Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-13
Address Before Nebraska
Luncheon, Utterly I'M
promptu, Makes Shining
Hit With Hearers and
Draws Repeated Applause
BY RALPH SMITH

BY RALPH SMITH
Staff Correspondent of The Journal
DENVER, Colo, Sept. lin the
opinion of the newspaper men &C
him on his western trip,
John w. Davis, the Democratic pres
dental nominee, is without a peer
as an eXtemporaneous speaker, and
hey long for the arrival of that time
IN this campaign when it will no
longer be necessary for him to pre-
pare his speeches in advance.
That time is fast approaching, for
with his Denver speech it is believed
Mr.. Davis will have covered with his
usual painstakirg care every issue
III this campaign, and made a per
manent record of his position with
respect to every one of them. Then
he will rely on his vast store of in
formation about economic and po-
itlcal questions, and ii may be safe
~ predicted that he will make the
well1in ring with his forceful and
fluent power of expression.
Mr.. Davis gift of speech was put
to the acid test at Omaha, on Satur-
day, when without the slightest adj
vance notice, he was called upon to
address a luncheon at the Fontenelle
hotel, at which he was the guest of
honor. 1t had been his understand
ing that no speech would be expect
ed of him, and that the oratory for
the occasion would be provided by
Senator Key Pittman, of Nevada,
and Congressman Cordell Hull, of
Tennessee. Indeed, Pittman and Hull
entertained the luncheon guests
with ood-humored jests about the
Of each to appear as the
'headliner,' neither having the
slightest idea that the candidate
himself would be called upon.
Davis Far From clustered
But the luncheon was, in fact, a
of the Democratic organi-
zation Of Nebraska, and Senator
hadn't any notion of let
ting the leaders get away without
hearing Eat least a word from their
nominee, so he present
ed Mr.. Davis.
Any person but a seasoned speak
err would have been clustered, and
probably evidenced his nervousness
under such circumstance Not so
with Mr.. Davis. He didn't hesitate
How we'll he acquitted himself, and
how much he pleased the audience
is best evidenced by the stenographic
report of his speech-appropriate
clever and very much to the point.
1t follows:
Senator Hitchcock, Governor
Bryan, Ladies and Gentlemen:
MIR. Hull has divulged to you a
little transaction between himself
and senator Pittman. 1t is not for
me to doubt the accuracy of his
statement, or to cast the slightest
reflection upon his veracity, but it
is only fair that I should say that
to my certain knowledge he has told
but part of the story, for both he
and Senator Pittman, when this
luncheon was preached, approached
me and requested that I make IL
speech at all, so that they might
have all of the time. daughter and
[ readily acceded, and
If I speak to you at all
I speak to you not upon borrowed
time, but upon stolen time. Naugh-
ter.)
Lauds Running Mate
senator Pittman has suggested
that I may feel some uneasiness in
association with a member, much
less with the corporate body, of the
senate of the United States. l may
be permitted to say that there have
been times when I do not think l
would have enjoyed the companion
ship Of the United States senate, or
its majority. daughter and APP
pAuse.)
"And certainly there have been
ser ators of the United States from
who m [ dissented in the most radi-
cal manner. But if, in the days
that are to come, by the kind suf-
frage and support of my fellow
countrymen, the sponsibilities of
the executive branch should fall
upon my shoulders, l shall feel alb
solute assurance, if [ can be asso-
ciated with the senate presided over
by the present governor of Nebras-
ka (applause), and composed of SEN
at3rs of the lofty outlook and per-
sonal character of Key Pittman and
Gilbert n. Hitchcock. (Applause).
And I shall feel happy, if at the 9TH
er end of the capitol there sits a
Democratic majority composed anf
led by such men as COrdell Hull,
OF Tennessee, and my old colleague,
Dan V. stevens, of Nebraska. zap
plause)
May I say to you-and / shall
be brief-that | never rise in a
Democratic gathering SUCH as this
without a feeling of peculiar pride,
that the party to which you and /
belong is today the oldest political
organization in the civilized world.
(Applause). IT is a phenomenon un-
paralleled, so far as l know, in the
political history of this or any 9TH
er country. 1t began it's career with
the capture of the lower house Of
representatives III 1871 and from
that good day to this, in sunshine
and in storm. in success and in de-
feat, in prosperity and in adj
versity, it has carried on unceasing-
ly the battle for the great princi-
pies in which it is pleased to be-
lieve. (Applause).
when you run over the long
roster of its services to the people
of the United States, the bosom of
justified and sufficient pride. The
very spot on which we stand today
was made a part of the continental
domain of the United States by
the far-seeing vision of Thomas JEFF
ferson. The grasp of financial mo-
nopoly in this country was broken
by the sturdy independence and
vigor of Andrew Jackson. Under
James X. Polk. we forced the boun-
diaries OF the United States to the
Rio Grande and the Pacific ocean,
and every foot of continental tet-
ritory We possess is the gift to the
people Of the Democratic party.
(Applause).
CIeveIand's CIean-Up
when corruption reigned in the
90