Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-20
Ex-Governor of Massachusetts
and Noted Shoe MANUFACTURE
or Calls Him Greatest PreSi-
dent in Half Century
BIZ DIR. GEORGE A. DORSEY.

BROCKTON, Mass, Oct 1s.-About
100000 Americans today stand ir
Douglas shoes. the rest of America
a union shop. pays the highest average
wages in the shoe trade in the world
has 101 retail stores, 5000 agents, anC
was elected governor of Massachusetts
by the largest majority ever given 9
Democrat in that state. From the
"bound-out" boy of seven who peggec
shoes, to the worlds greatest shoe
maker. founder and president of the w
L. Douglas Shoe company, man of af'
fairs, captain of industry. mayor, SEN
ator and governor, is the life and career
Of W. l.. Douglas.
In 1912, the national Democratic COM
mittee asked Governor Douglas for a
100-word estimate of Woodrow Wilson
He made this prophetic reply
II believe Woodrow Wilson will
be elected president of the United
States on November ), because he is
a leader and a statesman; because
he is opposed to special privileges
to the favored few: because he ad-
vocates the removal of all unneces-
sary protective duties; because he
advocates a reform in our present
inadequate banking system which
will prevent financial panics, give
more stability to business and
steadier employment to ALL I be-
lieve that his election will bring
about these reforms"
WILSON AS LEADER.
And 1 was right" said Governor
Douglas in his office at Brockton yes
terday. "He is a leader. Hasn't he
proved it? How the Republicans scoffed
at him four years ago. He can't lead
his party; what can he accomplish if he
is elected?
Accomplish! What hasn't ne accom-
plished? Has any president for fifty
years accomplished more? Has any
president put more constructive legts-
lation on the statute books? If that
doesn't spell united party I'd like to
know what you call 1t. Led by Wilson
the Democratic party has been not only
willing but eager to do what Is right
for the country. Yes, and most sof the
time the president has had the whole
progressive wing of the Republican
party working for the kind Of legisla-
ton the G. o. p. promised the country
and would not give it!
Anything to beat Wilson! Beat the
first real man of progress and or vision
in the White House in half a century!
"I search the Republican platform for
definite promises in vain / scan MT
Hughes speeches for direct positive
statements of policy-in vain. Abuse
Yes Destructive criticism? Plenty OF
il. Remedial action, specific change
bill of particulars as to different con-
duct? 1 find nOae of 1t.
TO THE FIRST-TIME VOTER.
'NIany thousands Of young men will
vote this autumn for the first time
They will compare Republican promises
with Republican, achievements; they
will. compare the record of this Demo
cratic administration with the promise
Of the. Democrats platform or 1919
What will they fiud? On the one hand.
broken promises and an ever-upWard
revision of the taTfff; on the other hand,
every promise fulflled, and with good
measure. 1 believe the young voters OF
America and the independent voters OF
America will vote for solid substan-
tial program of wise, efficient, Forward
looking far-seeing deeds. -.....
"we Sow where Wilson stands, We
know what he stands for. We have seen
him under fire. We have watched I'M
put diplomacy on the map-in European
affairs, to the approval of all America
and of ex-President Taft himself; IN
Mexico. not only to the approval of Mr.
Taft hut of his vice president, Mr.. Fair
banks. We have seen him handle ma
tion-wide strike-threat to the unbounded
gratitude Of the whole American press
till Mr.. Hughes, waiting watchfuily,
watching Hughesfully, suddenly discov-
cred what he hoped might prove an is
sue!
1--WE can trust Wilson. Can the La
Follettes of the Republican party guar
antee us that they can prevent the ola
guard from establishing central bank
with which they can-and would-jug-
gle nanics like a football? Or that inter
locking directorates will not again come
into fashion?
zone thing is certain---the old guard
of the Republican party was again In
charge Of the Chicago convention and IS
in charge of and is financing this cam
paign, hoping to return to power Tor its
own selfish interests.
II said four years ago that beheved
Woodrow Wilson should be elected be-
cause he would bring about certain
needed reforms. say today that Wood
row Wilson ought to be reelected be-
cause he has brought about these re-
forms. He deserves reelection If any
president in America ever deserved tha4
expression of approval from gratefuL
people. He has made good
II consider 1t a fortunate tAing that
the United States in 1912 elected Wilson,
the greatest statesman of modern times,
president. He has been on the JoD every
minute. If we are wise, we will keep
him in our business, for our need OF.
him Is greater than ever. He must x
on with the work.
KEPT US OUT OF WAR
by his deeds We shall know him. The
best, the greatest thing he has done? He
has kept us out of war! And yet the
Republican leaders unfairly abuse him
for that. Their criticism is on par
with their fault-finding Of the child Ia
Dor law. II Mr.. Hughes followers were
i'm the saddle, what would happen? Mr..
Taft himself has declared that with a
lingo in the White House we would now
be at war with Germany!
President Wilson's foreign policy has
been wonderfully successful. He has
more than held his own for America
against the diplomats of Europe with
all their years Of experience, and last
year the whole American press approved
his craftsmanship and commended diplo-
macy Take. for example, the New York
Sun, Wall street organ that no one
ever accused of having pro-Wilson lean
ings. The Sun, on September :, 1915, in
it's editorial column said:
1.-The United States has won great
diplomatic victory in the square accep-
lance by Germany of those principles
concerning neutral rights on the high
seas for which our state department has
been contending. President Wilson has
succeeded in this controversy in pre-
serving the peace with full honor.