Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-19

OS/ Z SS|CG DGULOCF dCU
TVHE wholly reactonary character of the
Republican conventions work makes it
more than ever imperative that the
Democrats nominate a Liberal and stand
squarely forth for the rights of the rank
and file.
The candidates chosen at Cleveland, as
well as the platform adopted, bear witness
to the rule of special interests and of back
ward-looking minds. Mr.. Cooldges nomina-
ton was foregone, was indeed a necessity.
For the Old Guard to have turned elsewhere
would have been to repudiate the admins
tration which they ask the country to in
dorse. SO it is that the President, whose
most important policies have been rejected
by his own party in Congress, becomes can
didate to succeed himself. For Vice Presi-
dent the convention, after turning thumbs
down on such Progressives as Judge Kenyon,
Of Iowa, and Herbert Hoover, selected
Charles G. Dawes, who, however marked his
fnancierng abilities may be, is quite out of
harmony with the liberal thought Of America
and out Of sympathy with the needs and
rights of the great body of it's people. AS
a banker Mr.. Dawes is to be admired; and
for his contribution to the proposed settle
ment of the reparations issue Tin which, 1t
will be remembered he acted not with the
aid of the Washington government, but IN
der heavy handicaps which 1t had created)
he should receive all due credit 1t is one
thing, however, to be an expert in finance,
Vice Presidency of republic of one hundred
million freemen.
If the candidates of the Republican con-
vention are reactionary, what shall be said
of the platform? The one semblance of an
advanced idea in all its dreary weller of
words is the Endorsement of the World Court
of Justice; and that is really meaningless
since the Republican majority in the senate
has frowned out every such proposal
and is now declaredly against it. AS
touching tax reform, the Cleveland conven-
ton, though claiming party credit for the
rate reductions brought about on earned in
comes during the closing days of Congress,
was silent upon the fact that this system of
reduction was opposed by the administration
and was pressed to enactment by Demo
cratic initiative and progressive support, aft
er the Mellon plan had failed utterly of &C
ceptance because of it's favoritism to special
interests. Equally evasiye was the r o-ub-
lican convention on the incompetency and
corruption which fourished at We ngton
after the present administra ion took charge
So colossal are the scandals they could not
be ignored entirely; but the platform has no
syllable of rebuke for Albert B. Ill, who
as secretary of interior battered away a
priceless birthright of the nation for his own
advantage; nor for the unspeakable Forbes,
under whose direction of the Veterans Blu
reau, millions Of. dollars appropriated for
disabled eX-seryice men were squandered and
stolen; nor for Harry M. Daugherty, who, in
disregard Of public interest and outro red
public sentiment. was retained at the head
OF the department of justice until country
wide storm Of Indignation drove him out.
Nor is there word of apology for the fail
ure of the respectable and responsible mem
bers of the administration to these in
EQUITIES to light and to justice before the
Democratic and progressive forces Of Con-
gress compelled an investigation and rock-
oning.
Reactionary from first to last and f. cir
cumference to center, the Republican regime
now seeking reelection must be met by the
10 wit
championship of liberal policies, righteous
government and popular rule. This is de-
manded by every consideration of eXpeden-
cy. 1t is demanded by every ~1nsderation
Of principle. 1t is the one platfor upon
which the Democratic party can be t-ue to
itself and to America. Il the one candi-
date now visible VII Ill stand mand-
ingly that platform and lead to assured
victory is William G. McAdoo.