Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05
John w, Bennett Delivers
Ringing Speech as Chair
man of Convention
Especial Dispatch to The JournalD

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
MACON, Ga, May 3.-John w. Ben
nett. of Waycross, who was elected per-
manent chairman of the Democratic
convention in session here today, praised
the Wilson administration ana deplored
lynch law in Georgia, in his speech oil
acceptance.
The Wilson administration. has been
wonderful and varied in its achleVe-
ments, Mr.. Bennett declared, and so
great has been it's success that the Re
publican party cannot find any material
for an anti-administration platform.
He said congress under the leadership
of President Wilson has enacted great
er body Of constructive legislation than
was ever enacted before in a like period
of American history. In this connec-
tion he mentioned the tariff reform, the
reform in banking and currency, the
parcel post system, the solution OF the
difficulty with Japan, the establishment
of an income tax, the enactment of leg
islation regulating the railroads, tele-
graph and express companies, waterway
improvement legislation, labor laws, and
health laws.
PRESERVATION OF PEACE.
All of these achievements were great,
Mr.. Bennett said, but the greatest of
all Wilson achievements has been the
preservation of peace with honor.
Turning his attention to conditions in
Georgia, Mr.. Bennett deplored and de-
nounced the increase in the number of
lynchings.
"Lynching is form of law violation
that cannot be justified in any case" he
declared. mo sane man can participate
in such a crime who has any respect for
law. 1t is a direct attack on organized
government and leads to anarchy
Much has been said and written, Mr..
Bennett said, as to the underlying causes
of lynching, and the blame has been
placed upon various departments of the
government. As to remedies for the
evil, he expressed the opinion that Geor-
gia needs most of all a revision of Grim
inal procedure, which opinion he based
upon his twelve years experience as a
prosecuting attorney
Give your solicitor general more
power, give your governor more power
said Mr.. Bennett "Then elect men to
these offices who have manhood and
moral courage. If anyone of those who
are seeking support as candidates for
governor should come out strongly for
the suppression of crime of every kind,
large majority of the people would
rally to his support"
THE SPEECH IN FULL.
Gentlemen Of the Convention:
] deeply appreciate the great honor that you
have conferred upon me in electing me chairma n
Of this convention, a convention composed of a
great army Of Democrats, representing you
do each and every portion of this state. We
have met here today for the purpose of elect
ing delegates to the national convention, which
delegates will assist in the nomination Of the
Democratic candidate for president of the United
States. The affairs of the government of this
great country during the past three years have
a N 81 nv vhn Sc a
Democrat, assisted by a congress in both houses
of which the Democrats have a majority.
therefore beg your indulgence for a few mo-
ments that l may discuss, or rather name. some
of the achievements of the present Democratic
administration.
The success of the Wilson administra ton
achievements that to attempt to enumerat ia
the things that have been accomplished would
be a task too great for the ordinary man. In
fact, great has been the success of the pres
ent Democratic administration, under the lead
trship of the greatest president in the last
half century, that the Republican party
cannot find any material for anti-administra-
tion pa tform. The only opposition that be
heard is the wailng of ex-Presdent Roosevelt,
the Bull Moose. who has lost sight of American.
ism and patriotism, but is seeking a selfish
purpose and trying to elect himself president
again, that he may go down in history as
the only who has served his country
as president for than two terms.
NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS.
So numerous have been the achievements OF
W
ask different men to name the three greatest
things accomplished, two would he alike.
For several days nave been trying TO settle
III my mind how | should answer this
question, and ! compelled to admit that
have not been able to do SO. The point is, my
fellow -citizens, that they are all greatest in
their own way or in their own field What
the president has done. the administration has
done, and what the administration has done, the
president has done; SO the achievements OF the
two one.
Mr.. Wilson had not been president of the
United States more than five minutes when
he did the most remarkable thing. considered
from a Democratic standpoint In bis inaugu-
ri address he broke down the barrier that has
existed since the foundation of the republic
between the people and the president, and made
every free Of America feel that the presi-
dent is but of the people, and that the only
difference between him and the ordinary man is
that the presidents duty is 10 serve the ordi-
nary man. and not that tie ordinary man is 70
l.servc the president As simple as 1t seems
this was a wonderful piece Of work, something
that many presidents have tried to do, but have
failed because they did not comprehend IN the
superlative degree the highest function OF the
president Of the United states OF America. Mr.
Wilson. with his advanced ideas of civil govern
ment and with heart tuned by trials, bard-
ships aud sorrOws of years TO heat IN harmony
with the throbbng. pure hearts Of an energetic
enthusiastic. ambitious, common American PEG
pie placed his hands upon the cold dark walls
that years of special privileges had punt ne
tween different classes Of our people, ana I'M
mediately barriers that stood in the way OF the
advancing march Of civilization crumbled Il
dust.
PRESIDENTS GREAT WORDS!
The words he spoke in his inaugural ad.
dress and the acts Of Mr. Wilson as president
OF the United States will never cease TO ac-
complsh good so long as man shall last ms
was. a great achievement, and possibly the
greatest Of all because il has affected every
individual, every interest and applies to every
branch Of our government.
Through the leadership OF President Wilson.
congress has enacted into laws more construc-
tive measures than during any like period in
the history OF country. Tariff for revenue
only IS doctrine of the Democratic party
about as old as the party itself. This was
the first work attempted by the Wilson admin
istra ton. Never in the history OF any country
or any state has reform measure been put
into effect without considerable objection at
first There many people in the United
States and some Democrats, who do not be