Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-25
Political Suicide for the
Party To Be Reac-
tionary in Face of
Will of People Ex-
pressed in Primary.
BY JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

| his forces refusing q compromise ana
promising to carry the fight on Judge
Parker to the floor of the convention
today.
Meanwhile, the admirable attitude of
Champ Clark toward the incident is
everywhere approved.
Champ Clark is a progressive of the
most definite type. He presented for
the temporary Craftsmanship Senator
Ollie James. who is an out and out,
shoulder hitting progressive from Ken
lucky. When the committee voted
against James, Mr.. Clark accepted its
verdict rather than open the conven-
ton with row.
Ex-Governors For Clark.
Five Democratic ex-governors Of
Dockery and Stone--have called at the
Clark headquarters to express loyal and
whole hearted support for Clark.
The presidency of the United States
is tremendous office, and the execu-
tive power at Washington means ire
mendous things to the people and to
the vast selfish interests that are ex-
plotting politics and government to
their glory and gain.
The people are playing the game open
and fair. In the preferential primaries,
wherever they have been held, the peo-
pie, who are supposed to rule and who
are entitled to rule in this country have
expressed their wishes as to measures
and men. In five sixths of the states
of the republic that have voted that
have been cast on the Democratic side
and on the Republican side the popular
will has expressed itself overwhelm-
ingly for progressive policies and for a
progressive candidate to lead them.
Among the Republicans this vast
majority. of the people who voted un-
| trammeled voted Overwhelmingly for
| Theodore Roosevelt to lead them. But
the selfish interests, swarming from
/ every quarter and spending money like
water, strangled the popular will at
chicago and named an out and out re-
dictionary in Taft upon a platform
which both Roosevelt and I.aFollette
nave repudiated and which the people
!
We Democratic people have also ex-
pressed ourselves clearly and definitely
for progressive principles and a pro
gressive candidate.
The question Is shall this small mi
nority, backed by money interests.
throttle the majority of the people in
both parties and ram a reactionarv
platform and a reactionary candidate
down the Threats of the people?
Clark Victories Shown.
] Twenty six states and four terrific
ries OF the republic have overwhelm-
ingly expressed a preference for Champ
Clark to lead the progressive policies of
the Democratic party in the next cam
paign. In nearly four -ffths of the ter
ritory of the United States Champ
Clark has beaten all other Democratic
candidates by two to one and in some
cases four to one in the choice of the
progressive Democracy to oppose the
reactionary Taft.
To fly in the face Of this tremendous
expression Of the preference of Demo-
! cratic votes will be political suicide
.rom every point of view.
| Let 1t be understood by the Demo-
cratic convention that if we select a
reactionary to lead our forces for No
vember there will be two reactionary
tickets in the field to represent this
small minority in both parties. 1t is
clear beyond all doubt or question
that the Democratic party Is five
seventies progressive in its creeds and
wishes-Just as the Republican party is
overwhelmingly progressive.
1t is the small minority who are
reactionaries-the majority in both par
ties, ignored and unrepresented will
turn naturally to any party which fair
ly represents the dominant spirit of the
times.
The Atlanta Georgian, as l under
stand it, earnestly wishes the Demo-
cratic party to take advantage of this
overwhelming sentiment and the def1n-
lite opportunity and win this election.
To nominate a reactionary in the con-
vention is to make probable or certain
the election of Roosevelt.
Great Issue Pointed Out.
To nominate an absolutely sincere
and unQueSuoned progressive Demo
crat like Champ Clark at this conven-
tion-one who has never been other
than progressive will make Democ-
racy successful. This. is the great
transcendent issue--the triumph of the
progressive principle through the pro-
gressive Democrat.
As compared with this. all other con-
lsiderations are trivial 1t is far better if
possible to have a progressive tempo
rary chairman like Kern or James or
Sulzer or O'Gorman.
1 1t is absolutely indispensable that the
progressive Democracy should have a
progressive permanent chairman and
a progressive platform and a progress
sive nominee.
A reactonary nominee at Baltimore
is rush TO Roosevelt.
This is what all the progressives
think at Baltimore, and thinking this
all true progressives should hereafter
match every strategem Of the bold and
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