Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-21
CHIEFS SEE
PERFECT HARMONY
IN BRYAN SPEECH

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal-COpy-
right. 1920
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2O.-Al-
though there has been no anxiety
as to the character of Governor
Bryan's speech of acceptance mani
fest, unquestionably the managers
of the Democratic party breathe
easier today as they read the ad-
dress of Nebraska's governor.
Until now the impression has
been cultivated by many Republi
cans that the presidential and vice
presidential nominees could be
counted on to be at oppositles on
public questions and that the votec
would not be considering candidates
standing on the party platform, but
two men who would interpret it in
different ways.
The speech by Governor Bryan
puts an end, so far as the Democrats
are concerned, to any such fears, for
Mr.. Bryan not only has kept within
the limits of the platform-he really
bad little difficulty, for his own
brother drafted most of the platform
in New York-but he comes out for
John w. Davis as a progressive and
makes a bid to the radicals in both
parties to follow the Democratic
ticket.
The nominees for president and
vice president stand together, rms
will not end efforts to drive wedge
between them. The Bryan speech IS
not ultra radical. Every word of 1t
can be subscribed to by John W.
Davis, for if anything it amplltles
the principles he has already enun'
ciated. During the coming cam
paign Mr.. Davis will be found more
and more in line with the Bryan IN
terpretation of the platform thah
with the conservatism of which he
was presumed to be disciple before
he was nominated.
organs Strong in West
William Jennings Bryan's publish
ed interview in which he admits ne
was frankly mistaken in his estl-
nation of John w. Davis, and that
his views were based on circumstan-
tial evidence rather than study, VIII
not prevent the Republican critics
from assuming that the Commonef
enthusiasm is based upon his fond
ness for his own brother, but 1t Will
enable the former secretary OF state
to stump the west whole heartedly
and give new evidence of the pro-
gressivism of John w. Davis.
The Bryan brothers have hold
on the west. Governor Bryan has
reputation for sincerity and honesty
He was indorsed by the farmer-labor
party of Nebraska-La Follettes
own followers when he ran for
governor last time, and was elected
by an overwhelming majority. His
speech of acceptance, therefore, VIII
be examined by NebraskanS to deter
mine whether he has shaken Off the
radicaliSm of the farmerlabor party
or whether he has kept the faith OF
progreSsivism.
One thing can be counted upon
the Bryan speech represents the
type of appeal the Democratic party
will make to the western voter. 1t
is intended to be more progressive
than the Republican platform, and
not as radical us the La Toilette
announcements. It is designed to
win the approval of those independ-
ent voters who do not wish to con-
slider themselves as conservatives
and vet who do not wish to follow
the La Toilette band wagon. Wheth-
err such d group is numerically large
is difficult to conjecture, but there
is no such uncertainty as to the
number of voters inside the Demo
cratic party who have been looking
with some favor on the La Toilette
movement.
Seek to Hold Lines
The Democratic strategy is to hold
!; -nto rn1@Xy-
where and not to lose any groups no
matter how small, especially in the
west where the insurgent movement
inside the Republican party has been
running strong for the last six years
The Democrats confidently believe
that # they hold their own lines
they will have a plurality as between
the La Toilette and Coolidge vote.
The western managers here say that
all the ultra radicals left the Demo-
cratic party two and four years ago
when the Brookharts, NOrrisses,
Shipsteads. Magnus Johnson and
the rest of the radical Republicans
were running for office. Their large
maiorities were really assisted by
Democrats voting both in Repub-
lican primaries and elections.
An appeal will be made to get
some of them back but basically the
Democrats figure that the Repub-
lican party in the west must neces-
sarily lose much of its strength to
La Toilette The Coolidge speeches
made no effort to truckle to the
western radicals The Bryan speech
makes a distinct gesture in the d.
rection of the western radicals of
both parties.
The Bryan-Dav campaign, after
all, will be fought most vigorously
in the west and that is why the
Bryan speech of acceptance is a key
note of the national campaign itself
as it will be waged by every one of
the Democratic candidates from
John w. Davis down. There will
incidentally be no abatement of this
doctrine when campaigning IN the
east for the appeal will not be to
conservatists who are mostly life
long Republicans but to independ
ents.
The speech of Charles G.. Dawes
vice presidential nominee of the Re
publican party, is expected also to
be in close accord with the Coolidge
speech of acceptance and with the
four principal speeches delivered
the national campaign will be on in
full swing this week.