Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-06
4 Platform, Worthy of a Great
Party and a Great PEOPLE


TN striking contrast with a shuffling an
reactionary Republican platform stand
= Democracy's declaration of faith an
purpose put forward at San Francisco-Dusi
nesslike far-visioned and strong with tn
blood of truth. Where the party OF Penros
e-S Harding evades or seeks to becloud, thu
Democrats come boldly to grips with issues
Where the former looks backward, hungerlnI
for its fleshpots of old, the other goe
straight forward-aware of new age,
changed world, hazardous present to shield
and serve, a vast future to destine for gooe
or for ill.,
ONLY a rare union of practical and lort!
craftsmanship could have produced tnls
Democratic announcement only record O.
highest integrity and usefulness could give
forth this sterling ring. On the homellest o.
domestic matters we'll as on those or Worlu
wide concern, the San Francisco platform
has the drive of sympathetlc understand
ing To the people of Georgia, for exam
nile it comes with a message as timely
and direct as though written expressly FOL
them and their Southern neighbors. Touchlne
the fundamental interest of this region, il
declares
eft was Democratic congress IN the
administration of Democratic presluent
which enabled the farmers or America
for the first time to obtain credlt upon
reasonable terms anu luSu1cu IAOAA W
portunity for the future development OF
the nations agricultural resources. we
nledee prompt and consistent support OIL
sound and effective measures to SUSTAIN
amplify and perfect the rural cred1ts
statutes and thus to check and reduce
the growth and course of farm tenancy.
Not only did the Democratic party put
into effect a great farm loan system OF
land mortgage banks but it passed the
Smith-Lever agricultural extension act
carrying to every farmer in every sec
ton of the country, through the medium
of trained experts and by demonstration
farms the practical knowledge acquired
nv the federal agricultural department
in all things relating to agriculture, hor-
tculture and animal life; it established
the bureau of markets, the bureau or
farm management and passed the cotton
futures act, the grain grade bill, the CO.
operative farm administration act and
the federal warehouse act. Meanwhile
the Republican leaders at Washington
have failed utterly to propose one single
measure to make rural life more tolera-
BILE. We favor such legislation as will
confirm to the primary producers OF the
nation the right of collective bargaining
and the right of cooperative handling
and marketing of the products of the
workshop and the farm and such legisla-
ton as will facilitate the expectation o.
our farm products.
Similarly heartening to Southern commerce
and industry in their contention for square
deal for South Atlantic and Gulf ports is thu
pledge to stand for equality of rates for thu
ports of the country, to the end that there
may be adequate and fair facilities for thu
mobilization of products for shipments" Al
to improvement of highways, a matter pc
culiarly vital to States like Georgia: "Th
Federal Road Act of 1916, enacted by
Democratic Congress, represented the frs
in Of 1nT,ff h1Ji1.
an adequate system of roads. It has result
ed in placing the movement on a substantial
basis in every State and in bringing under
actual construction more than thirteen thou
sand miles of roads. We favor continuanc
of the present Federal aid plan under exist
ing Federal and State agencies" So, too, a
regards the development of inland water
ways, reclamation of waste lands, the up
building of the merchant marine, and othe
enterprises for internal Improvement ez
cepted, the platform is progressive and prac
ticai.
Foremost among the duties Of the Sa
Francisco convention, only the nominatio
excepted, was the framing of plank on in
ternational questions, particularly the Leagu
of Nations. Here lay critical test, of tn
party's good judgment as well as its goo
faith. Had it spoken evasively or double
. tongued as did the Republicans, it wou1
have forfeited the respect of right-minde
Americans. On the other hand, had it de
clared for stiff-necked adherence to the yer
letter of the League plan brought from Pari
insisting upon this Or nothing, then undoub
edly it would have alienated many though
full citizens and, besides, wogau have doome
saS hope of the covenants adoption by tt
senate. IN what the convention actual
Gid. however, there is no shadow either
eQuivocaton or Of bigotry. 1--WE advocat
the Immediate ratification of the Treaty
runs the key clause on this question, "witl
out reservations which would impair it's e
sential integrity; but do not oppose the a
ceptance Of any reservations making cleart
or more specific the obligations of the Unite
States to the League associates" The latte
assertion, known as the Walsh amendme1
: and wisely accepted by the platforms
signers, is reinforced by the additional stat
ment that "all duties and obligations
a member of the League must be fulfille
in strict conformity with the Constitute
of the United States, embodied in which
the fundamental requirement of declarato1
action by the Congress before this natit
may become participant in any war Sur
ly no reasonable "reservationst," who is s
cerely for a plan Of international co-Worl