Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-16

~ OPTICIANS OF the republican camp
who know a thing or two about popular
- reactions may carry high look, but
never proud heart, after the Clarksburg
xneech of John w. Davis. None can tell
better than they that he has found the most
vulnerable spot of the armor, dishonesty
and has loosed against it the surest OF all
arrows, truth For many failures and many
wrongs their party stands condemned-for
inefficiency in the publc's business, for I'M
responsiveness to the peoples will, Tor
broken pledges and visionless policies But
all those ,deplorable as they are and costly
"a they have been to the nations interests
and honor, seem but minor offenses beside
that black and towering evil on which De-
mocracy's leader has conferred his challenge.
ton he recites the shameful record: "A
senator of the United States convicted Of
corrupt practices in the purchase of his sena-
torial seat; secretary of the interior, In
return for brides, granting away the naVal
oil reserves so necessary to the security OF
the country; secretary Of the navy igno-
rant of the spoliauon in progress II not IN
different to it. an attorney general admit
ting bride takers to the department OF JUS
tice, making them his boon companions, and
utilizing the agencies Of the law for pur-
poses OF private and political vengeance;
chief of the veterans bureau stealing and
+ helping others to steal the millions in money
and supplies for the relief Of those defend
ers of the nation most entitled to the ma
Atoms gratitude and care" Surely, as Mr.
Davis concludes, "Such crimes are too gross
to be forgotten or forgiven"
Nor can the present regime at Washington
escape responsibility. Truly enough, Inc
millions Of sincere and patriotic men and
women who compose the rank and file Of
the Republican party are no more ready to
,ondone these and similar offenses or to
pardon the offender than are those Of other
political faiths; indeed, their Indignation has
perhaps a sharper edge, for It Is coupled with
the chagrin that must follow from the
their name, corrupt men have crept to places
of power and then betrayed the trust that
placed them there" But the Republican
machine, the Republican administration,
through which this blot has come upon the
party and these foul wrongs upon the coun-
try. cannot lightly wash its hands OF the
stain. On this point Mr.. Davis argument
win carry conviction to his jury of millions
of American citizens. There is first he
says, 1.-The fact that the revelation OF these
crimes was not the result OF any action taken
by the executive. No burning indignation
there put In train the forces Of investigation
and of punishment. The disclosures came
only rs the result OF painstaking public eff
fort OF faithful public servants in the legis-
istiye branch of the government, who could
not close their eyes even when others chose
to slumber. Again, when discovery was
threatened instead OF aid and assistance
from the executive branch, there were hur-
ried efforts to suppress testimony to dis
courage witnesses to spy upon Investigators,
and, finally, by trumped-up Indictment, TO.
brighten and deter them from the pursuit.
The spying on senator's and congressman;
the hesty interchange OF telegrams in de-
partment code; the refusal Of those accused
to come forward, under oath, to purge them
selves-all these things serve to blackeu
page that was already dark enough"
American people will not tolerate in their
government, and one to which they dare not
as they hope for the future Of the republic,
show one moments mercy. \ political re