Evening star., 1924-06-25
Harrison's Keynote.

~ Senator Harrison, keynoting at the
: Democratic convention in New York
yesterday, detracted no whit from the
reputation for oratorical ability which
attaches to his name. The choosing Of
: the comparatively youthful son OF
. Mississippi for the decidedly important
job of temporary chairman was sig
nal evidence of the high estimate his
party places upon his abilities. and he
met his responsibilities in a most
capable fashion. There was a fire in
his heart as he stood before the vast,
sweltering audience in the famous
garden that the printed word and the
mysterious voice carried upon the
ether waves to millions of radio re-
ceiving sets could not catch, and the
fervor of his person lent much of
dignity and persuasion to the content
IF his address. But in the final anal
ysis it is upon what he said, rather
than upon how he said it, that the
attention of the nation must center as
ii seeks TO estimate the lines upon
which the approaching Democratic
. So viewed, Senator Harrisonis speech
SINNERS down to little of startling i'm
portance If the keynote has indeed
been struck it becomes apparent that
the Democratic artillery load in the
coming battle is to be the charge of cor
ruption against the Republican admin
istration: that an audacious flank at
tack is to be made with a view to cap
turing for Democratic use such
strength as tax reduction, the budget
system. the disarmament conference,
lowered governmental expenditures,
etc, have brought to the administra-
= ton which put them into effect; that
=. the tariff, the world court, the un-
happy predicament of certain of our
agricultural interests are to constitute
the light ammunition for the frontal
attack, and that the league of nations
issue is to be withdrawn under a care
: fully laid down smoke screen.
a. So analyzed, it becomes apparent
that much of the Democratic scheme
Of campaign has been thrust upon
them by their opponents. The fervor
with which the scandal Investigations
were protracted and exaggerated until
, the nation first yawned and then pro-
tested in the consciousness that, with
= good job completed, the Democratic
medicos were too obviously eager to
continue probing perfectly healthy tis-
sue, becomes readily eXplicable. The
ryaS an issue
The raid upon the ammunition sup
. plies of the Republicans, wherein re-
+. posed popular credit for valuable legis-
5.4ation and wise statesnanship, might
sEnot prove successful. The charge of
scandal and corruption was alone sure
ly available, and about the deplorable
betrayal of a cabinet officer here and
a lesser public servant there Of the
confidence imposed in them by their
party and their nation the structure
Of Democratic hopes for office must
necessarily be built. The keynote
sounded yesterday in New York does
not bind itself to the support of any
hope that the approaching campaign
= is to be marked by conspicuous dig
nifty. For it announced in effect that
the Democratic barrage is to be of
, mud balls. Nor can the Democrats be
blamed for taking the urgently needed
advantage placed in their hands by
corrupt Republicans. however few in
number, however condemned and
-loathed by the party which they have
=. betrayed.
- In the light of the keynote revela-
:. tions it becomes clear that the out
= come of the presidential struggle will
}. depend in a preponderant. measure
upon the ability or inability of the
Democratic campaigners to shake the
recognized confidence of the nation in
the individual honesty and honor Of
Calvin Coolidge, and that will be a
task as difficult as it is distasteful for
those who have it in hand.
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