The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-19
WALSH DEFENDS
]. ". DAVIS As
LIBERAL
Montana Senator Replies to
Watson's Attack on Demo-
cratic Ticket
BY GLADSTONE WILLIAMS,
InternatlOnal News Service.

IuDefW8tA0U1A NEWS EckNt3Ds
Branding Of the Democratic ticket
Davis and Bryan az an ''impos-
sible mesalIiance" BY Senator James
e. Watson, Of Indiana, in his speech
opening the Republican campaign
in New Hampshire. drew sharp
return fire from Democratic mem
hers Of the Senate today.
The speech OF the Indiana Eena.
tor, who described John w. Davis
az an ultra and Gov
ernor Charles w. Bryan az an Eek.
treme radical" was read with in
terest in political circles here, not
only because II marks the opening
OF the Republican campaign In the
East. but. according to Democrats.
because 1t indicates the line Of
strategy to be adopted by their
chief opponents.
Walsh Takes Issue.
Answering the Watson speech,
Senator Thomas J. Walsh. Of Mon
tana and permanent chairman Of
the New York convention, declared
that the Democratic Presidential
nominee was not a conservative nor
was Governor Bryan q radical.
II take issue with both state.
as a public official and the conven.
ton vote by which he was nominated
controvert the charge that Mr..
Davis is q conservative. regard
him as q liberal az / do Mr.. Bryan
q progressive. Whatever may be
said about Mr.. Bryan does not
affect the splendid record he has
made as Governor OF his State
Senator Walsh. who Is just back
from New York where he remained
for q series Of post convention con-
ferences with the Democratic nom
inee, added that Watson could not
always be taken Seriously"
A similar declaration was made
by Senator Duncan u. Fletcher,
Democrat of Florida, who charged
Watson with ''exaggeration, and
with attempting to divert attention
from the real issues Of the cam
paign.
Points to Record.
Mr.. Davis record should be
sufficient to answer any charge that
he Is q conservative. but there is
added assurance from the progress.
sive platform which he has approved
and upon which he Ii running. .
Fletcher said. Strictly speaking
the Democratic Presidential nominee
10 q liberal and Mr.. Bryan is a
progressive. Together they make an
excellent ticket"
Coming from the West, Mr.. BRYAN,
he said, will be able to reflect the
needs Of that section OF the country,
while Davis will appeal to the .ib-
eral element Of the East.
In a flight Of exaggeration, %
Fletcher added, Senator Watson
has described the Democratic ticket
as an impossible mesalliance. This
win not alter the fact that political
lines are clearly drawn. In Coolidge
ana Dawes the Republican ticket
represents reactionary conservatism.
the Democratic ticket represents
liberal progressiveism, and the La
toilette ticket radicalism."
Disagrees With Wheeler.
Amplifying his recent statement
in New York. Walsh said II he
believed Davis to be a conserva
tive and a tool Of Wall street, as
charged by members Of his party,
he would follow the example Of
his colleague, Senator Burton X.
Wheeler Of Montana, and decline
to support the ticket.
'As 1t is I disagree with Senator
he asserted, land think
the fact that Mr.. Davis was nomi-
mated by the Progressive votes OF
western and southern States shows
that his selection was not doni.
mated by Wall street interests.
New York and other eastern States
did not Join the Davis movement
until It was apparent that his
would be effected"
Before returning to his home in
where he win plunge into
a campaign for reelection, Walsh
will await the ceremonies accom-.
panying the formal notification Of
Davis Of his nomination. AS per-
manent chairman Of the conven-
ton, he will head the committee
o0fnoe 80 Tt1o ~ ot1aVcr