The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-20
GOVERNOR BRYAN's SPEECH

Governor Charles W. Bryan reveals himself as loyally and sincerely in ac- cord with the principles of the Demo cratic party, the blanks of the Demo- cratic convention, and with the candidate Democracy has chosen for the presi- dency. He modestly assumes that his se- lection is no personal tribute but rather the evidence of the party's recognition of the claims of the great West to def mite representation on the national ticket His language is clear and unin- volved. There is no difficulty in arriving at an understanding of his meaning. He does not seek rhetorical effects, but pro- ceeds directly to his thought. Democracy is caming to know more about Charles W. Bryan, and the growing acquaintance 1 is not disappointing.
 As is perhaps fitting, the candidate from the West devotes much of his att tention to the foremost industry of the West, namely, agriculture. Mir. Bryan, while coinciding closely with the views of Mr. Davis on this subject, yet more elaborately' sets forth the results of Re- publican legislation for the farmer, points out it's failure, and then develops policy that appears altogether sound and in harmony with presept-day thought. MT. Bryan declares that when the Re- publican administration came into power four years ago, high prices for farm products prevailed. But "the farmers were among the first to feel the effects of legislation and administrative action which changed the condition of farmers from prosperity to diversity, and caused the farmers, bank balance to disappear and mortgages on his. farm to take it's place." Among the reasons for this, mention is made of the attempt to re- duce surtaxes on the very rich and shift the burden to those less able to pay it, the prohibitive high. tariff behind which privileged interests manipulate prices to their own advantage and at the expense of the farmer as a purchaser, and too rapid deflation.
 More specifically, Mir. Bryan declares: "The relief plan provided by the Repub- licans, which increased the import duty on wheat, although the farmers were ex- porters of grain, has added to the farm er's knowledge of the working of the protective tariff. Pretended relief meas ures provided by the Republican admin istration, for loaning the farmer money at high interest rates with commission paid to middlemen for making the loans, has encouraged the farmer to go still deeper into debt, and has made his'final downfall more certain" As The$Age- Herald has long contended, what the farmer needs is not more facilities for getting into debt, but such reorgan- ization of his affairs as will assure his solvency and the stability of his market. Accordipgly.,Mr. Bryan advises that the farmer needs reduction in the tariff, lower transportation rates, the develop ment of deep inland waterways, the de- velopment of waterpower, cheaper fer tilizer, better warehouse laws, better COG operative facilities of marketing and buy ing, and an export marketing agency, "so that his small surplus product, which is sold in the markets abroad, will not es- tablish the price of the whole crop that he produces"
 In all this, however, the farmers "are not asking for special privileges. They are not demanding class legislation; they are not trying to get hold of the govern ment and use it for the disadvantage of the rest of the people. They demand that the legislation which discriminates against theh should be repealed, and that agriculture. be placed on an equality with other interests that have grown and developed in this country" The farmer needs "a price for hise grain and live stock that will cover the cost of produc- tion, enable him to clothe, feed and edu- cate his family, and again take his place as a free and independent citizen" There is wisdom in this program, and it needs only to be read with an open mind for it's, merit to be recognized.
 The vice-presidential nominee is en- Enthusiastically in favor of the conserva- tion and development of our national re- sources, especially arid lands, water ways, waterpower, timber and reserves of importance to our national welfare. He is opposed to those monopolies that are derived from and fostered by special privilege. He emphatically endorses MT. Davis position that the great need of the hour is honesty in government, some thing that we have not had for four years, greatly to the shame and regret of the American people. Altogether Mir, Bryan's effort is strong and convincing. It has helped the cause of the party al ready.