The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-08-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington Thinks COOlidge's
Speech Rang True and Davis
Did Not.
Did Not.


win Coolidge and John w. Davis have
now delivered their speeches of ac-
ceptance and the country has had an
opportunity to hear both-thanks
to the RADIO. In Washington the con-
census of opinion is that Coolidge's
speech rang true and that Davis
speech did not; that was the
great, fundamental difference. Davis
speech was able, graceful, brilliant
piece of oratory; but it was the
speech of the able and adroit lawyer
building a case where none existed.
His case was weak and he followed
the fixed maxim of his profession,
when you have a weak case, abuse
your opponent.
"The Washington Conference alone
aside, and that of MORE THAN
DOUBTFUL VAULE, what single
contribution has the United States Of
America, as an organized nation
among nations, made to world peace
in the last four years." asked Davis.
Who so foolish as to believe that
man Of John W. Davis intelligence
believes the Washington Conference
Of doubtful value? Was it not ire
mendous contribution to world peace
to stop the unrestricted competition
in naval ornaments to fix the naval
ratios If the United States, England
and Japan? Was not the Washing
ton Conference just what Coolidge
said it was, "the one effective agree
ment among the great naval powers
in all the history of civilization for
relieving the people of the earth from
the enormous burden of maintaining
competitive naval ornaments ?" The
Baltimore Sun, one of the ablest and
most loyal Democratic newspapers,
agrees with Coolidge. 1t says editor
tally, Eve agree with the President
that the Washington Conference was
a great achievement and disagree
with Mr.. Davis belief that it was of
doubtful value" And when the Sun
calls it "Mr. Davis belief" it does so
out of kindness to its candidate, for
The Sun knows Mr.Davis is too intel
lgent to believe the conference was
''of more than doubtful value" Mr..
Davis in that one statement was
seeking to deceive. And if Mr.. Da-
Wis tried deliberately to deceive in
this instance, in how many others
was he trying to do the same thing?
These are the questions people here
are answering much to Mr.. Davis
discredit. And what's the Davis plan
Even some Democratic leaders admit
privately that Davis went too far,
that his speech was too raw to de
ceive the people y
One of the ablest, most experienced
newspaper correspondents in Wash
ington, a lifelong Democrat, a loyal
supporter of John ". Davis, went to
hear Davis speech. When he came
beck he said to your correspondent
sorrowfully, I'm greatly afraid Dav-
is speech has elected Coolidge. 1t was
not the John Davis l knew but the
John Davis the politicians and his
ambition have made Of him I heard
at Clarksburg. Davis can't be elected
now, for first impressions are lasting
But there is danger that LaFollette
may force the election into the Senate
and then We'll get Bryan. That's my
great fear, for Bryan's thoroughly
unfit to be President.
The Presidents speech was not bril-
liant nor ornamental. 1t was the
speech Of a plain man brought up on
the farm. 1t was simple and rugged
as his belvoed New England hills, 1t
was honest. 1t rang true. Everyone
who heard it realized that fact, even
those who differed with him in mat
tiers Of policy. Mr.. Coolidge did not
ignore indications of wrongdoing in
the Harding administration, but it
was not his place to dwell on the mis-
fortunes of his predecessor-an no
one believes President Harding was
other than unfortunate. Coolidge did
say, however, that wherever wrong
doing was charged the facts had been
brought before the grand jury and
the accused would be tried in court
and full justice done, regardless Of
party. Nor was it his place to pre-
judge these cases, or to try to infiu-
ence the courts or juries. That would
have been interference with the judi
cial branch of the Government by the
Executive. John Davis knew that,
too, for he is a great lawyer. But as
his friend so sorrowfully said, at is
not the John Davis / knew, but the
John Davis which the politicians and
his ambition have made of him |
heard at Clarksburg.'
"Why did not Coolidge answer Da-
wis more specifically" ask some ed
itors. But they know, as does every
newspaperman, that Coolidge's speech
was written, printed and distributed
to the press Sin confidence" long be-