Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-26
DEMOCRACY URGED
To UNITE AGAINST
COMMON ENEMY

N. Y, June 24-FollOWing is the
complete text of Senator Pat Harr1-
sons keynote address, made at the
opening session of the Democratic
national convention here today:
Chairman Hull, ladies and gentle
men: Forty-eight years ago in the
city of st. Louis the hosts of democ-
racy met in convention to dedicate
themselves to purging corruption
from the public service. We meet to-
day for a redediCation to the same
purpose. There were disgraced public
officials than, repudiated by their par
ty and under arrest; but today Fall
goes unmolested on his ranch in New
Mexico; Daugherty SAT with presi-
Dental approval in the convention at
Cleveland, and Daugherty's attorney
was chairman of the committee Gre
ated to oil the steam roller OF the
worst bosS-ridden. convention OF a
generation. 1t was in that convention
in 1876 that democracy turned to that
superb and matchless leader, Samuel
J. Tilden, to bring the government
back to honesty and carry the party
to victory. 1t is particularly appro-
pirate that I read to you one plank
Of the Democratic platform of that
year, written by that great New.
Yorker:
/ when the annals of this repub-
lie show the disgrace and censure OF
a vice president; late speaker OF
the house of representatives market
ing his rulings as a presiding officer;
three senators profiting secretly by
their votes as lawmakers; five chalr-
+. men of the leading committees Of
the late house of representatives ex-
posed in jobbery; a late secretary of
the treasury forcing balances in
the public accounts; a late attorney
general misappropriating public
funds; a secetay Of the navy en-
ric5ed or enriching friends by per-
centages levied off the profits of con-
tractors; an ambassador to England
censured in a dishonorable specula-
ton; the presidents private secre-
tary barely escaping conviction upon
trial for guilty completely in frauds
upon the revenue; a secretary of war
impeached for high crimes and mis-
demeanors--the demOnStra ton is
complete that the first step in reform
must be the peoples choice of hon
est men from another party, lest the
disease of one political organization
infect the body polite and lest by
making no change of men or party
we get no change of measures and
no real reform"
The moral is plain: The country
will make its own application.
At the outset let it be understood
that this convention, composed of
the militant representatives of the
democracy of the nation, is no cold
storage affair. 1t is going to be red
hot, highly seasoned and well pre-
pared. We were not sent here under
an executive order by the candidate
notify the people. We are here
by mandate of the people to name
the canddate-the next president of
the United States.
Friend of Business
The Democratic party is the friend
of bu ness, big and SMALL it delights
to the reflected glory from burn
49,, furnaces; Iontentment from
happy and prosperous farm homes;
the crowded Hobbies of counting
houses the steady steams of heavily
loaded Inns; and the early hustle of
mining camps. 1t lcaes not how lage
the scale or big the investment,
what it is most concerned about is
honesty in operation
The corner stone of the Republic
an party is special privilege, and to-
day its up more firmly frightened
and its place more secure than at
any time in its long history. it
needs cards to gain admittance to
the White House, no password to
congressional committee rooms.
Crooked business needs only t.
gesture or special privilege to wink
to make this administration under
stand and do.
1t is against this brutal thing that
we will wage relentless war in this
campaign. We will not pitch our
camps nor stack our arms until the
American masses and honst bust
ness are freed from its strange hold.
They may direct their poisonous
gases at us, but no camouflage can
be contrived that will give covert
and protection to the Pharisee. They
can describe us as they may-hurl-
ing anathemas win be futile-foi
these guarded posts of favoritism
will be taken, these fortresses or
special privilege and unjust power
must fall
In the guarded orchards of this
administration the golden apples of
special privilege have been gathered
, by the favored few. 1t is the guar
81 dian of every special interest. The
q mother never guarded her tender
: young more zealously than has this
: administration watched over the
= needs of its petted and pampered
puppets.
~ Not only in the administration, but
in the enactment of laws these in
terests come first The administra.
tion's late and lamented tax pro-
T posals was grown in the Mellon
!, patches OF special privilege. Its
propagation was a work of Repub-
/, lican art.
For while it was thought to be
!. very beautiful large, colorful. and
juicy thing. 1t attracted unusual
iattention. The invited guests, a
selected few in number, snacked
their lips in anticipation of the
feast. But when it was examined
and its parts diSsected, its rotten
ness was revealed. No setting was
ever more adroitly staged than when
Sthis scheme of taxation first made
its debut 1t was billed for passage
at the psychological moment. The
neople were stopped under a heavy
load Of taxation. For three ions
wears they had felt their country
3 Slipping through the results OF a
riotous and debauched adminiStra-
ton. They had seen the natural
resources of this government disSi-
pated, its chartered courses ahan.
doued, its leaders corrupted. They
- IA ! ~.
credit abroad and bankruptcy at
home
Their hearts were heavy and their
spirits low. Any ray of hope that
might bring the slightest relief was
welcomed When the secretary OF
3 the treasury offered his plan and the
M ,SiHont inHnrSnd IL the Annen,iran