The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-20
GUEST OF CATHOLIC CLUB Opposes More Direct Legis-
 lati0n EVILS NOT ORGANIC "Ts the Failure of Those in Office to Honestly, Fairly and Justly
 Perform the Duties I'm
 posed Upon Them
 
EVILS NOT ORGANIC

' New Yeph flseeernt,ef 1Q--sf yro addressess
 one by Attorney General Wikersham, who
 declared that the true nationalism is
 equality of opportunity to every citizen,
 and the other by Representative Oscar | w. Underwood, chairman of the ways and means committee of the House, on the dangers of a direct democracy were | heard by members of the Catholic club and their guests at their dinner tonight.
 Representative oscar W. Underwood of Alabama, chairman of the House com
 mittee on ways and means, was guest of honor at a dinner of members of the Catholic club here tonight, and as prin- cipal speaker he delivered an address de- clsring his opposition to movements to- ware a more direct form of government. '.If there are evils in our government
 as it exists today" he said, 'it is not in it's organic form. It is due to the fall ure of those in office to honestly, fairly and justly perform the duties imposed upon them." He pointed to the failures of direct dem ocracies, and drew the contrast between them and the successes of representa- tive democracy responsive to the Will Of
 a majority, but checked by the constitu- ton from exercising a brutal force whlch
 might destroy the liberty and property rights of the individual.
 The proposal to abandon in part this scheme of the revolutionary fathers, with q tendency to place the power of law making in the hands of all the people, would place constitutional guarantees of individual liberty subseryient to the will of tho majority through political com pulsion he said.
 Those who urge change, he argued. do not reflect that at times they may n1sludge real public sentiment; that the representative who acts as the instrument of the government is at fault, and not the basic principle of the government itself. oMy experience as a legislator he continued Heads me to believe that the Congress of the United States will ulti- mately respond to the enlightened ana ,n;lt,red sentiment of the people, lie 1, pointed to instances wherein it had done su-in railroad rate Legislation, pure fooo flaws, campaign fund publicity, national m,a,ant,nes, irrigation of the arid west aud the building of the isthmiani canal.
 ..rrhe, response may not be rapid he said. but 1t is probably more permanent anc there is certainly not as much dan ger of enacting hasty, ill considered or bad legiSatlon
 "tannot committee of the Congress- composed of representative men, initiate legislat within the limitations of the constitution, guard against eXcesses and abo,ses, protect the rights of the minor-f itv. voice the wishes of the majority. as well or better than the partisan friends of measure who, in order that they may acconplish one result, are tempted 10
 reacn so far that they leave wake of destruction as to collateral matters the me asu1e touches?
 "If there are evils in our government
 as it exists today, it is not in its or
 ganic form It is due to the failure of those in office to honestly, fairly and iustly perform the duties imposed upon 1 them. The remedy is plain and the way is clear The people should drive from inc places of power and responsibility the unfaithful servant and elect those who will be faithful and true to ties trust imposed upon them.
 You tell me the people cannot elect honest and faithful servants. I tell you that the masses of the people are far better judges of men than they are of uea sures and are far more likely to se- | loo. an horest man than an honest meas ure. ttt | select a public official who will reflect the will of the people in his office and l he faithful to the constitution of his coun-
 try, I say you reflect on the very first | nrit ciple of free. government and mis- | judge the honesty and tile intelligence of | tie American people,
 Let us elect honest men to public of CONTINUED ON FACE IoI