Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-26

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 21.-Life is
being made harder and more complex for the
poor politician, at any rate as far as speech
making is concerned. The trusty Grafton
that rocked nine counties in 1895 and any
number of years following is almost useless
baggage to the veteran candidate now. In
fact, the country has reached stage where
politician must write comparatively new
speeches every time he takes the stump to
re-elect himself or somebody else.
This Is no doubt an annoying development
to some old-timers. For years, our political
campaigns were staged with one stock ora
ton. To be sure the Grafton wore DISCUSSES.
It had various titles and subjects. But If you
took it apart and gazed into It's mechanism
it was the same time-tried speech, made up
of the same string of metaphors and refer
ences that could not fail to draw tears and
applause from any 100 per cent patriotic au-
dience.
Thus, early in the opening paragraphs oc.
Cured the reference to the eagle screaming
defiance at the dastardly enemies Of national
integrity and little later came the dramatic
announcement "that the American flag waves
proudly over this sunny land; let us not
darken it's shores by the shadows of infamy."
And so the speech went on tn its rolling
sentences, sure-fire sentiment. and old. old
anecdotes.
There are politicians who say that the
country has changed less than some people
think, and that the old style Grafton is still
a great vote getter, especially in rural dis
tricts Others, however, hold that the stump
speaker who hasn't sensed change Up the
times and the public is in for shoe3k
There are severa' reasons why sTTeah @1e
oratory has become almost defpQaS OdS -
that the public takes more interest "a .13a1-
for IS. Once, the American vc56S Eoyed for
a party and all the stump speaker had to d.
was to arouse partisan feeling. Waving the
bloody shirt was his job.
Fats Never Troubled Id-Timers
In those times the politician who would al
low himself to be pinned down t. facts on
troublesome issue would have been regard
ed as a total failure. The expert was the
man who when asked pointedly what he
thought Of a question, would smile genially
and wink at his audience to show that they
had a joke together.
NOW really" he would drawl good
naturally, "the members of our great and
glorious party are so well aware OF our atti-
tude toward this question dramatic pause),
and the adhereLts of that other misguided
and unenlightened party would scarcely be
able to grasp the finer points Of the issue
(pause), that I am reminded Of story in
this connection which reflects in true light
tho attitude of our party at all critical stages
when the honor of the nation rests in its
hands" Then followed the story Of the Irish
man and the other cow.
But now the rivalry between political
parties no longer seems a sufficiently great
issue to hold party members true to their
clan. More and more in each campaign the
voters demand pr lof of a constructive plat
form and insist on knowing the exact posi-
ton of the T rty on public affairs.
This tendency has affected oratory sadly.
It is next to impossible to drag in highflown
illusions to the flag, mighty cause, and
our sacred trust when one is speaking to
farmers on the price of corn and hogs. Nor
do these illusions seem to fit in with other
timely topics such as the ship subsidy, the
tariff, or labor problems
Prohibition might seem suitable field for
emotional appeals, but when such q
theme is being expounded audiences grow
FESTIVE under a flood Of sentiment. Facts
and figure IRE expected now in political
speeches. Even speakers who have always
been masters of the art Of evading definite
statements are finding that language in all
of it's sonorous beatty fails to awe the mod
ern audience.
A stump 6 eaker used to b. as much of an
tertainment fl ture as the circus. People
would sit entranced as long as speaker
would wave his arms and go through his list
of tricks. But ever Iince the Ivies began to
provide more regular entertainment, audi
ences have been less ready to be spellbound.
Women Demand Facts
The entrance Of women into politics may
be cited as one Of the most recent contribut-