Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-07
.RALSTQN' REFUSES y
INDIANA VOTES At ]
PARTY CONVENTION
"DepIorabIe Conditions in
Our Government at Pres
ent" Are Denounced

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, June s.
Declaring there lis something about
the greatness Of this exalted posi-.
ton that admonishes me against
wanting to undertake the execution
Of it's grave and solemn duties"
United States Senator Samuel M.
Ralston today urged the Indiana
Democratic state convention not to
consider him candidate for the
presidency.
Great as this honor is, however,
I would not speak truthfully to you
should ! refrain from saying that
I have never aspired to the presi-
dency Of this country" Senator
Ralston said IF there be those who
doubt my sincerity in what 1 am
saying, let me lay additional en-
phasiS on my state of mind by de-
claring that this convention will
please me most by allowing the dele
gates from Indiana to the New York
convention to go uninstructed
Il am anxious that the delegates
from my home state shall go to the
national convention with open minds
and perfect freedom to participate
in nominating the best man to lead
our party in the presidential con-
test this year."
Favors Peace Candidate
The senator said the Democratic
party should choose as its candidate
for the presidency q man who is
human through and through; who
knows America and who wants this
country to do its part in establish
ing peace-continuous peace-among
the nations Of the earth"
eff such a candidate is chosen,
Senator Ralston asserted his WIS.,
ion will sweep the world around and
while by word and contribution will
want his country to lead in the serv-
ice o. mankind, still he will take
care that the constitutional rights
of America are not surrendered or
placed in jeopardy.
The salvation of the people and
the success of popular government
rest absolutely on the honesty and
efficiency of public servants, the
speaker told the convention.
"Without honesty, without intel
ligence and economy in public ex-
penditures no political party de-
serves the public confidence" he
declared. "All other issues are Sec
ondary to this consideration and 1t
is up to the American people them
selves to say whether or not they
shall have the public service to
which they are entitled. One thing
is certain. They cannot have it I'M
less they take their stand as Thomas
Jefferson did in opposition to our
government showing favoritism to
any class. I submit to your judg-
ment and your own conscience that
the deplorable conditions. in our
government are the direct results
of the doctrine of special privileges"
Demands Honesty
Senator Ralston declared no gov
eminent can be called honest that
fails to uphold the equality Of rights
of individual citizens, or permits
citizens generally to be taxed for
the benefit of a favored few.
The platform as submitted by the
resolutions committee contained no
name, but referred to the Republi-
can party as having been delivered
into the hands of an organization,
which has no place in politics and
which promulgates doctrines which
tend to break down the safeguards
which the constitution throws
around every citizen, and repug-
nant to the principles of govern
ment advocated by Lincoln and Nor
ton"
The plank re.dedicates the party
to support the fundamental prin-
cples Of the national and state con-
stitutions which forbid a religious
test as a qualification for holding
office; or deny the right of citizens
to vote because of race, color or
previous condition of servitude and
grating all men "shall be secured
in their natural rights to worship
Almighty God according to the die
tates of their own consciences."
A long tribute to Woodrow Will
son was submitted as a substitute
for the usual preamble to the party
platform.
DR.. c. b. Mccullough, Of Indian.
apolis, won the Indiana Democratil
gubernatorial nomination. He was
named on the third ballot.
The convention adopted platform
re-dedicating the party to the con.
stitutional guarantees of freedom OF
religious worship and right of suf-
frage irrespective of race or color.
The platform CONTAINING plank en-
titled freedom and liberty" was
adopted without a dissenting vote
and with no debate on the Ku Klux
Khan issue.
Having disposed Of the trouble
some question Of meeting the khan
issue, injected into Indiana politics
by the nomination of j. - Jackson,
as the Republican candi late for gov
ernor largely through khan support,
the Democrats turned to the nominal
ton of state ticket.