Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-14
HARMONY APPEAL
VOICED IN ANSWER
To NOTIFICATION
BY RALPH SMITH
(.IournaJ Staff Correspondent

CLARKSBURG, w. Va, Aug u.
The following is the complete text of
the address made here Monday night
wherein John w. Davis, chosen lead
er of the Democratic party, accept
ed the nomination for the presi-
dency:
MIR. Chairman and Members Of the
Committee:
You will understand, with little
explanation on my part, the feel
ings which have led me to fix our
meeting at this spot in the hills OF
West Virginia. These are the hills
that Graded me and to which as
boy and man I lifted up my eyes
for help. In this soil rest four gen
erations of my people-artisans,
tradesmen, farmers and sprlnkllng
of the professions, laborers all, VINO
played in simple fashion their ap-
pointed parts in the life Of this COM
munity. Among them now lie those
who gave me life, and to whose high
precept and example [ owe all that
| have ever been and all that L can
hope to be. These witnesses who
surround us are the companions of
my youth and manhood.
with them most of my days have
been spent, and when circumstances
have called me elsewhere they have
followed me with a regard and af-
lection that has laid on me debt
of gratitude greater than l can re-
pay. Twenty-Five years ago they
first called me to their service as
their representative in the leglsla-
ture of this state, and since that
day, in public office or in private
life, l have fought with them I'M
ceasinglv the battle for democratic
ideals and democratic principles.
"Of their own free will and mo-
ton they presented my name to the
Democratic convention as one de-
serving it's consideration. Better
than all others, they will Know
whether what / shall say to you To-
day is in keeping with the conVlc-
tons [ have expressed and the &C
ton | have taken in the past ana
more than any others, they VIII
resent anything [ may say or do
that shows their confidence mis-
placed. 1t is in the presence OF
these hills, these graves, these wit
nesses, that l wish to hear your mes
sage and give you my reply.
APPROVES of Platform
"You come to give me official no.
tice that I have been chosen by the
Democratic party as its nominee Tor
the highest office in the gift of the
American people. You invite me 10
take the reins of leadership ana
marshal its hosts for the coming
campaign. No weightier commission.
could be laid on any man. He must
be vain indeed who does not feel his
own unaided strength Inadequate to
such a task, sand he must be ambl-
tious beyond reason whom thought
Of fame or honor tempts to under
take it without the fullest sympathy
with his party and its aims.
81 reflect, however, that you are
the representatives Of millions of
Americans who are dissatisfied with
existing conditions, who long for the
day when America will set her face
to the front again and who are ready
to follow whenever the forward
march begins And [ have read your
platform and its declarations of
party principle and find them such
as 1 can heartily approve. For
these things L thank God, and Take
courage.
MANY and grave are the problems
OF the hour, and all the resources of
patriotism and craftsmanship at our
command will be taxed IN their So
luton. The allied forces of greed
and dishonesty, of self-secking and
partisanship, of prejudice and ig-
norance, threaten today as they
have rarely done before The perpe-
tuity of our national Ideals, tradi-
lions and institutions. Men are
1,s,I-o L,
mistrusting one ;ls.other; are doubt
ing each others good will and hon
esty of purpose.
1.-THE solidarity OF the great war
has given way to a chaos of blocs
and sections and classes and inter
ests, each striving for it's own ad-
vantage, careless of the welfare of
the whole.
Government Distrusted
Government itself, to which the
humblest citizen has the right to
turn with confident reliance in its
eYenhanded justice, has fallen under
the prevalent dfstrust.
- There is abroad in the land a
feeling too general to be ignored,
too deep-seated for any trifling, that
men in office can no longer be trust
ed to keep faith with those who sent
them there, and that the powers OIL
government are being exercised in
the pursuit Of personal gain instead
of the common service. Out of this,
and because of il, there has devel-
oped an alarming tendency to take
the administration of the law out
of the hands of constituted officials
and to execute it's processes through
individuals or through organized So
cieties, by methods little different
from those of private revenge.
"A situation so threatening to the
very foundations of the social order
demands boldness in facing the
causes which have brought it about
and tireless eXertion in the effort
to remove them. TO bring the gov
eminent back to the people is and
always has been the doctrine of De-
mocracy. Today, in addition. it is
the supreme need of the hour t.
bring back to the people confidence
in their government.
1.-The search for the cause of this
state of affairs leads us at once to
the history of the last four years.
In 1920 we passed through a politi
cal campaign in which materialiSm
was preached as a creed and self.
ishness as a national duty. All the
forces of discomfort were marshailed
and the embers of every smoldering
hate were famed into burning flame.
1--WE have eaten of the fruit of
the tree that was planted and it has
been bitter in the mouths OF even
the usDst indifferent. l speak with
restratGt when l say that it has
brought forth corruption in high
places; favoritism in legislation; dI
visien and discord in party councils
impotence in government and 4 hot
struggle for profit and advanta se
which has bewildered us at home ana
Inundated us abroad.
G., O. L. Held Responsible