U.S. POLITICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 July 1924, Page 5

U.S. POLITICS

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SELECTING A CANDIDATE. CHOICE BY DEMOCRATS. BT CABLE—PRK3B ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT NEW YORK, July 9. Mr John W. Davis (West Virginia), former Ambassador to Britain, has been nominated by the Democrats for the Presidency. The hundred and third ballot showed that the movement toward Mr Davis was very strong, and when Vermont cast its eight votes for him it was evident that he would secure nomination, having 501 already.

The next moment the overflowing arena expressed its relief, with vast volumes of sound, and a band played “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,” and every State standard was caught by'strong hands. A march started, but. it was difficult, for every spot was jammed with humanity. Mr Charles W. Bryan, Governor of Nebraska, was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the Vice-Presi-dency. Mr Davis addressed the convention to-night. He said: “We are the National party, and it must, be, I believe, because we profess a national creed, The great principles of the Democratic Party are honesty in Government; that public office is a public trust, with equal rights for all men and special privileges to none; fair and. equal taxation; an open door of opportunity to the humblest citizen. All these principles are as dear to the East as to the West, and revered by the North and South. “On this platform all Progressives can stand and all Liberals rally.” John W. Davis, who was born in West Virginia in 1873, has a long record and a. wide reputation as a lawyer. Mr Davis, at the beginning of his career, wa3 assistant professor of law at Washington Lee University, and he entered independent practice in 1897. He served two terms in the House of Representatives and then acted as Solicitor-General under Dr Wilson in 1913, becoming Ambassador to Britain in 1921. Mr Davis .was long connected as a lawyer with the Morgan interests.

Many of his friends latterly urged him to abandon corporation law practice in order to increase his availability as a Presidential candidate, but this he refused to do. “What is life worth if one has no philosophy of his own to live by,” he said. Mr Davis is noted for his sincerity of aims and is a model of integrity, characteristically saying that any lawyer who surrenders his independence by trimming his professional course to fit the gusts of popular opinion dishonours himself and disparages his profession.

Mr Charles W. Bryan, a brother of Mr William Jennings Bryan, rose from keeper of a humble tobacco shop to the present Governorship of Nebraska. He was born in 1867. Mr Bryan emerged from obscurity in 1896, when he became secretary during his brother’s unsuccessful campaign for the Presidency, and he thereafter continued in'public service, becoming Mayor of the city of Lincoln in 1916.

His career thereafter was distinguished by progressive social and farm relief legislation, for.which he latterly enlisted strong support from agriculturist and liberal progressive parties. Mr Bryan last autumn brought coal in Nebraska down from fourteen to seven dollars a ton by appointing a, State agent to enter the coal business and sell coal at cost. This broke the' monopoly, resulting in a saving of fifteen million dollars to the public. Mr Bryan opposes a high tariff and favours the restoration of the excess profits tax and increased surtaxes on unearned incomes. He advocates Government ownership for the operation of the coal and petrol industries. He endorses the League of Nations, with minor reservations. He is a strong prohibitionist, and a Presbyterian. Mr Davis, the Presidential nominee, is of Scotch-Lrish ancestry, and is likewise a Presbyterian. Mr' Davis strongly advocates the, League of Nations, being a true disciple of Dr Wilson. Mr Davis, on the liquor question, is classed as “dry.”