The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-27
OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD.


Ing the Christmas holidays. Last night
he was guest of honor at large
dinner, and those who were fortunat lie
enough TO meet and hear him gained
clear and lasting impression of the
inherent power and forcefulness and
'pined 10 make Nix. Underwood the
Democratic House leader,
No party is weak that can produce
such men. and even in its days OF
srcatest prostration the Democratic
party has never been dying organi-
cation. ono of the editors OF the World
once said to Joseph Pulitzer, The
Democratic party is dead" Il know it,
said Pulitzer. III dies every ten years
or 50 regularly. but somehow IL man
ages to revive and outlivc those new
ana powerful modern parties which
think they have killed H."
And the reason OF the indestructiblc
vitality uf the Democratic party ties
in the fact that II is at heart Il party
OF protest and OF liberty. Unjust taxa
iion. the denial OF civil rights, cor
rupt judges, bruta! administrators,
Special privileges and class exemption
are some of the causes as old as civil
lizatlon itself that have bred democ-
racy In every age. In America we have
not lacked for such causes or for
Democrats. In his attitude towards
lk turiff p
ouShly and cifectually apprehendcd the
chief source OF that discrimination and
injustice that have bred and are still
breeding class hatreds ana socialism
AS he has said on the floor OF Con-
EresB and III his public speeches. the
protective tariff levied by the Republi-
can party is nothing but high handed
ROBBERY under the guisc OF law. The
theory advanced BY the supporters of
tho tariff is that IL helps labor. MIR.
Underwood cut through this nimsy
pretense when he said There has
been no attempt on the part Of the
manufacturer TO give labor its share
OF the dement's derived from the tariff.
They have kept all the protts for
themselves"
We dress in cotton because the wool
trust will not Let US clothe ourselves
IN wool. We pay eXorbitant prices for
everything that the Republican party
can protect for the bcneht of It's ia
roTed friends and supporters. The re-
suit OF this policy has been to destroy
the very prosperity the Republicans
hiEh prices and lessened purchasing
power OF money. with all that these
factors mean in the loss OF luxury or
the actual reduction OF the necessities
OF life, TO teach the American voters
come little OF the. folly and ialsity OF
Republican tariil. Legislation. 10 Mir.
Underwood more than to any other
ltvins American are the people indebt.
ed for the successful and sagacious
Hght BY the Democrats against, the
wool and cotton schedules in the last
Congress,
President Taft, 1t is true, vetoed
those bills on the GROUND thar tncy
had not been sufficiently considered.
and there is very strong probability
that Mr.. Underwood will send them
back TO President Taft and compel MS
signature without even rcinarking thar
it was the President and no, himself
who was insutiiciently informed las,
August.
II ID no, for his service alone in
the Democratic Congress OF last s.s.
sion, when he occupied the posiuon o!
leader Of the Democratic sid. with
such signal and conspicuous upility
that he drew down on his head III,
!mpotent wrath Of william JcnnlnG.
Bryan. that MI. Underwood deserve:
well Of the country AT large.
Rather, We applaud and common,
his public action because he has mad,
no dema gogic appeal: he has no
truckled 10 the rich; he has no
fawned upon the poor. nc has no
helped to plumber the wage canc! il
order 10 catch the vote Of the c,.nu
followers. and in that long carniv.
Of predatory plutocracy that came n
with Mckinley and Hanna in isat
and reached high water mark III III
Payne-Aldrich bill under Presiden
Taft, he has not despaired OF the re
public. Calmness and courage an
good temper and faith in tho pcopi
wnen there seemed leas, ground 10
trusting them. and steady and wis
efforts for lettering conditions-tnes
are some OF the cha racteristics tia
the Hon. Oscar W. Underwood ha
shown In an unusual and imprcssiy
way.
That is why he stands head an
shoulders above all other men who al
considered for the Democratic nom
nation excepting only IIarmon an
Wilson. 1t is said that Alabama is tc
far South for one Of her sons 70