The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-16

derstood. That is what the masses
of our people have felt so long.
The President has given expression
to their mute convictions as no
other man in America.
And again Judge Seabury presented
these words of wisdom:
We hear a great deal of talk at
this time about Americanism, but
Americanism can never be an issue
in America. There never can be
party that stands for America sec
ond. My own conception of Ameri-
canism is that in reference to our
relations to foreign countries we
should all stand behind our own
government No party should at
tempt to make political capital out
of our relations with foreign coun-
tries.
When Judge Hughes, in his speech
accepting the republican nomination
for President, declared himself Tor
America first and America et-
ficient," the audience applauded with
enthusiasm. Colonel Roosevelt, who
was present, afterwards referred to
the pharse in extravagant terms, by
George, that was clever!" he was
quoted as saying. American first
was not original with Mr.. Hughes. 1t
had become hackneyed. AS for Amer
lea Efficient no one seemed to know
lust what Hughes meant by it. Yet the
crowd accepted it as original and the
colonel thought it was bully. Judge
Seabury, in a dignified, clean-cut way,
punctured the phrase.
america first and America et-
ficient" was being pushed at repuo-
lican headquarters as a campaign
slogan. Probably nothing more will be
heard of it, especially since the word
efficient has been overworked and the
people have grown utterly tired OF IT,
While Seabury will be expected to
devote most of his time this fall to
his own campaign, he will be at the
same time a powerful factor in the
national democratic cause.
Ten who are not used to public
lVl speaking should, when they
have to deliver an address, preface 1t
we'll in advance and allow themselves
ample time to memorize it. But for
the facile orator there is such a thing
as too much preparation. According
to accounts, Mr..
Some Speeches Too Hughes labored
Much Worked Over on his speech OF
acceptance for
several weeks. He is ready speaker,
but he thought master effort would
he expected of him for that occasion.
He went over the grafton, rewriting 1t
and polished it, and the result was
that when he stepped on the stage at
Carnegie hall, much of the freshness
had gone from it.
There had been too much finishing.
Some critics went so far as to say
that it fell flat If the nominee had
spoken extemporaneously, the address
would have had the merit at least
of spontaneity. The content might
have been better and the style, too.
President Wilson is one of the most
brilliant orators in this country. Like
the late BENJAMIN Harrison, he speaks
without effort and what he says, If
taken down by stenographer, is
ready for the printer without much
revision. But his acceptance speech
is to be somewhat exhaustive defense
of his administration and he completed
it week ago. IL is NOT 10 DC ue-
livered until September 2.
Vice President Marshall will accept
in few "brief remarks" and is not
bothering about preparation; but it is
understood that Charles w. Fairbanks,
republican nominee for vice president,
has put in a great deal of work on his
speech scheduled to be spoken to
nominating committee August 81. In
all this time he may have polished the
life out of it. If such be the case,
he would do we'll to fall back on his
vice presidential acceptance of 1904.
1t would fit just as well, perhaps, as
a fresh one.
COLONEL ROOSEVELT and the
" standpat leaders in the repub-
lican convention thought the progress
sives would come back to the old party
with a rush. 1t was believed the fol-
lowers of the moose wNld fall over
themselves in re-
Progressives Not turning. Many Of
Returning Fast them talked that
way and many Of
them lost no time in getting into