The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-11
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Graves Is Overwhelmed

On assuming the chairmanship of the state democratic executive com mittee sometime ago, Bibb Graves de- livered an address in which he pointed out several unfortunate conditions Tn Alabama which should be rectlfled. Inasmuch as his remarks were no more flambuoyant and sophomorical than those usually made by newly elected party leaders, inasmuch as he did not more grievously offend by naming evils without naming remedies than the average man would have offended, and inasmuch as he said nothing de- serving of adverse criticism, The Age Herald joined in the general chorus of approval.
 Evidently, however, the speech of the new chairman was remarkable. It has been favorably digested by prac- tically every one of the erudite edi- tors of the rural weeklies-especially
  by those who see nothing salutary to be forthcoming in the nomination of Charles Henderson. Columns in praise of the chairman have been written Certain of the more enthusiastic have complained that the chairman was not named to fat office by the admins tration at Washington, and others, perhaps even more enthusiastic, have practically demanded that at this hour he be given the bread of patronage. The following is from the Centre vile Press:
 Gen. Bibb Graves has made a good start as chairman of the democratic executive committed He has thrown out some wise suggestions and the party will do well to follow his ad- vice. He is progressive democrat of the Wilson variety. He and John D. McNeel did more than any other agen- cies combined to get a majority of the Alabama delegates for Wilson as second choice. and the administration should recognize Bibb with as good sn appointment as that with which McNeel has been recognized"
 To this lugubrious paragraph, the esteemed Montgomery Times adds the following:
 General Graves will do his full duty wherever he may be placed. and he has dome Sp1 service for the party. To him more than to any other man in Alabama is due the swinging of the Alabama del egation in line for Woodrow Wilson at Baltimore at the critical moment, and that made his nomination possible He asked bread of the administration and 1t gave him a stone
 "The very first opportunity that the people of Alabama had after that time General Graves was given a most fattering indorsement by the people of Alabama, and a democratic adminis- tratlon owes 1t to itself to do the fair thing by General Graves. He should have good and suitable appointment and there should be no delay about it. He is deserving; he is competent. he
 
 office within the gift of the President" All of which is distasteful, no doubt, to General Graves. He did as- sist MT. Wilson. He did ask for fed eral appointment. He did fail of his expectations. But he is altogether a good fellow, and he would be the last to charge MT. Wilson with base in. gratitude, or to attempt, by virtue ol having given some general and som, specific advice, to renew his applica, tion for a federal berth.
 There are still men in Alabama wht are willing to do and say what the, think is right and proper without hop, of financial reward. We believe tha Graves is one of that number.