The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-08
Rushton's Address

| ItAY haSHlOH d0OlCSS OCACAo NAS
democratic convention was as fol-
lows:
Ladies and gentlemen CT the con-
vention: l appreciate highly this ex-
preston of your confidence. es-
TEEN it a great honor to be called
,, to preside temporarily over this
great body, and 1t is with great pleas
ure that 1 greet the first democratic
convention to assemble in Alabama
in decade. During these last ten
years great events have taken place.
For the first four years of that Pc
Rod our party was in supreme power
in national affairs. No party in
power during like period has ever
enacted so much constructive legis-
lation in behalf of the people. The
tariff was reduced, the farm loan
bank established.
The republican party, divided, as
1t always is, when any attempt was
made to establish a federal banking
system, had for years left the finan-
cial affairs of the country in the
hands of private interests. Our party
within a short while after 1t attained
power established a federal banking
system, and SO managed 1T that even
in the trying period of universal
chaos and worldwide catastrophe,
saved the country from any sem
blanee of a money panic
How well the people rallied to the
democratic administration, attested
their confidence in the honesty OF the
purpose of the leaders we had placed
at the head of affairs at Washing
ton. We won the war in record time.
The valor of our boys, the concentra-
tion of our mammoth wealth and re-
sources, aided by the patriotic IL
deity of our citizens, coon brought
the world kneeling at our feet, not
in supplianee to conquerorS but In
gratitude for deliverance.
EyentfuI Period
To have been permitted to live
during that period has been great
pleasure, ald to have been loyal
and faithful democrat during that
time is a proud distinction. For
little while idealism held sway. 1t
was felt that the muse of history who
had written every line and every
page of human liberty in human
blood would now be able to write it's
final chapter with the oceans of blood
that had flowed in France. But hui
man selfishness and human greed
had not been banished. The cost
had been great, and the time had
como to pay.
After searching investigation by
It's eQemlcSt the QCIIlOIidLiS
tration was admittedly free of all
corruption. but extravaganza in pub
nc expenditures and private life had
become the rule. The purpose of
change in our mode of living with it's
necessary economies, reduced profic
and lessened income stag
gered the unthinking masses,
Forgetting all experiences of the past
and the teachings of the fathers, they
were weak enough to think that the
general government which had
proved itself so great in defense
against its enemies, could by some
magic power relieve everybody's ne
cessities keep up fictitioue prosperity
and initiate values and incomes.
The republican party took advan-
tage of the misguided sentiment ana
foolish des re and promised that If
returned to power 1t would bring
about all these desired ends. The
country fell for st. and after our
overwhelming defeat at the polls two
years ago. unthinking ucmocratu De-
came afraid that the principles of
democracy which have always and
all times saved the nation when in
peril had perhaps become antiquated
and out of date. But they know now
that these principles are our only
hope, and that their re- adoption is
our only salvation. These principles
of democracy are not good because
they are old. but old because thor
are good.
| Greedy and hungry tariff barons
floeked to Washington. All The
glory, all the thrill. all the exalta-
ton that had followed the celebration
of Armistice Day were forgotten in
the fetid and putrid atmosphere of
party advantage and struggle for the
selfish interest of the few. But the
| light is beginning to break in upon
puzzled and bewildered brains. AL
ready the ghost of the Bull Moose
stalks in republican ranks. and their
| chieftain, we are told, rides around
| Washington almost unnoticed and
| little acclaimed. while every appear
| ance of the Lame Lion of S. street is
| the signal for demonstration and
| the hopes of conservative people are
centered around that greatest dem
ocrat now in office, an Albanian,
! the chosen leader of the faithful
democrats in the United States SEN
| ate.
| The opportunity for service is be-
fore us, and what we shall do here
, today, together with what shall be
/ done by like democratic conventions
throughout the various states. will
have great influence on the re-
| turn to reason and an era o. constl-
tutional government.
Party At Home
/, And our immediate interests are
| also concerned with the affairs OF
our party at home and within the
| state.
Since fits return to power under the
leadership of Governor Houston, Ala
bama has Enthusiastically had the
most economical government in the
world. The needs of education. aid
to Confederate soldiers and sailors
lhelp for the deaf. the dumb and blind
and caring for the insane and feeble
minded have often caused appropria-
tions to be made in excess of the
receipts in the treasury, an6.at times
| the states warrants have not beer
paid promptly when issued.
To the credit of the present dem.
ocratic administration of the state
it's financial affairs are such thai
there is no longer a deficit. We ors
as sensitive of the states financia
credit as We are OF our own financial
integrity, and no doubt this conven-
ton win assert in positive terms that
hereafter no appropriation shall be
| made, however, worthy the cause,
unless provision is made at the same
time for meeting the appropriation
when the time authorized for pay
ment arrives.
Our party is a party OF progress
! Our people demand all the material