The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-28
FURTHER DETAILS OF HISTORY-MAKING CONVENTION


but of that large body Of republican Yot-
ers who are out of sympathy with the
acts and tendencies of their party, ana
who are seeking to avoid the dangers
which, under the supremacy of republican
rule, threaten not only the prosperity but
the security of the republic. There Is no
safety, however in the experiment of
picking our nominee in haphazard fashion
from among those who possess this or
that special gift, engaging as 1t may be,
unless 1t has some intimate relation to
the requirements of an exacting campaign,
to the chief issue before the people and
to the duties and needs of our greatest ex-
ecutive office.
Paramount Issue
'If any intelligent, loyal democrat en-
tertans doubts as to what that para
mount issue is, that part of the platform
Just adopted dealing with this question
should resolve all his doubts. Renewing
its strength and vigor by dedicating itself
once more, as 1t has done in that plat
form, to its articles of faith and princi-
ples, the democratic party, true to Its best
traditions as the servant of the people.
has pledged itself to revision of the tar
if, fair to the manufacturer, but fair also
to the consumer and the public, whereby
an end shall be put to existing inequali-
ties and injustices There are other is
sues, but for the time our platform makes
1t clear they are subordinate. And the
spirit as well as the letter of this part of
the platform shows conclusively that the
industrial interests of the country will
be safe and prosperous, too, in democrat
c hands.
80 unjust is the present tariff that no
one democrat or republican, today dares
rise up and defend its further continu-
ance, for it stands for industrial favorit-
ism and industrial bondage, and for
prosperity which is artificial and spas
modic and not real and enduring.
Let us then start our campaign for
righteousness by an act which will be
proof to all that we do not propose to
keep the word of promise to the ear and
break 1t to the hope;' but that. as we
stand for that great issue, we stand for
the great man who has made that issue
possible and whose great privilege 1t was
and whose advantage 1t now is, that he
lead courageous. unfaltering fight
against the redoubts behind which law en-
trencked the present tariff inequality.
What Manner of Man?
What manner of man, then, shall this
convention raise up to be its standard
bearer? He should be one who stands
four square to every test of moral, mem
tai and physical equipment; who has that
fiber of independence that makes 1t inn
possible for him to break faith with him.
self or his fellow man; that quality OF
mind that enables Inn to see the near side
of far things and the far side of near
things that quality of manhood, charac-
ter and intelligence SO nicely developed
as TO enable him to discharge with dignity
and credit the exacting and delicate public
duties of the chief executive.
"He should have had political training
and experience, for these are almost as
essential qualifications in nominee for
the presidency as are the clinic and class
room for the physician and surgeon. With
out any pretentious parade of the virtue
he should be progressively conservative
and consewativey progressive, moving
forward as the uncompromising foe of
crude, cheap experiment along lines whose
direction has been established by safe
and tried precedents-not having for his
chief stock in trade the SNUG satisfaction
of the standpatter, nor, on the other hand,
merely conspicuous as the sponsor for
strange and subyersive doctrine. He must
be man who has not tied the ship which
he commands to the wharves of party or
political tradition to rot there. but be
ever ready to sail On to new Ravens, but
always without discarding chart and COM
pass for the voyage. He must be we'll
balanced. thoughtful. delberative and yet
in ability to inspire enthusiasm among his
fellows. be a natural leader of men. While
he must be popular he must possess that
enduring popularity which has for It's
sure foundation established character and
true worth: and he must be ready to serve
in command or In the ranks and be able to
truthfully say what a distinguished dem
ocratlc statesman once said in electric
phrase, when asking for worthy men to
join him in great struggle for reform:
1 will lead where any one shall dare to
follow, and | will follow where any one
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