Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05
Temporary Chairman Sounds
Keynote of Party in This State
in Brilliant Address of Tri-.
butte to Mr., Wilson
By HARLLEE BRANCH.
(Journal Stan Correspondent

MACON, Ga, May 3.-Colonel J'
,eph Z. Pottle, of Milledgeville, the ten
1orary chairman of the state Democra
c convention which met here toda
sounded the keynote of the party
his state in the following brilliant az
iress:
Fellow Democrats:
We have gathered here today, the
representatives of the militant prog
ressive democracy of the state. not
to name a candidate for the presi-
deucy, but to ratity the choice al
ready made of the united democracy
of the nation. If there was ever
moment in the country's history, in
which a united Democratic party
was imperative, it is this moment
and If there was ever an hour in
which we had that united Demo-
cratic party in Georgia, it is this
hour.
Taking the helm of the national
ship, at a period when genuine
Americanism was to be put to the
supreme test, and under conditions
which rendered essential the exer-
else of extraordinary capacity;
when the least blunder might have
involved our country in complied
tions whose consequences no seer
could prophesy, Woodrow Wilson
has given evidence full, final and
complete. of a patriotic grasp of
the entire situation, which at the
same time stoutens the heart of the
hesitating ond moderates the ardor
of the militant.
With full realization of the fact
that his first and foremost thought
is and must be, the welfare and the
honor of our great republic, our
president at the same time under
stands that the honor of the nation
and the self respect of its people,
demand his stern insfStence on the
nations rights as a neutral and the
enforcement of those international
laws which set a just and saluta-
tory limit to the energy of warning
combatants.
ENDORSEMENT UNQUALIFIED.
The Democratic party of this
great state, unfalteringly loyal to
the historic doctrines of Thomas
jefferson, seeking no contest of force
or entangling alliance with the other
nations of the earth. records its en-
thusaistic confidence in Woodrow
Wilson, and it's supreme faith in his
courage, his ability and his patriot
ism and endorses without any quail
ification whatsoever. the course and
the conduct of his administration.
Essentially and emphatically a man
Of peace, he knows as we know, that
he who cries for war except as a
last resort, is a traitor and a brag
CART, and that he who demands peace
at any price is a traitor and a cow
ard.
This, my fellow Democrats. is no
time for hyphens in our names, or
in our characters. Between the
Scylla of war on one side and the
Charybids of national dishonor on
the other, our president has steered
the ship of state with the hand of
an adept and the brain OF master.
Speaking, believe, for this assem-
bled multitude, and for the Demo-
Gratis of Georgia, their wives, their
daughters and their sons. ! may say
with perfect faith, that we extend to
the great Democratic president of
these United States our enthusiastic
confidence and loyalty.
When the history of our country's
life and conduct in the two past
pregnant years GOIneS 10 NC lAhdAAy
written it's chief character will be
Woodrow Wilson, and the most
conspicuous and attractive phase of
that character Will be his devotion
to the cause of peace. In the midst
of the universal woe across the seas,
he has stood calm and serene, call
ing with unimpassioned poise for
sober, unexcited, consideration of
the rights of nations and the rights
of men; and I do not doubt for one
moment that his course in all these
troubled days will be one of the
most inspiring epochs in all our
history.
U-NDETERRED BY CRITICISM.
The Anglo-SaxOn race, since that
fateful day, when Cromwelfs armed
partisans put the soldier above the
civilian, and the warrior above the
statesman, has stood with firm de-
termination against a standing army
I'm time OF peace. There has been
no abatement of this great policy
in our own country, yet neverthe-
less. when the war god stretches