The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-08-31
HoKE SMITH INDICATED BY
DEMOCRACY OF THE NATION

at the ratio of 16 to /, while others
opposed the proposal. Among those
who opposed what was known as
''free silver" was Grover Cleveland,
who was president of the United
States, serving his second term.
When the democratic convention
met in Chicago, after much discus
sion, including the great speech of
William J. Bryan, the delegates
adopted. a platform calling for the
free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer at the ratio of 16 to / without
waiting for agreement with any
other nation.
This action ON the part of the con-
vention was direct opposition to
the attitude of the democratic pres
ident. The democratic president was
a single or gold standard advocate.
He believed that gold and gold alone
should be the money basis.
But the democrats in convention
at Chicago did not agree with him,
and they acted for themselves. They
adopted a platform that suited them
without the consent of the demo-
cratic president.
The. situation among the demo-
Gratis this year is somewhat similar
to that of twenty four years ago.
The democrats of the nation are d.
vided on the question of league OF
nations. That is to say, they are
divided as to what the agreement
shall be. In principle there appears
to be no objection to a league pro-
II. fV7fO q
shall enter with other nations shall
be such as definitely and positively
to state the position the United
States occupies.
The democrats in convention at
San Francisco did not indorse the
league as originally presented to the
senate, but what they did was to
place themselves on record as beng
in favor of league with specific
reservations.
That is the position of the demo-
cratic party today.
That is the position that Senator
Hoke Smith took in the beginning.
reservations-suc specific definl-
ton as to leave nothing in doubt,
as to leave nothing to be guessed at.
The national convention in San
Francisco adopted the view of Sem
ator Smith. This view had been en-
tertained by him from the begin
ming, and he has not changed, and
the democratic convention at San
Francisco simply Endorsed his view.
Governor Cox, the democratic
nominee for the presidency, has
taken the same view. The governor
advocates the league as proposed
with interpretation" insuring good
faith and understanding. He de-
clares that these Interpretations
should state "our Interpretation OF
| the covenant as a matter of good
faith to our associates as a Precau-
ton against any misunderstanding
in the fture." The governor sug-
gests two specific interpretations, -"
one declaring that Americas con-
tinuance in the league should de-
pend upon the leagues use as an
agency for world peace, and the 9TH
er. the misunderstanding that this
nation could act only within the con-
stitution, which is unalterable by
any treaty.
That is the position of Senator
Smith taken in reference to the
league in the beginning, and when
his opponents assume to crltlclse
him for standing where Governor
Cox is standing, and upon the plat
form adopted by the democratic con-
vention in San Francisco, they are
doing nothing more than showing
their ignorance.
The senator, without taking
course opposite to that which he has
pursued from the beginning, could
not do otherwise than support the
democratic platform and the demo-
cratic candidate, since both nave
come to his way of thinking con-
corning the proposed league of ma
lions. They have come to him. He
has not gone to them. They did not
N'back up the president, as the OPP
ponents of Senator Smith are de-
claring they did, but they are back
ing up the position taken by Sena-
tor Smith in the beginning OF the
league controversy and which he has
consistently maintained until the
present, and which he will continue
to maintain. =.
Then why all the effort to dis
credit Senator Smith when the rec
ord is as clear as the MONDAY sun?
WHY try to make it appear that ne
has done one un-democratic thing,
an unholy thing, because he has pur-
sued the course he has, which course
has been Endorsed by the national
democratic convention and the DEM
ocratic nominee for the presidency!
President Wilson himself has accept,
ed the league of nations plank, and
is now in accord with Governor Cox.
That ought to make it unanimous.
In 1856 the democracy Of the ma,
ton did not go to Grover Cleveland
on the money question, and in 1920
the democracy of the nation has not
gone to Woodrow Wilson on the
league question. The difference, in
this particular, between Cleveland
and Wilson is that Cleveland did
not stand by the action of the dem
ocratic convention in 1896, while
Wilson is standing by the action OF
the democratic convention of 1920.
In view of the action of the CON
yention and its acceptance by both
the presidential nominee and the
democratic president Senator Smith
stands indicated Of all charges OF
l.. n