The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-09


1rHE republicans being short or
u sane issues, and finding that
vicious attack on the Wilson admins
tration is not as well received as they
hoped it would be, are reviving the
sectional issue and are now pushing
it frantically.
Republicans Push Nominee Hughes
Sectional Issue started the cry
while he was on
his western tour, and today it is
common theme among the republican
orators in Maine and wherever they
hald forth.
There was a great deal Of sectional
bitterness during the reconstruction
period and after. The republican
party's treatment Of the south in the
years closely following the civil war
was enough to embitter any people.
AS late as the early eighties the
"bloody shirt" was waved cruelty but
effectively against the "solid south;
gradually the chasm was closed and
with the coming of the Spanish Amer
i.an war sectional lines were entirely
obliterated.
Bonds between north and south
could not be stronger than they are at
the present time, and any effort to
weaken these bonds would be as futile
as it would be un-American and I'M
patriotic. y
Mr.. Hughes affects an air of lamen-
tation because the south is in the sad
die; and, according to his point Of
view, the democratic party will be an
inefficient party as long as southern
men dominate it.
Raymond Robins, who presided over
the progressive convention, and who,
pursuant to programme, is an ardent
supporter of Hughes, delivered him
self thus in a speech in Maine this
week:
One reason why I am no longer
q democrat and do not intend to go
back to the democratic party is be-
cause I know the democratic party
too we'll. The economic and social
Issues which confront the country
cannot be entrusted to party that
Ia under southern control. There
are good men and good women in
the south, but southern life has
not kept step with our northern
and western life.
Mr.. Robins is in error about the
matter of keeping step, If by that
phrase he refers to legislation OF
ECONOMIC" or SOCIAL value. As for
the democratic administration its
achievements, generally speaking,
have redounded to the good of all the
people. While the President and Con-
rress have made mistakes, most OF
the measures enacted have been not
only constructive but of incalculable
benefit to the country, regardless OF
section or class.
Did the republican party ever write
on the statute books any act relating
to the currency so widely approved as
that which gave us the federal reserve
system-helpful alike to New Eng
land, the eastern states, the middle
west, the far west and the south? The
rural credits measure was something
demanded by the farmers as far back
Is the eighties, but it remained for a
democratic administration to make 1t
law.
The Sixty-fourth Congress has done
more for the strengthening of the ma
tional defense than the republicans
had done in long years of rule, or ever
thought of doing. Mr.. Hughes may
pick out flaws in the preparedness leg
islation, but he does not vouchsafe to
inform US how he could have done bet
ter.
II all administrations do for the
country what the "south-controlled"
d<mocracy has done since March 4,
1918. the majority of the electorate
will Be mighty well satisfied. It is the
iemocratic party that does things,