Evening star., 1924-08-07
DEMOCRATS STAKE
ALL ON DAVIS TALK
Country Asked to Await Vig-
.orous Definition of Issues
L in Acceptance Speech.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

NEW YORK, August THE Demo
Gratis are stalking their all on John
81. Davis speech OF acceptance, to be
delivered at Clarksburg next Monday.
The action of William B. Wilson, for
rnsr Secretary of Labor, in writing to
Samuel Gompers, asking him to make
no presidential Endorsements until
after he had heard Mr. Davis Is q re-
dection of the attitude of all the
party leaders. They are in effect ask
ing the country to wait until Mr.
Davis speaks.
No candidate perhaps ever had so
much at stake on a single group OF
utterances as Mr.. Davis has on next
Monday There is plenty OF evidence
that the country at large holds Mr.
Davis in high regard as a man. The
people are waitiRg-to-take his meas
ure as a statesman and possible Chief
Executive.
II Battle of Personalities.
Much of the burden which comes to
Mr.. Davis at this time is due to the
raCt that as the campaign develops it
Is becoming more and more evident
mat it is to be a battle OF PERSONAL
fies rather than of parties Party
ties, it is generally admitted, were
never so loose as today.
The Republicans are making A. spe-
cial plea to the people to elect Calvin
coolidge because he Is Calvin Cool
idse. and not because he happens to
De the nominee of any particular
party They realize that Senators
and Representatives of the party we're
at odds with Mr.. Coolidge on nearly
every one of the important measures
ne urged during the past Winter, and
that straightout party appeal would
not have the same weight with the
people as an appeal for Mr.. Coolidge
personally.
Inc Republicans are saying that CAL
vim Coolidge is his own platform, his
own pledge for the future
The Democrats of the country are
hoping TO say the same thing for
Mr.. Davis
La Toilette "WhoIe show
The progressive" campaign centers
almost wholly about the personality
of Senator La Toilette. without him
there would be no La Toilette party
in the field. The Senator led the
movement from the start. and 1t was
apparent to political observers in
Washington four or five months ago
that nothing could keep him out of the
race this year.
The parties are being subordinated
this year as never before. The Dem
ocrats are willing that some of their
antics at Madison Square Garden
shall be entirely forgotten and that
the race shall be decided upon the
abilities of their chief candidate
Nevertheless, the Democrats will
make more of party appeal than
either of their two rivals. 1t will
be part of Democratic strategy to
show that if they are given a ma
jority In Congress they will function
as a party and. bring legislative or
der out of the legislative chaos of the
past two years.
The Democrats claim that the re-
suits of the Republican primaries in
various States already show that the
hepubllcanS will have the same split
forces in the two branches of Con-
Eress that have made them virtually
impotent during the past session.
See No Drift to Coolidge.
o. Men who voted consistently against
Mr.. Coolidge last Winter have furled
tne Coolidge banner about themselves
Tor primary purposes, but there is
n haI
return to Washington they will be
In any greater sympathy with him.
The Republicans are willing that
much of their party record OF the
past two years shall be forgotten.
Thls was evidenced in the platform
adopted at Cleveland. The record In
congress was all but ignored. The
Republican slogan this year is to look
forward, not backward. They ara
willing that all the pointing with
pride" shall be done in. the direction
Of Mr. Coolidge. OF course, thew will
view the Democrats with alarm from
time to time. That is natural
The new combination of progress
s,ves surrounding Senators La Fol-
lette and Wheeler, having no partv
record, are content to denounce both
Of the old parties and to promise
everything for the future.
I. Won't Forget Teapot Dome.
1.-The Democrats ars not going to let
the Republicans get away with their
soft t-pedal policy If they can help it.
Mr.. Davis already has announced that
Chairman Butler, of the Republican
national committee, is very much
mistaken if he believes Teapot Dome
and the cabinet changes at Wash
ington are dead issues
The assumption that Mr.. Davis
might be too high minded" to touch
upon the scandals" seems to have
been a mistaken one on the part of
the Republicans. The Democratic
candidate is going to drag every
grinning skeleton out of the Repub-
ucan closet that he can lay his hands
on. His friends are urging him to
take an aggressive attitude in this
direction, and from present indications
there will be a great rafting OF
dry bones from the very start of the
campaign.
The scandals will make fine fuel for
the minor speakers of the campaign
and there will be as many of these
as the slim purse of the Democrats
will permit.
Copyright. 1s24)
BRYAN GETS SPEECH.