian, who In his letter re-
fused to speak because the toastmas-
ter asked him not to talk about his
(Graves) suggestion that Bryan shoulu
nominate Roosevelt for rc-eiectloh
John Tomlinson. OF Birmingham, one
OF the speakers and toastmaster. met
Graves on his arrival from Atlanta at
noon. and requested omission OF this
reference in his speech. arguing It's
impropricty in view of Bryanss preA'
ence at the banquet.
Colonel Graves declined to alter his
view or subject his speech to censorship:
lie attended the banquet as an invltea
guest, remaining but short while, Whe1
he left the banquet hall for an Atianta
train. Ats11 o'clock tonight John Ien-
Pile Graves was induced to return to the
banquet hall, and spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Graves's Speech.
If Theodore Roosevelt should lay down
Tomorrow the rein OF government, Which
lie has demonstrated beyond all cavi or
question, his mighty power to hold. IS
there any man at the, head OF new
party, unless every branch OF the gov
crnment was solid and united behind him.
who could give TO the republic the well
founded hope Of Il triumphant conclusion
uf the essential reforms which are now
progressing to an inevitable victory in
Theodore Roosevelt's strenuous and uil-
Gaunted hands? NJ.
Mr.. Chairman, and my fellow DemH.
Gratis. 1t seems to me he time is ripn
for an expression of the reality of
s Democratic principles and OF Tie frea)
fnajesty of Democratic leadership which
: will startle history and inspire the re-
public to n better life. There nre or-
portunities which the Almighty sends
at rare intervals to parties and to In
aividuals. And 1t seems TO me IL hon
est and fearless franknesa that such q
& time has come to us.
We stand for the people hare. What
The people want is principles. not men.
What tho people need is results. not
shibboicths, What the people clanaor
for Is not party names. but ,uual popu-
lar rights and established liberty.
II the Democratic party has been sim
cere through all these years In the splen-
did platforms and In the splendid plat:-
tudes which have consccrated its faith
and fortunes TO the cause OF the people;
il VIC have fought in faith, and not in
selfish expectation, for the great things
which We wish to see embodied In the
Eivernment; II we have been consecrated
to the righting OF popular wrongs, to the
2 relaxing OF the grip OF graft and prlVi-
1ege from the throat of the people; II
we have been really honest in our pro-
fcssions OF supreme concern for the whole
people, rather than for party profit and
for personal glory, we seem to have an
immortal opportunity to prove 1t now.
There has come to uS a time when the
Democratic party can illustrate an unself-
ish patriotism and Il surprising principle
that will glorify every profession az its
previous history and plant it upon a
foundation of enduring honor in the re-
public's future life. There seems to have
come to us, in the providence Of God and
in the rapid trend OF events, one great
md splendid chance to prove that, III a
representative government, even in this
hge rcputed selfish, patriotism can rise
nbove parusanship, and the true principle
3s 9! representative government can be vim
dicated as it has never been before.
A Noble Opportunity.
I speak seriously, and l speak with
II full conception OF the radical posi-
tion which i am now to take. have
neither the record Of ever having held
a public Office or the hope or eXpcc.
tatlon Of ever wanting one. I have
fought the battles OF my party for tia
principles that it carried ana not for
the rewards which 1t had the power
to bestow. All my life 7 have realized
4 and believed that the highest and no.
to citizens or parties was to yindcate
by personal sacrifice and lofty conduct
their supreme and .unselfsh 10y
atty to the professions which their
platforms make.
We have found where we did not
seek him a man to do the things the
people sorely need. We do not know
if we could succeed in placing in DOW
CT the man our partisan loyalty would
prefer We do not know whether in
n thls environment our party's choice
would change the machinery and win
or lose tho fnteful battle OF our eco,
nomic life.
In sound logic and in clear common
sense we must recognize the tra-
Is, mendous start. the tremendous
prestige, which the President has
made, lie Is every inch leader and
by all the records he is a predestincd
winner in tho fight, Can we, the
4 ple's vital interest by changing lead
nrs In the very cisls of the great bat
y tie that Is on?
The times may change and men may
q change AS we'll before the campaign
OF 1908 begins. But If tho conditions
\ then arc as they are tOday-if Roose-
Welt rides the storm that Is brewing
IN the realm OF corporate capital, the,
our way seems open and our duty
clear
Speaking hero deliberately for my,
q self, and In my fair Judgment or Tic
great majority of the plain ana hon.
@ est Democrats Of the Empire Soi,therr
State, from which came. u believt
that we should put the party ther
below tho people. the principle abov,
the man. We should rebuke the spii
p :