The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-12
CEREMONY HELD. IN NEIGHBORHOOD. OF BOYHOOD DAYS
Bring Government Back To People Is Plea Of
 West Virginian

~ CLARhSBURC, w. va, Aug ~ll.- John W. Davis in accepting the demo cratic nomination for President here to night spoke as follows:
 Mir. chairman and members of tn, committee: You will understand, witl little explanation on nay part, the feel ing which led me to fix our meeting a this spot in the hills of West Virginia These are the hills that cradled m and to which as boy and man I lifted up my eyes for help. In this soil rest four generations of my people-artisans tradesmen, farmers and sprinkling oi the professions, laborers, all who played in simple fashion their appointed parts in the life of this community Among them now lie those who gavC me life, and to whose high precept ant example I owe all that I have ever 2 been and all that I can hope to be These witnesses who surround Us arC the companions of my youth and map hood.
 i, With them most of my days have been spent, and when circumstances have called me elsewhere they have followed me with regard and affection that has laid on me a debt of gratitude greater than I can repay. Twenty-Five years ago they first called me to theil service as their representative in thu legislature of this state, and since that day, in public office or in private life | have fought with them unceasingly the battle for democratic ideals anG democratic principles. Of their owI free will and motion they presented my name to the democratic convention as one deserving it's consideration. Better than all others, they will know whether what 1 shall say to you today is in keeping with the convictions I have ex- pressed and the action 1 have taken iri the past, and more than any others, they will resent anything 1 may say or do that shows their confidence mis- placed. It is in the presence of these hills, these graves, these witnesses, that wish to hear your message and give you my reply.
 You came to give me official notice that I have been chosen by the demo- cratic party as it's nominee for the highest office in the gift of the Ameri- can people. YOu invite me to take the reins of leadership and marshal its hosts for the coming campaign. No weightier commission could be laid on any man. He must be vain indeed who does not feel his own unaided strength inadequate to such a task, and he must be ambitious beyond reason whom thought of fame or honor tempts to un- dertake it without the fullest sympathy with his party and its aims. l reflect, however, that you are the representa- lives of millions of Americans who are dissatisfied with existing conditions, who. long for the day when America will set her face to the front again and who are ready to follow whenever the forward march begins. And l have read your platform and its declarations of party principle and find them such as ! can heartily approve. For these things thank God, and take courage.
 Career As Lawyer
 4 take not. MT. Chairman, in pass ing of what you were good enough to say concerning my past career and conduct as lawyer. l have no apology to offer for either. The answer to any criticism on that score must come not 0nly from those who like yourself have won the highest distinction at the bar, but also from the more than one hundred thousand other honest and patriotic men and women who make up the legal profession in this coun- try. They know and they will gladly join you in testifying that the up-' right lawyer sells his services but never his soul. A word of personal history in this connection, however, may not be out of place.
 When was arvised of the purpose of President Wilson to appoint me to the high office of solicitor general, sv.et r.af fO s1o private employment and to sever my connection with the law firm of which was then q member and of which my revered father was the head. From that day until my duties as ambassador to Great Britain were ended, eight years later, had no other client or employer than the government and the people of the United States. Whether l served them we'll or faith fully, not I, but others must say.
 As soon as the convention, over which you so ably presided had de- cided in my behalf, I realized that was called upon to repeat my former aetion. Within the week. thereof, I signified to all my clients that l could no longer serve them, and severed my connection with the honorable gentle men who were my professional part ners.
 q have no clients today but the democratic party and if they will it so, the people of the United States.
 Many Grave Problems
 the hour, and all the resources of pal triotism and statesmanship at our com mand will be taxed in their solution oil saI Af esty, of self-seeking and partisanship of prejudice and ignorance, threaten today as they have rarely dOnn before the perpetuity of our national ideals traditions and institutions. Men are look ing askance at one another; are mis. trusting one another; are doubting of purpose. The solidarity of the great war has given way to chaos of blOcs and sections, and classes and interests each striving for it's own advantage careless of the welfare of the whole Government itself, to which the hum. blest citizen has the right to turn with confident reliance in it's evenhanded justice, has fallen under the prevalent distrust.
 There is abroad in the land a feeling too general 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, and that the
 powers of government are being
 exercised in the pursuit of per-
 sOnal gain instead of the common
 service. Out of this and because
 of 1t there has developed an alarm
 A. A~ 4,Nr kN.
 istratiOn of the law out of the
 hands of constituted officials and
 bo execute its processes through
 Individuals or through organized
 societies, by methods little differ
 .,sf from fhOSe Of DTivate reven0e