Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-04
BY RALPH SMITH
Especial Staff Correspondence


WHEELING, w. Va, Sept. q
John w. Davis, the Democratic pres
idential nominee, speaking here Mon
daV at great non-partiSan
l. for day demonstration, defined
hG attitude toward labor in unmis.
taxable sympathetic language. He
made no mer.tion of the platforms of
either the Democratic, Republican
or third pIrty and no reference to
either President Coolidge or Senator
even more favorable and construct
lively helpful to labor than even the
La Toilette doctrine.
After celebrating upon the prog
rcss that labor has made in Amer
lea since the days of chattel slavery,
Mr.. Davis declared that if America
is to remain American, labor must
hold the ground it has gained
through the performance by the
American people of three great con
structive duties.
!. Preservation of the equality of
opportunity to doubly secure the ma
ton against any tendency to harden
into a system of caste.
2. Arrange and administer our gov
itv of right, whether dealing with
tariff, taxation, finance, railroads.
agriculture, industry or what sub
ject so ever.
8. Make the nation secure egainst
war or the threat Of war by adapt
ing our political and commercial pol
icies to the new conditions that eX-
list in the modern world.
Education Master Key
Amplifying the three constructive
duties, Mr.. Davis asserted that edu-
cation is the key TO the door of equai
opportunity, and that I'VE Go not
want men and women in America
to remain tied to the stations Which
their fathers occupied. We wish 81:
fathers and mothers TO nurse the
hope that their children may lead
happier and broader lives than they
themselves have known.
The sneaker riddled the suggestion
that there is danger of too much, or
over education. Describing such
complaints and protests as COM
parable to the ''mud-sill'' theory con
demned by Abraham Lincoln.
Mr.. Davis made it clear that he is
opposed to 1.-The fatal path OF
state monopoly Of education and
that 1--WE should not load upon an
already over burdened government
at Washington the educational du-
ties which properly belong to the
states, cities and local communities"
He insisted that the people must
sustain, support and strengthen In
every way, our indispensable sys
fem of public schools so that every
child may be assured Of an educa-
ton, and of such an education as
will fit him or her not only to earn
his living but also to live
The country owes it to the chit
dren of the nation to see that oppor-
tunity of education, once opened, is
not closed. he declared.
Child Labor DeplOred
In this connection he emphasized
that ct is a blot upon our good
name that child labor should be per-
mitted anywhere in the United
States to dwarf the minds and bodies
of the future citizens of the repuh-
lie.
''Of course" he continued, "the
several states can and they should
prevent this thing; I do not wish
When congress passed it's first child
labor law, in 1915, it became my
duty as solicitor general to argue in
it's favor before the supreme court
Of the United States. L urged that
unless uniform standard was
adopted, the states that wished to
legislate against child labor would
be deferred because of the economic
disadvantage they would suffer in
competition with their less progress
siVe neighbor.
These reasons, he argued, seem
still to hold good, and would cause
him to vote for the ratification of
the child labor amendment if he
were a member of a state legislature.
Mr.. Davis asserted that equality
of opportunity is an empty phrase
unless all men are left free to grasp
it. 1t is necessary, he said, that the
laws, though just, do not evade
those natural rights which neither
congresses nor legislatures, presi-
dents or governors, courts or com
missions may rightfully restrict.
Freedom Rights Sacred
Freedom of speech, which means
the right to say things that dis
please as well as the things which
please those in power; freedom of
assembly, freedom of labor, freedom
of contract. freedom Of press, free
dom in matters of religious belief
and practice. These are rights too
sacred to be trifled with" declared
Mr.. Davis.
There is no danger in their eXer
else. 1t is the attempt at their sup
preston that leads to excess or ex-
plosion."
Mr. Davis emphasized his indorse-
ment of the right of free contract. a
subject that is highly important to
the labor organizations of the coun-
try. Towards grown men and wom
en-, responsible citizens of the re-
public he said, I'VE cannot and
should not take paternalistic and
protective attitude" He asserted
that the government should leave
parties to a contract to bargain with
each other as the mutual benefit
requires. The wage contract OF
the adult" he said, mo less than
any other contract, should be a
voluntary agreement. Anything 9th
er than this l believe to be impos.