The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-08

Dayton, O., August 7.-Following is the text of the speech of acceptance of the democratic nomination for the presi- dency of the United States delivered here today by Gov. James M. Cox:
 Chairman Robinson and members of the notification committees: The mes sage which you bring from the great conference of progressive thought as- sembled under the formal auspices of the democratic party inspires within me pride and an appreciation which ] cannot voice. At the same time l am mindful of the responsibility which this function now officially places upon me As 1 measure my own limitations the task ahead of us shoud be approached with more than feeling of diffidence If 1 were not strengthened and re- assured by the faith that one has only to practice true fidelity to conscience. It is not the difficult thing to know what we ought to do; the sense of right and wrong has been given with Divine equality. The mistakes of his- tory are the result of weakness in the face of tempting interests. I thank God. therefore, that I take up the standard of democracy free man, un- fettered by promises and happy in the consciousness of untrammeled oppor- tunity to render a service in the name of government that will hold for 1t the confidence which it deserves.
 NO TIME FOR MODELLING
 We are in a time which calls for straight thinking. straight talking and straight acting. This is no time for webbing. Never in all our his tory has more been done for govern ment Never was sacrifice more sub lime. The most precious things of heart and home were given up in spirit which guarantees the perpetuity of our institutions-if the faith is kept with those who served and suffered.
 The altar of our republic Is
 drenched in blood and tears, and he
 who turns away from the tragedies
 and obligations of the war, not com
 secrated to n sense of honor and
 of duty which resists every base
 suggestion of personal or political
 expedicncy, is unworthy of the
 esteem of his countrymen.
 MEANING IS CLEAR
 The men and women who by ex- pressed policy at the San Francisco convention charted our course in the open seas of the future sensed the spirit of the hour and phrased it with clarity and courage. It is not neces- sary to read and re-read the democratic platform to know its meaning. It Is document Cl6dI III ltS dnd1ySlS VI SVh- ditions and plain in the pledge of service made to the public. It carries honesty of word and intent. Proud of the leadership and achievement of the party in war, democracy faces unafraid the problems of peace. In deed, it's procurement has but to be read along with the platform framed by republican leaders in order that both spirit and purpose as they dominate the opposing organizations may be contrasted.
 pressed in tho nations glory and promise of service easily understood. On the other captious, unhappy spirit and the treatment of subjects vital to the present and the future. in terms that have completely confused the pub Iic mind.
 ft was clear that the senatorial
 sliEarchy had been given it's ewn
 way in the selection of the presi-
 dential candidate, but it was sur
 prising that it was able 10 fnsten
 into the party platform the creed
 of hate and bitterness and the
 yaciiIating policy that possesses 1t.
 SUPERFICIAL LOYALTY
 In the midst of war the present senatorial cabal, led by Senators Lodge, Penrose and Smoot was formed.
 Superficial evidence of loyalty
 to the President was deliberate in
 order that the great rank and Tile
 of their party, faithful and patri-
 otic to the very core, might not be
 offended. But underneath this mis-
 leading exterior, conspirators
 planned and plotted, with bigoted
 seal With victory to our arms they
 delayed and obstructed the works
 of peace.
 If deemed useful to the work in hand no artifice for interfering with >our constitutional peace-making authority was rejected. Before the country knew, yea, before these men themselves knew the details of the composite plan. formed at the peace table. they declared their opposition to 1t.
 Before the treaty was submitted
 to the Senate in the manner the
 constitution provides, they violated every custom and every cOnsidera-
 ton of decency by presenting
 copy of the document, procured
 unbiushinxly from enemy hands,
 and passed it into the printed rec
 ord of senatorial proceedings.
 From that hour dated the enterprise of throwing the whole subject into n technical discussion, in order that the public might be confused. The plan has never changed in its objective, put tne method has. At the outset there was the careful insistence that there was no desire to interfere with the princip'e evolved and formulized at versailles Later, 1t was the form and not the sup stance that professedly inspired at- tack. But pretense was futile when proposals later came forth that clearly emasculated the basic principle of the whole peace plan.
 DETAILS WELL KNOWN
 It is not necessary to recall the de' tails of the controversy in the Senate Senator Lodge finally crystalltzed hls ideas into what were known as the Lodge reservations, and when Con eress adjourned those reservations heie the support of the so-called regular republican leaders.
 From that time the processes nave been interesting. Political expeoienc, In it's truest sense dwarfed every con alteration either of the public interes' or of the maintenance of the honor of a great political party. The exclu sive question was how to avoid rup .rre in the republican organization The country received with interest t' GOV the least, the announcement iron Chicaro. where the national convention v.. assembled, that a platform plank dealing with the subject of world peace had been drawn, leaving out the Lodg' reservations, and yet remaining agree able to all interests, Nmeaning thereby Inc Lodge reservationists. the milo reservationists and the group of re eublican senators that openly opposed th. League of Nations in any form.
 rArrNCnN CnNCVCTENT