The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-12
From the Charleston Post.

From the Charleston Post
 DEPaEsENTATIvE UNDERWOOD N of Alabama, majority leader in the A A House of Representatives, declares that he is not candidate for the pres- idential nomination and that he Is not go- inG to be candidate. His announcement is made in connection with the action of the Alabama representatives in the House, who. at a meeting held yesterday in Washington, declared that MT. Under wood had demonstrated to the country that he is wise and progressive leader and that he is emnently qualified for the his appreciation of the indorsement given him by colleagues with whom he has worked for years in Congress, but de- clares that he is not in any sense a can didate and has no intention of becoming one. That is all very well and very mod est, but Mir. Underwood may find the sit uation growing beyond his control be- tween now and the meeting of the demo- cratic national convention, and he may not be able to prevent the presentation of his name as a candidate for the noml- nation.
 Certainly the indorsement of his col leagues in the House is we'll merited. He has demonstrated his ability as a wise and 9 progressive leader and he has shown ais qualifications for the presi- dency. MT. Underwood has, indeed, illus trated a type of democracy that is rather rare in these parlous times, but which hat I, a country is somewhat blindly seeking. MT. Underwood is a straight, old fashioned democrat, neither a reformed republican nor half baked socialist. He believes in representative government and he stands for tariff for revenue only. Neither the initiative and referendum and recall nostrum nor the diluted protective tariff remedy appeals to him. He be- lieves in the established American form of government and he thinks that the protection of special interest is con trary to sound principles of government. He does not favor any radical proceeding to disturb the business conditions, but he thinks the business of the country should be brought to understand that ultimately it must get along without the artificial sustenance 1t has had from the govern ment.
 In an interview with the New York World recently MT. Underwood set forth his views on tariff legislation. II do not believe," said MT. Underwood, that there is any more justification for the protec- tion of the manufacturers" profits than there is for the protection of the profits of the banker, the merchant, the farmer or the wages of labor." To portect profits is to protect inefficiency. and to strangu-
 late rather than to develop industry. He would, therefore, bring the tariff
 down to an absolute revenue basis, but he
 would not do that so suddenly as to jar the whole fabric of our business, which has been built upon the protective princi- pie through a period of many years. "I recognlze,n he says, that for nearly 5o years we have built the manufacturing
 interests of the United States up on stits. We have got b get down to earth again. I would regret to see-indeed I will do all | I can to prevent-any violent action that would destroy business enterprises; but
 am very firmly convinced that the demo-
  economic truth. We must abandon sys- tenn of protecting profits and return to a system that develops fair and honest competition. To reach this result I pre- | fer to lower the tariff wall by taking the
 bricks off the top of the wall rather than
 dynamiting the structure at the bottom.' v
 That is a plain, straight definition of the
 doctrine of tariff for revenue only, and
 of practical msthod for making it effec-
 tive withon. undue disturbance to the
 business of tic country. MT. Underwood 2
 position on the tariff is very different from that Of Governor Floss of Massachu- setts, for example, who, in his speech at | the St. Andrews society dinner in
 Charleston last week, offered his "Pro- gressive Democracy idea of removal of the "suparfluous protection" from the
 tariff. Mi. Underwood would destroy the
 protective principle; Mr. Floss would pre-
 serve it. MT. Underwoods doctrine is
 democracy; MT. Foss dostrine is repub- l icanism.
 MT. Underwood does not find it neces- sary to resort to new fangled notions ot