The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-12
DAVIS ACCEPTS
NOMINATION IN
FORMAL SPEECH
Promises to Turn Hose
on Washington
Especial to the Daily worker,)

Addressing huge throng OF towntolk,
neighbors, political henchmen and job
seekers, John w. Davis, the demo
cratic nominee for president, made his
speech of acceptance tonight.
After paying the ordinary compli-
mentary remarks to his birthplace,
Mr. Davis got down to what the dem
ocrats propose to call the issues Of the
campaign. The promised progressive
ism of the Morgan-Rockefelle lawyer
didn't materialize in the speech.
DepIores BIocs.
Mr.. Davis early in his talk sailed
into the tendency toward sharpening
of class divisions in the United States
by declaring that: 1.-THE solidarity of
the great war has given way to a
chaos of blocs and sections and
classes and interests, each striving for
its own advantage, careless Of the well
fare of the whole government itself,
to which the humblest citizen has the
right to turn with confident reliance
in its even-handed justice, has fallen
under the prevalent distrust. There is
abroad in the land feeling too gen.
eral to be ignored, too deep seated for
any trifling, that men in Office can no
longer be trusted to keep faith with
those who sent them there. A situa-
ton so threatening to the very foun-
dations Of the social order demands
holiness in facing the causes which
have brought it about, and tireless ex-
ertion in the effort to remove them"
In the main, the speech was a re-
hash of Senator Pat Harrison's key
note address at the democratic con-
vention. 1t dripped oil and mud in it's
recitation Of the republican scandals.
Republican Confidence Men.
The republican party was charged
with having shaken public confidence
to its very foundations" The demo-
cratic platforms abstract generalities
regarding the world court were fully
indorsed by Mr.. Davis.
In a half-heater attempt to paint
himself progressive, the democratic
standard bearer dabbled in generan-
ties to the effect that: "All that goes
to make better and happier and freer
men and women is progress; all else
lis reaction. Progressives OF this sort.
/ tho they may not care to use the
name, nevertheless in their hearts are
democrats"
There was nothing new or startling
in the much advertised labor planks
that were to be presented by Mr.. Davis
in his speech of acceptance. 1t will
be remembered that Mr.. Davis re-
quested Gompers to withhold the A. F.
of L. indoI sement of LaFollette until
the executive council would have the
opportunity to consider his own labor
attitude.
Davis on Labor.
Mr.. Davis merely lodged the vital
issues confronting the workingmen.
He said:
Concerning our sentiments to-
ward labor, there is room for neither
doubt nor cavil in the light of our
past history. The right of labor to
an adequate wage earned under
healthful conditions, the right to or
ganize in order to obtain it, and the
right to bargain for it collectively
thru agents and representatives Of its
own choosing, have been established
after many years of weary struggle.
These rights are conceded now by all
fair-minded men. They must not be
impaired either by Injunction or by
any other device. The democratic
bparty, however, goes a step beyond
this. It's attitude has been we'll de-
scribed as one inspired neither by def
erence on the one hand nor by patron
age on the other, but by a sincere
desire to make labor part of the grand
council of the nation, to concede its
patriotism and to recognize that its
knowledge of its own needs gives it
right to a voice in all matters OF
government that directly or peculiarly
affect its own rights. This attitude
has not changed; it will not change.
Democracy in government and democ-
racy in industry alike demand the free
recognition Of the right of all those
who work, in whatever rank or place,
to share in all decisions that affect
their welfare"
Nothing But Phrases.
To the farmers Mr.. Davis had moth.
ing tangible to offer. He merely
mouthed the meaningless phrases of
Harrison In this fashion:
ITO the farmers of the United
States also we promise not patronage,
but such laws and such administra-
ton of the laws as will enable them
to prosper In their own right. They
are not mendicants and, fortunately
for all OF us, are wiling to take the
risks that attend their all-important
calling. They are entitled in return
to a government genuinely interested
in their problems and keenly DESTROYS
TO serve them to the limit OF its