The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-16
LETTERS TO EDITOR

MT. Underwood and the Presidency To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 The popularity with which my friend, Mr. Oscar w Underwood, is hailed throughout the country, is to me a mat ter of great qualification. For many years I have known him by ties of the closet relationship, as well as in business relations as my attorney, and as a pub lie servant. I have watched his rising star with delight, the more because of his well known modesty, freedom from os- tentation, and his personal worth
 In all relations I have known MT. un- derwood to be the truest of men, loyal in the ties of friendship, and far beyond the reach of sinister purpose or littleness of deed. It is not surprising to his numer- ous friends that he bears these well known traits into public life. He is as in- capable of committing a known action of wrong as any one I have ever known. Being all this and more, MT. Underwood would make an ideal President.
 1t has not escaped my notice that my friend, Major Hardie. writing 10 local paper from the distant Pacific slope, ad- vocates the claims of Gov. Woodrow Will son for the presidency above those of any other The protraoted absence of Major Hardie from Birmingham during which long period the salient forces of MT Un- derwood's character have become prom inently recognized throughout the coun- try, doubtless has much to do with the nature of his letter. Had he known our young and distinguished statesman, as many thousands of others have come to learn him in the rapid development of his powers. am sure that Major Hardie would acquiesce in the general sentiment now sweeping the country.
 Within recent weeks I have had an op- portunity to come to know the grip which MT. Underwood has on the country al large. Business duties have taken me tC number of large cities such as New York, Chicago and Cincinnati and bus | ness men of the first rank, knowing tha | 1 was from Birmingham, the home o | Mr Underwood, have talked to me volun | tarily in the highest praise of the merit. of our distinguished citizen, and with evi dent enthusiasm. The tone of their con Versations indicated the highest degre' of confidence in the safety of his states manship, and a real desire to see hin elected to the presidency. These were no ordinary conVersers or street takers, but were men in the highest ranks of finance such as bank presidents and other c9pi- talsts. To me this has more significance than all else that has been said in the ad vocacy of the claims of Mr Underwood These gentlemen were open in their ae of the n Underwood and alluded to his cool boldness, his clear ness of vision, his quiet aggressivenessi his conservatism of policy. and his un- questioned ability, They insist that they are not afraid to trust q man whose Vir- tues in public life show him to be above reproach, and whose able conduct of the campaign in the house shows his ability to manage men and measures. Many others discussed him to be. but the talks of such men as those to whom I have all luded greatly impressed me.
 Mir Underwood has been as thoroughly tested as any man. in public life. He has risen from the quiet and modest station which he assumed on his entrance into Congress to the highest pitch of populari- ty before the American people. The ab- sence of all self seeking, where the temp tation to do so has been great, is itself an index to the character and type Of
 man ne IS. He ndS DetH DDlHe iu tit crest of the wave by his own shining merit He is not of the school of shrewd politicians skilled in the art of advertis- ing themselves He knows nothing of it. As his career in Congress has shown, he is bent on doing his duty to the country and is willing to labor wherever he may be assigned
 Did l not know this exalted worth be cause of intimacy of contact for many years, | should not so readily commit myself to his interests, But believe thai no one is more capable of meeting the de mands of the present situation in our na- tional politics than Oscar W. Underwood A solid delegation should go from Ala bama to the national convention to press his claims without intermission or suct reservation as having in view second choice. Any proviso or secondary con sideration would impair his prospects. and the state should not commit itself to policy like this with respect to her favor ite son.
 The leading citizens with whom talked in the north made not the slightest allu sion to the fact that MT Underwood is . southern man. They want q President who is suited to the stress of the times and are not thinking of seetionalism. Th' truth is, tho election or Mr. Underwood would as effeetually bury that thodgh from sight or even suggestion as our re lation to England has been lost sight 0 by time and mutuality of interest. Th' truth again is that the question of sec tion exists more as an apprehension in th' south than in the north. It is more talked about here and oftener raised up as scare crow. The country is after the bes | man for the presidency, no matter Iron what region he comes. The business in | terests are seeking for that man. and WI believe we have him in the person of th | safe and solid oscar w. Underwood Yours truly, w. N. MALONE. I,s,,.,f,,1,o,, N-oxa,ohar K 1Q11