The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-17
SOME POLITICAL ASPECTS.

| One OF the most pleasing cnaracCerlS-
tics of John w. Davis is his ability to de.
tect and expose. sophistry in the argu'
ments of his opponents. In reply tc
Chairman Buffers statement that the
election will probably be thrown into the
house and more than likely into the sen.
ate, Mr.. Davis says: "That is more OF
less concession of defeat on his part. -
And is it not SO? Does it not mean that
the Republicans themselves have small
hope of obtaining majority in the cleo.
toral college? Undoubtedly the Repub-
licans would prefer to see the election
thrown into congress rather than for the
Democrats to win majority in the col
| lege, but it is a weakness for them to
admit it.
Mr.. Davis likewise reveals the insin-
cerity of the Butler statement by say
ling: chairman Butler is greatly
alarmed about the election of Governor
Bryan. Of course, 1 don't share, that
alarm about Governor Bryan, either as
vice-president or as president. If Chair
man Butler and his friends are as much
alarmed about that as they appear to be,
they would have it entirely within their
power in the house to elect me presi-
dent" And that, to be sure, is exactly
what the Republicans will do, if it comes
to that, for they will not support LaFol-
lette, and they fear too greatly the re-
suit of the aFollette-Democratic alliance
in the senate. They would rather win
what credit they may by having hand
in the election, even if only to elect
Davis, their political opponent.
But, as the Democratic leader remarks
there is no certainty that the college will
not elect In the first place, the Demo
Gratis, with the opposing party split into
two groups in all Republican states, have
reason to feel that their chances of win
ming majority of the popular vote are
excellent. In the second place, the dele
gates to the electoral college are not con-
stitutionally bound to abide by the votes
in their states. If preliminary canvass
of the college should show that no cleo
ton would result from the vote accord
Ling to the popular majorities, then it is
frcadily conceivable that the delegate.
would re-align themselves in order tc
accomplish an election, rather than trans
fer that responsibility to another body
Inasmuch as the LaFollette effort was
designed to break up the Republican
party, for the Wisconsin leader to throw
his support to Mr.. Coolidge would be to
confess that he has failed to demon.
strs the need of new party.
But the Democrats would prefer tt
win straight-out victory. Mr.. Davis
believes that they can and will win sucf
a victory. With the Southern states safe
for Democracy, the border states practl
cally won, and the doubtful states re
ceiying a major share of campaign at
tention, it looks very much as if Mr.
Davis is correct in his prediction. II
order to make assurance doubly sure
the Democratic rank and file should moi
fail to rally their full strength o2, cleo
ton day. With the vote divided three
ways, and the Republican strength fur
nishing most of the party defections, ii
looks very much like Democratic year
It can. be made Democratic year by the
fullest possible casting of the Democrat
ic vote.
Mr.. Davis has made a good fight. He
has made it almost singlehanded. He has
shrunk from the discussion of no ques
ton of major public moment, and he has
not failed to give full and frank expires
sion to his political opinions He has
revealed himself as man of. unusual IN
Itelligence with an extraordinary grasp OF
public affairs. He is no demagogue, al
though he possesses qualities of persona
appeal that will make him popular as the
people come to know him better. He ha'
always confined himself to the duties Of
his office or of his private responsibility
so that the publicity that has ATTENDED
other men in similar capacity has passed
him by, because he regarded the per
Torrance of duty as more important thar
acclaim. That is a substantial basis OF
which to appeal to thoughtful people
and people are becoming more thought
full than they were, or at least less -easil!
John w. Davis deserves the full conf
dence and support of the American
SHORTAGES NOT FORGOTTEN.