Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-16
HUGHES W DAVIS

There has been about the address
ks OF the Hon. John w. Davis . de-
cidsd1y lawyer flavor. This II
not 10 be wondered at. Mr.. Davis
u q lawyer. said to be q very able
one. II 10 but natural that he should
indulge in lawyer-like expedients.
use Of which IL determined. in sone
dssrss by what he may conceive to
be the preferences II not the pre-
5uAices Of those whom he Is address
ing. He has shown skill In the use
OF innusndo.
S4oretary Hughes has had sxper-
iencs 40 q lawyer. but his training
on the bench and in national and
international affairs warrants the
expectation that his grasp Of the
situation In which this country now
Ands itself will be broader and more
comprehensive than that of his an
4agonist. Mr.. Hughes Is not disap-
pointing such expectation. His
speech At Indianapolis presents to
Mr. Davis a man sized job II he un-
6ertakes to answer II.
Naturally Secretary Hughes by
reason Of his position as head OF the
State department is somewhat re-
stricted In his utterances, but in this
address he left no doubt respecting
his attitude toward any interference
with our domestic affairs by out
siders. and his comparison between
the Democratic platforms position
respecting the league Of nations and
tho attitude OF the candidate Is Z
telling one. His hearers and readers
are not left in doubt about the In
consistency OF Mr.. Davis in trying
10 make the league an issue in this
campaign. where II does not belong
md cannot be made to belong.
Mr.. Davis got upon thin ice when
ington Confidence. He parrotted the
rernarka frequently heard that this
country sacrificed Its rights in the
Patinc for the friendship OF Japan.
Mr. Hughes ripped the cloak Off this
bo1ey with mastery stroke.
Wherever may 1t be found that the
Democratic party ever was willing
for this country to fortify Guam or
the Philippines? What is there
which might lead us to suppose the
Democrats ever would favor any
sudh q policy. and is It not now
seeking the granting OF the Filipi-
nos independence and favoring the
Abandonment Of that territory?
Thbre is the record and Mr.. Hughes
pinned the Democratic candidate TO
It 10 neatly as n bugologist pins a
beetle to a chart.
Mastery. too. was the clarity with
which Mr.. Hughes defined the actual
contest which is now being waged
in this country. The opponent Of
PRECEDENT Coolidge Is not Mr.. Davis
at .all. but LaFollette in control Of
the Strings leading to Charles W.
Bryan.
Congress has been subjected to
minority control and now this arch
coEspirator to substitute minority
fcrs majority rule would subject the
country to that sort Of domination
which 10 contrary to the principles
on which our government was es-
ta61ishsd and on which 1t has 80
successfully been maintained.
There is the issue. and over that
SHOULD the battle be fought.
II 10 worth our while to bear in
mild what that big man. who clean
ed up the insurance acandal in New
York. who was governor Of that
great State for two terms. who has
served - . distinguished member Of
thA,Fsdsral Supreme Court. who was
thsstower Of strength that made sue
cestful the Washington Conference.
haxto say Of the issue raised by the
shitd party: Their immediate pro-
EraH~ 10 . menace to our stability.
Their ultimate program invites the
destruction Of our form Of govern
ment."