Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-10
Governor Cox's Great Speech

OODefnOT 1OI OVSNL oPCcS's
IN Governor Cox's speech accepting the
Democratic nomination sturdy common
u sense and statesmanly ideals march side
by side It is the utterance OF a man al
once high-visioned and keenly practical. Gan
nv with insight into problems OF business anu
politics. it is also warm with human sympa'
thy. A plain speech, frank speech, anu e!o-
uuent with heart notes, it compasses the
questions of the day as only true Liberal
could and reveals personality that Will take
stronger and stronger hold on the country
interest and affection.
Eve are in a time" the Governor says,
(which calls for straight thinking, straight
talking and straight acting. Such is the
character of his address. His mind moves
directly and voices itself in terms unequivo-
cal. Unlike his opponent, who talks with
the confusion and skittishness inevitable IN
the Republican position, he drives right TO
the heart Of issues. 1t is curiously slgn1fl-
cant that Senator Harding's discussion of the
League of Nations pleased so bitter an enemy
of the covenant as Hiram Johnson and so
ayowed q friend of it as William Howard
Taft. The Senator, it would seem, is rarely
gifted in the art of concealing his ideas.
That, however, is not the kind OF talent
America needs or wishes. The issues of this
time are not to be evaded, nor it's response
bi1ities stunned. straight thinking, straight
talking, straight acting, these only will do
and it is these that Governor Cox brings to
bear.
Touching the uppermost question of our
foreign policy% he declares emphatically
against separate peace with Germany, in
volving as that would desertlon OF our
soundest interests as well as our broadcast
obligations. "It would be-" he says, "the most
disheartening event in civilization since the
Russians made their separate peace with Ger
many, and infinitely more unworthy on our
part" The Republican proposal, boiled to it's
essence, is that we should stay out of the
great league of peace along with Russia, Ger
many, Mexico and Turkey. What says Gov
srnor Cox? GAS the Democratic candidate,
favor going in This, of course, is but a
restatement of his party's platform which
declares: eve advocate immediate ratifica-
ton of the treaty without reservations which
would impair its essential integrity, but do
not oppose the acceptance of any reservation
making clearer or more specific the obliga-
tons of the United States to the League as
sociates.' No one protesting allegiance to the
declared principles of the Democratic party
and its Presidential nominee can consistently
hold any other view.
The Governor does not rest, however, with
simply stating that he is for League mem
bership with safeguarding reservations. He
gives clear concept of what he means by
safeguarding" and in this connection he
shows thorough and sympathetic understand
who stood for clarifying provisions First -
he points out, "they wanted to make sure
nat It's basic purpose was peace and not con-
troVersy; second, they wanted the other
:, Powers signing the instrument to understand
our constitutional limitations beyond which
the treaty-mak1ng power cannot CO." Fur
her:
"We hear it said that interpretations
are unnecessary. That may be true, but
they will at least be reassuring to many
of our citizens, who feel that in signing
the treaty there should be no mental
reservations that are not expressed in
plain words, as matter of good faith to
our associates. Such Interpretations pos
sess the further virtue of supplying a
base upon which agreement can be
reached, and agreement, without injury
to the covenant is now of pressing i'm
portance'
Equally straightforward and constructive
are Governor Cox's pronouncements on mat
tiers of domestic moment such as the repeal
of war taxes, the cutting away Of conditions
that make for profiteering, the utmost pro-
lection of the rights Of free speech and free
assembly, the Introduction of budget sys-
:em into Federal finance with view to elm
mating every dollar of needless expense, the
working out Of equitable and friendly re-
atoms between employers and employees in
he great fields Of labor and capital, the
Encouragement of all legitimate business in
10th internal and foreign trade, the discour-
tgement of crooked or oppressive dealing
wherever found, the upbuilding of the coun-
rvs educational system, the development of
agricultural interests and the enrichment OF
'ural life, the making of a prosperous, free,
ligh-minded nation. On these and related
subjects the Governor speaks with the def
aiteness of long executive experience as well
IS with the earnestness of one whose heart
IS with Americas rank and file. He pleads
,or "a change from the old world of yester-
lay where international intrigue made the
people mere pawns on the chessboard of
war" and for ga change from the old indus
trial world where the man who toiled was
assured of full dinner pail as his only
lot and portion"
A true Democrat a true American, has
spoken in this acceptance speech, in words
that cannot fail to quicken the nation s
thought and stir its heart.
Mrs. Gait probably regrets that she has
only nine lives to give for the suffrage cause.
Nashville Banner.
1--WE must not abridge the freedom OF
snooob Mr. HARDING And tharaupon