The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-05
A CRITICAL HOUR


 If the length and uncertainty of the Democratic national convention at New York have irked and wearied the people of the country, what must be the effect upon the delegates themselves? Tena- ciously each group has clung to its choice or favorite son, and stubbornly has every effort to alter allegiance been fought. It appears to an outsider that one grave fault mars the convention attitude. It is that factional, local and personal diff ferences have been made more promi- nent and influential than considerations of the party or the national welfare. Some of the candidates who have been steadfastly adhered to are manifestly not the men capable of leading the party victoriously, or of administering the high presidential functions even if elected. Others just as faithfully SUD- ported have failed to widen their SUD- port in a degree warranted by their ca pacity, attainments and fitness for the presidency.
 It appears, therefore, that there has been needed some one to breathe upon the fevered delegation the cool breath of reason and of commonsense. There has been needed some one to point out the party duty so clearly that it would be unmistakable to the sincere majority. For there is no doubt that the majority is sincere, even if at times it has ap- peared misguided. The grave danger of prolonged deadlock is that, exhausted by an unavailing effort, the convention will finally forsake those of outstanding ability and flock to some less distin- guished figure, not as their choice as the one best fitted to lead the party, but out of sheer mental flag and physical ex- haustion. That result would be unfortu- nate, for, no matter how unsatisfactory the Republican political record has been, business is good and only strong Dem ocrat can win.
 At this hour of writing no man can predict the outcome, not even among. those who are in the innermost councils of the convention. It has been said that in the final round candidate will be se- lected by five or six men and railroaded through the convention. Almost inevita- bly, such candidate would be from those not now nor previously prominently before the public or the convention. Be- sides, the thought of only a few men making the choice, even if such choice is later confirmed by the convention ma- jority, is not pleasing to those who be- lieve in majority rule.
 This is a critical hour. The Demo- cratic party requires the best leadership and the firmest loyalty of which Ameri- can citizens are capable. The Repub- licans, no matter how objectionable their record, have the asset of an al- most impregnable organization. There is a rift in their ranks, but the machine still operates. The missing parts have been replaced and all the political func- tions are performed in outward har- mony. Those former leaders who have been outcast do not carry with them formidable following, for they were in part already discredited before the peo- pie. The expected schism between Re publicans and LaFollette progressives may not materialize. Therefore, the Democratic party needs to equip itself at every point and perfect every joint in its armor.
 That is why the adherents of the party hang with such anxiety upon the activ- ities of the convention. That is why the factional differences are regarded with such apprehension. That is why the deadlock is looked upon with such trepida- tion. That is why those within the con- vention who place party loyalty and the national welfare above any other consideration are silently besought throughout the length and breadth of the Democratic rank and file to unite and to strive for the selection of the man best fitted to lead, and, having vic toriously led, to administer the affairs of this great nation as best befits our people and our destiny.