Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
The Kevnoting at Houston.

The Democrats are iona oI teHtils eiie
American people they are efficient and
businesslike. Yet when the Democratic
PARTY met yesterday In nationsl eonven-
zion In Houston it wasted a whole day
before getting down to business because,
Yorsooth. some one suggested to them
the keynote speech to be delivered by
Claude G. Bowers of New York would
get wider and more numerous radio
audience If delivered at night. Mr.
Bowers delivered a mastery address to
the convention. TO be sure but day Is
a day. especially in Houston. No COM
ulittees were appointed and delegates
sat around waiting for evening. after a
brief session In the middle OF the day.
Nothing was accomplished.
After what the radio did to the Demo-
cratic party by broadcastins the SEES
sions of the Madison Square Garden
contest four years ago. one wonders
why the present convention should be
50 partial to broadcasting, Many dele
gates were thoroughly disguised with
the delay. Not only because Houston,
deliehtful and hourishins as it Is. Is no
Summer resort, but because they feared
that the country would take the view
that the Democrats we're just stalling
along again in an unbusi1esslike man
ner.
Mr.. Bowers address, from Demo-
~ ~-{Av E&nrx n
waiting for. It was a mastery. epi-
srsmmatie statement of the Democratic
cause. IT possessed both literary merit
and real punch. Furthermore, as
keynote speeches so. it was quite brief.
It avoided the prosy and struck real
challenging note to the Republican
party.
It was impartial SO far as candidates
for the presidential nomination are con-
cerned, although 1t was delivered by an
ardent Al Smith man. It was crlsad-
ing kind Of speech that should have de-
lighted the soul of Senator jim Reed
Of Missouri. who more often than any
other Democrat of today has been
nkened TO Andrew Jackson. whom Mr.
night. It was a call to Democrats of all
faiths and creeds to forget their differ
ences and unite under the banner and
the principles Of the party which claims
Thomas jefferson as its patron saint
II was calculated to put faith and hope
into the hearts Of the Democrats.
Mr.. Bowers avoided the prohibition
issue. It was quite natural he should.
Il Is that issue which has hung for days
over the heads Of the Democratic party
like the tabled sword of Damocles, sus-
pended by hair. He attacked the Re-
publican party as the party Of priv
lege and pillage." In picturesque lam
guage he described the Republican
black horse cavalry" cantering UP and
down Pennsylvania avenue at win. aid
ing the privileged classes and striking
down the common people He charged
the Republicans with having abandoned
the American farmer while 1t has built
up great industries.
Mr.. Bowers declared that the Demo-
cratic party is no enemy Of business,
the oft-repeated charge of the Republj-
cans. He pointed TO the fact that b1si-
ness did flourish nightly In the eoun-
Try during the Wilson administration,
but forgot to mention that this period
Of business activity urfder that admin
kwstion was fosteYed by the outbreak
OF the World war In 1914: ana that
Until the war did come. business was
slowing down in this country, and un-
employment was growing by leaps and
bounds.
TIE Democrats may love business. but
they gave a sorry example of unbusi-
aesslike proceedings yesterday. But
why ehide them? They dearly love a
national convention and all its trim
nnings
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