The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-23

need competent, truthful and sincere ad- vice. both as to the law and the facts. AS practicing attorney of some years experience, have tried difficult and com plicated cases before petit juries, many of whom were uneducated men. After they heard the evidence on both sides, heard the case argued by capable attor- neys, and received the charge of the court I have found that the verdict is usually just. People generally. as in the case of the juries instanced, want to do what is right, but they need to be honest ly and sincerely advised as to the law and the facts, and it goes without saying that the demagogue who is seeking to get himself elected to office is not a safe guide at such an important juncture!
 The tariff, of course, must be reformed; ; the trusts curbed and controlled; the great public utility corporations of the country regulated. These are conservative, not radical measures. But this should be done, and must be done, not in order to elect some one to office, not even if you please to give political advantage to this or that political party, but because the general good of the country re- quires 1t.
 It becomes truly alarming and we all suffer, from the humblest peasant who blows his steer through the heated days of July and August, to the magnate in Wall street who watches the ticker to see whether his fortune is reality or dream which has faded, when the great business interests of the country are made he mere football of political aspirations!
 Again, I am a party man, and believe
 in the need and in the necessity for po- litical parties, but I affirm with confi- dence that no party is entitled to the con- fldence of the country, or should be en- trusted with the control of the govern- ment which proposes 70 regislate, merely for its own aggrandizement.
 The reconstruction measures wore adopted in order to perpetuate in power political party. They brought untold disaster to a large section of our country. Whatever party is entrusted with power must be broad enough and big enough to legislate for the best interest of the whole country, or 1t will not be, and should not be, long trusted with power. A full, frank, and honest discussion of pub lie questions Is always helpful to develop the facts and bring out the truth into ifs clear light; hence my concession of the
 importance of political parties where they are led and conducted so as to serve this useful purpose albeit. In the country. taken as a whole, large percentage of the people never belong absolutely to any party but reserve the right of private judgment, to be exercised as the occasion requires.
 The importance of the subject justifies me, I trust, in concluding this article, 9s before, by quoting Lord McCaulay. who,
 in speaking of the two great parties into which the English speaking people gro divided, said: we find, also, everywhere another class of men, sanguine in hope, bold in speculation, always pressing for ward quick t. discern the imperfections of whatever exists, disposed to think lightly Of the risks and inconveniences which attend Improvements. and disposed to give every change credit for being an improvement. In the sentiment of both there is something to approve, but of