The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-14
A WISE POLICY NEEDED

The fact that the Republican ma
tional committee unanimously chose
Cleveland as the meeting-place of the
party convention is strong indication
of the Coolidge influence. AS the days
pass it becomes more and more ap-
parent that the president will be his
party's choice to head the coming
campaign. 1t is generally acknowl-
edged that the presidents message to
congress and his subsequent actions
have harmonized elements that were
ready to fly apart. Perhaps it was
not the policy enunciated by the presi-
| dent SO much as his firmness and
steadiness of purpose that caused the
rally to his support. The party has
needed definite leader, and Coolidge
suddenly showed himself to be capa-
BILE of leading and of mapping out
course that was broad and easy to
follow.
Therefore, as the situation now
stands, the Democrats are faced by
harder task than has apparently con-
fronted them hitherto. For the Demo-
Gratis to win the election requires the
utmost harmony within the party and
the sacrifice of all elements of dis
cord. 1t would be folly to discount
the strength of the party in power,
for such an attitude would lead to
relaxation of effort, which would be
fatal. The Republicans have a def
mite leader; the Democrats also must
select leader and then fall in behind
him with all their forces, all their
energy and all their capacity for in
telligent presentation of their claims
to popular support.
The Democrats have plenty of ar
gument in support of the return Of
their party to power. They have not
only the remarkable record of the
Wilson administration in demonstra-
ton of their fitness to rule, but they
have also the legislative failure of the
Republican congress to point out as
horrible example. There is. little in
recent Republican legislation to praise,
while the complete neglect of wonder
full opportunities for constructive acts
makes that failure all the more glar-
ing. The disaffection in the party
which resulted in the election of so
many radicals and others of the in
surgent type shows that the reaction
against the Republicans has begun
among the people.
1t should be pointed out by Demo
Gratis everywhere and on every oppor-
tunity that the program outlined by
Mr.. Coolidge is in large measure the
same Democratic program which was
defeated by the Republican majority
in congress during the last months of
the Wilson administration and the first
half Of the succeeding administration.
The very program of tax reduction
upon which the president lays such
stress was first proposed by the Dem
ocrats in 1918 and consistently advo-
Gated by them ever since. Yet this
program of tax revision has been
mangled and defeated by the Republi-
cans. 1t would be difficult indeed to
detect in the presidents message any
good and constructive suggestion
which has not its prototype in the mes
sages of Woodrow Wilson.
The best policy for the Democrats
to pursue in congress is one of uniform
support of constructive measures, in
order that the candidate nominated to
lead the party may be able to show
consistent Democratic advocacy of
policies contributing to the national
welfare. The best reliance any can
didate may have in the coming cleo
tons is a party record of substantial
achievement.