The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-22
A SUMMONS TO THE PEOPLE.

IOemOcraClc campaign IS cldrlOH CdA IO the support of John W. Davis and the Democratic party. It is more than that. It is summons to the American people to defend themselves against the burden of corrupt government. The Republic an argument that the country needs no change because it is prosperous, is in reality an open bribe to the people of the United States to overlook dishonesty and privilege in government in return for that prosperity. But the American people are not so to be brfbed. They place the honor of their government and the integrity of the public administra- tion of affairs before every other con- sideration. Even if to reform the gov ernment meant to sacrifice modicum of prosperity, the American people would be willing to pay the price, for it is nothing to the treasure and the blood and the human sacrifice they have already given up in behalf of their country and the principle of equality to all and improper favors to none.
 Fortunately, support of the Democrat ic party would not mean the surrender of one iota of our prosperity. Support ot the Democratic party would not put the slightest brake upon our constantly ac- celebrating expansion in all constructive directions. Support of the Democratic party would mean all the cash benefit to the people that would result from the modification of the tariff schedules to relieve the people of the tribute exacted under cover of it's phantom duties. Sup port of the Democratic party would mean the cash benefit that would result to the people from an equitable adjustment of taxation, just as the people already en- joy the cash benefit of the recent tax re- duction which the Republican adminls- tration unsuccessfully sought to bestow chiefly upon the very wealthy. Support of the Democratic party would mean all the difference between government for the privileged interests and government for the whole people.
 For it must be remembered that the prosperity now enthroned in this coun- try is quite independent of Republican administrative or legislative intent. It IS the result of world conditions, of the ne- cessity of filling the void in commodities which was created by the exhaustion of surpluses and stores of all kinds during the war emergency. 4. Only an absolute absence of enterprise on the part of the American people could have warded off the present attack of prosperity. Because the American people have been alert, in- dustrious and productive they have pros pered while much of the rest of the world was disorganized. The founda- tions of our present prosperity were laid during the war, when the administration of affairs followed orderly, organized and intelligent lines, so that only a very short period was needed to readjust our industries to peace-time schedule. Present prosperity is far more result of the Wilson administration than of the present one. With the markets of Flu rope now rapidly recovering, this pros perity is, in the opinion of all competent observers, destined to expand beyond all previous proportions and through long period of years.
 Therefore, the American people may turn their full attention to their political housecleaning In the unmincing words of Mr. McAdoo:
 The alternative to Davis is Coolidge,
 reaction and chaos. The events of the
 past fifteen months, since Mir. Coolidge
 has been president, have demonstrated
 beyond all question his utter incapacity
 for leadership. Mir. Coolidge does not reveal himself to the American people.
 He does not take the people into his con-
 fidence as other presidents have done. Mir. Coolidge has not yet ut tered one word of condemnation of these
 men nor given evidence of that blazing
 indignation which would be the inevit-
 able expression of those moral values
 of which he speaks.
 And so it is not to be expected that the president, if reelected, could be de- pended on to scourge privilege from the capital and special interests from the Hobbies of congress.
 III CHlS TeBdIu1 Ml' OOhl w. O"'AS points out fatal flaw in the present Re- publican situation: "All experiences prove in this country that our govern ment can function we'll only when one and the same political party is in con- trol at both ends of Pennsylvania Ave nue." It is certain that the Republican party has not been in control in congress in the past two or three years, and it is certain that there has been no unity be- tween the White House and Republican leaders in congress. Thus there exists a situation of administrative impotence which would be aggravated and not di- unfinished by the reelection of MT. Coolidge.
 NOT A WISE SOLUTION.
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