davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

The most salient fact connected with
the story of the bill in the present Con-
is the remarkable strength of the
Democratic tactics, and the high quail
ity shown by Mr.. Underwood, the leader
of the party on the floor, The farmers
free list" bill was a master stroke, and
Underwood utilized it in the debate
with an effectiveness that left nothing to
be desired. What gives real strength to
the Democratic position is that the party
Is graphing with a big and difficult
question in a spirit that is at once
courageous and practical. If there is to
be an era of such leadership as that rep
resented by Mr.. Underwood, the term
practical politics" may be rescued from
the ignominy into which it has fallen
and recover the meaning to which It is
l~eqitimately entitled-Ncgg york E7s-
mig Post, reproduced in The FL Dorado
san weekly, FL Dorado Springs, Mo
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
LOOMS UP

Whether the disclaimer of Represen-
tative Oscar w. Underwood Of candi-
dacy for the Democratic nomination for
president is to stand or not, there is no
question that he is looming large and
seriously, no less at the North than at
the South, as a possibility, if not this
time, then in the near future. Mr..
Underwood is making a widespread and
distinctive impression, not only as the
honest, bold, sagacious leader of the
House majority, and not only as a mas
terful Southern Democrat, but as an
American publicist and statesman--a
of affairs and broad concept Of
bis responsibility to the whole people
Richmond, Va, Times-D Dispatch, re-
in the Birmingham, Ala, Age-
Herald, January q, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
Southern Leaders
and the Tariff

No sensible man, certainly no one
friendly to the South, wishes to see the
tariff made a sectional question. The
course Of Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Under
wood tends to prevent this. They stand
not only with their own party through
out the country, but with the strong
public sentiment in support Of tariff re-
duction that has divided the Republican
party, and thrown the House into the
hands of the Democrats. When we say
that in this they are serving their own
section, we have in mind the important
fact that they are bringing to bear on
national affairs the intelligence and
strength of their section, and giving it
the opportunity to take a leading part
i'll the affairs of the Nation. They are
undermining the unfortunate section
alism that has, perhaps unayoidably,
pervaded Southern politics for a long
time. They are ranging the South on
the side Of progress and in the line
of the most significant movement of
national opinion that has manifested it
self in years. Nothing is more certain
than that our vast and intricate and
oppressive tariff system is TO be
reformed, and its reform is bound to
be the one task of craftsmanship in the
next few years. 1t can be determined,
and under certain conditions it can be
led by the men of the South.--NeaO
York Times January 81, 1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
UNDERWOOD IN THE WEST

l am gratifed to see this State NOV
ing onward in almost every line and |
note the wonderful growth of Birming-
nam, ! observe that The Age-Herald
aaS kept full step with the progressive
spirit and has led in the work.
The growing strength Of Oscar I'm
aefwood in the minds of the people
throughout the United States has given
slaoama a kind of publicity hat the
olale could obtain in no other way,
particularly on the great question of
.ne tariit Tor it was not thought that
one would come out Of Alabama with
y varied interests who would be a
IaFia to defy the trusts. Oscar I'm
Ger|ood is regarded by many men as
.e pest equipped, cleanest, fairest man
o-aaY mentioned for the presidency. If
ne Is nominated, he will undoubtedly
SH' any strong sentiment of the
oou.h demands his election he will be
nominated. Out in Colorado, with its
thousands of visitors from all parts
u l1e United States, he is the first man
aar'ea by most Of them. The prom
,mehce given to his candidacy by the
nasazlnes and the public press has
taused a strong tide to rise which /
, ,3q and believe will carry him to the
WHY'S House. | took much pleasure
= =, 3i1lng in organizing the Underwood
-Io, IN Denver, and It is doing good
goTE noucstionably." --FTarry Hawkins,
y New York. in the Birmingham, Ala,
HSs-Heraid, January 8, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
" or Axe


That with the Democratic party al
ready IN power Ill the House, and hay
ing a visible chance OF coming into com
plete power in the National Govern
ment, it is OF interest to learn from
what viewpoint the actual pilot-ln-charge
OF the Dcmocracy's legislative ship looks
at his task and by what stars he shapes
his course.
Are they fixed and steadtast lights OF
the political armament OF are they mere
ly those will-o'-the wisps that flame up
as paramount issues Tor this year,
only to be forgotten next year? We
get a comforting light on this question
from another remark by Mr.. Under
wood:
Il think the big question is the tariff.
1t is the question Of the development OF
the industries and commerce OF the
nation"
From a Democrat that is a remark
well-nigh startling. 1t exhibits such an
unusual viewpoint. 1t IS almost like
hearing Andrew Carnegie confess that
there might be such a thing as a right
eous war. Heretofore, our Democratic
statesmen have so uniformly declared
that there was nothing to the tariff
question but stopping robbers" from
robbing.
They never seemed to think of a tariff
as having anything to do with the de-
velopment OF industries and commerce.
Mr.. Underwood does. He says We
should reduce our tariff because with
the settlement of the West we have LETT
behind the days when Our home market
absorbed the products Of our factories
and left us nc surplus for which we
needed to look for a market abroad.
He holds that our industrial develop
ment has outstriDped the increase in
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
. Underwood Among
1912 Possibilities

The threatened breakdown of Ma
jority Leader Underwood, as a result of
long hours Of hard work on the tariff
in the Ways and Means Committee, put
many a Democrat in a nervous state Of
mind. There developed suddenly a full
appreciation Of the worth Of the Ala
bama Congressman as a leader, For
Mr.. Underwood to become disabled OF
to be removed from the scene Of his
usefulness at this critical time would be
like pulling a corner post out from
under a platform on which was heaped
most Of the political treasures of the
party Democrats quite generally are
willing to admit.
Credit for the achievements Of the
Democratic House bearing the stamp Of
constructive craftsmanship is given
readily TO the majority leader. Due to
his success as a legislative managcr--his
ability in most tests to keep the House
Democracy united-and the fact that
Civil Mar wounds have been allowed to
heal because Of the scarcity Of public
men of the type Of Senator Hepburn,
Of Idaho, a Southcrncr is being Sc
r)iously considered North and South as
presidential material. The Underwood
for-prcsidcnt movement has been at
tracing volunteer workers steadily
since last spring, when the ~ncwly-in-
stalled Democratic House assumed its
responsibilities. An Underwood boom
for the Democratic nomination for
President put on long trousers at the
beginning Of this, the national campaign
year-Austin Cunningham, in the San
antonio EFbyesS, January 5, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12

lucts Of the district. One-third Of all the
.iron-ore holdings Of the Steel Trust are
in and around Birmingham. Surely, a,
first glance, a bad outlook for a tariff
reformerl And yet Mr., Underwood
succeeds and re-succeeds himself with
ever climbing majorities.
1t is the Underwood honesty that
does it-that, and his clean courage.
The dominant quality in Mr.. Underwood
is honesty, and folk have found it out.
Honesty is among the scareeSt of earth
~ commodities, and when a community
has discovered it in the possession OF
an individual, it guards it and works it
like a gold-mine for every final ounce.
Mr.. Underwood is honest: His cleo
ton was not the work of money. He
was not chosen as either the pet of the
railroads or the frst-born OF the trusts.
His seat was given him by the people,
and because they believed he would fill
it to the best of public advantage.
This emanation of the popular gives
Mr.. Underwood the House high ground,
and he is so far military in his genius
he knows how to fortify and hold
it. From his place as a peoples repre-
sentative, he can overstare and keep in
check the Paynes and the Dalzclls and
CrumpaCkers, who are present mere
" by the grace of pirate money, and
dwell, therefore, on House levels much
lower than his own.-Alfred Henry
Lewis in the Cosmopolitan, New York,
January, 1912.
As the head Of the Ways and Means
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12

Committee, Mr., Underwood has shown
himself to be the right mar in the right
place. What advances are made by The
party in 1912 will be due largely to him.
lie knows tariff in all its schedule
windiugs, as a man knows the railways
OF his own house. He has wisdom. lie
has temper and spirit, but is neither
unreasonable nor vindictive. have
faith in the tariff t~horoughncss of Mr..
Underwood. If | owned the revenues
OF the Government, ] shouldn't hesitate
to employ him as night-watchman.-
Alfred Henry Lewis, in the CosmoboL-
.ta"' January 1912
Mr.. Underwood is faithful in his
friendships. To those whom he casually
meets, he is afable, albeit non-com-
initial, keeping his own counsel. He is
never rude nor hard; never violent,
even with blood foes, For the stranger
within his gates his air is gentle and
He is easy to see, and, speaking
generally, has been ever careful to keep
himself within the reach Of all. News
paper folk, sent to Mr.. Underwood by
some stress of duty, never fail to like
him. He has his dignity, but there is
no reserve, He maintains no distances
between himself and them. He answers
question with a round readiness. or
says plainly that he can't answer it and
tells why. He expedites the business in
hand, and will even anticipate the pur-
pose of ones coming, and put questions
o himself-Alfrcd Henry Lewis, in the
Cosmopolitan, New York, January, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
HEARS MUCH POLITICAL TALK

"In travelling through the country l
hear no end Of political talk" said
James A. Braun, sales manager Of the
Wyeth Chemical Company of New
York.
During the past five or six weeks !
have heard Underwood very much dis
cussed as a presidential proposition. |
found in the Carolinas a great deal of
Underwood sentiment. have been
keeping up with U~nderwood's record
in Congress, and | believe that his
commanding position in the Democratic
party will be appreciated by the rank
and file Of the Democracy."-Age-
Herald, Birmingham, Ala, Jan. 7, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
Underwood
"a Real M IN m

The Democrats Of the House have
reason to be proud of their floor lead
or, Chairman Underwood, Of the Ways
and Means Committee. Mr.. Underwood
has given ample evidence of the pos.
session Of the qualities of mind essen
tIal to the position. He has also dem
onstrated most conclusivcly that he is
a man who cannot be cajolcd or bull
lied from the course he considers right.
In the debate over the Canadian rec
iprocity bill former Speaker Cannon
made the bluff that the steel trust fa-
yorS the enactment of the measure.
Mr.. Underwood called the bluff very
effectively by producing a telegram
from his home district saying that the
United States Steel Corporation has
stopped work Of important mills there,
as their reason that Underwood
stood in Congress advocating the tariff
reductions on steel included in this bill.
MIR, Underwood added that two years
ago the steel trust opposed his election
because OF the tariff views and threat
ened TO turn him out of Congress il
he voted for reductions on steel duties.
Il voted for them just the same" he
stated, and they failed in their efforts
to turn me out Of Congress-"
Underwood is every inch a man, and
the people have more respect for n
such as he than for a whole battalion
Of corporation-controlled standpatters.--
The OcaIa Daily Banner, Florida, April
y, 1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
New Leader
From T1 On

But this new leader from Alabama,
with nothing meteoric or iridescent
about him; who has forged steadily
ahead during sixteen years Of congress
sional service, and who has proved him
self equal TO every emergency in the acid
test Of debate on the floor of the House;
cool, imperturbable, rcsourceful, sure of
himself at all times; profoundly learned
on the great tariff issue he stands for;
whose impressive personality is reveal
ing itself IN stronger lines every day
as the searchlight Of the press plays
upon 1.-THE is the Man Of Destiny for
the Democratic party in this year 1912.
And as the campaign for the nomination
progresses, Mr.. U~nderwood's superior
availability will come out with i~ncreas-
ing clcarncss, and the Democratic masses
OF the South will catch the inspiration
OF the great fact hat a Southern maj
from the heart Of Dixie Is at last in line
for the presidency after all these weary
years Of waiting. When that psyche
logical moment arriycs-in the national
convention or before it~-a very nearly
solid South, fused to white heat under
the enthusiasm Of a genuine Southern
presidential candidacy, will take Oscar
Underwood on its shoulders, sweep away
all the well laid plans of machine politics
and rush him right to the goal, a winner
by sheer force Of an overwhelming sense
Of simple justice to the South. At
that's the way we want 1.-THE
SEWanee (Fla.) Democrat December,
1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
a Southern Presi-
Dental Possibility

In the mention of Oscar w. Under
wood, Of Alabama, for the Democratic
Presidential nomination resides a good
deal more than a suggestion that we
have got too far away from the Civil
War era to regard a statesman as nee
essarily unavailable" because he comes
from a commonwealth that was a mem
Der Of the Southern Confederacy.
Vi the men now before the country
as possible or probable Democratic
candidates for the Presidency, Under
wood is certainly n of the strongest.
lie has had a fine training in Congress,
and IS in himself a mar of natural force
and large capacity for work-and work
erS are what we want in executive posi-
tons. He has been a member of the
House Of Representatives for some ff-
teen years, and has risen by force of
merit, and nothing but merit, to a posi-
ton which made it inevitable that he
should be Chairman of the Committee
on Ways and Means when the Demo-
Gratis came into control of the popular
branch Of the Government. He has the
youth, the environment, the enthusiasm,
the courage, the political sagacity, and
The s~tatcsmanly qualities fully to justify
his consideration in connection with the
Presidential nomination.
MIR. Underwood is a conservative man,
VINO IS capable Of entertaining pro-
gresslye ideals and at the same time of
realizing fully the duty and the me-
cessity for conserving substantial inter
eSts Of the community. The Democratic
party might go farther and do vastly
worse than if it should nominate him
as its standard-bearer of 1912.-Man-
'eyS Magasine, January, 1912,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
A PRACTICAL DEMOCRAT

St, Louis honors Oscar w. Under
wood for his character, for bis achieve
ments and for his Democracy
The Chairman Of the Ways and Means
Committee is a practical Democrat. His
leadership in the House Of Representa-
tiycs shows that. He possesses the
ability to enlist men Of varying ideas,
plans and moods in support Of desirable
and feasible objects. Men who agree
on basic principles may be involved il
bitter hostility by "antagonisms which in
their essence amount to little.
= \ q
Mr.. Underwood's example as a leader
of Democrats in Congress is worthy Of
emulation elsewhere. 1t makes for toll
erancc. Tolerance makes for unity.
Unity makes for progress. There is no
other way to render Democracy ef-
fective.
The young Democrats Of st. Louis
who persuaded Mr.. Underwood TO be-
come their guest will find in his policy
as well as his principles the best hope
of party achievement and party life
The St Louis Republic, October II,
1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
Voice
From Florida

Oscar Underwood, however, has
more friends than any man mentioned
for the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation. He is more popular throughout
the country with all the Democrats than
the others. He is almost the unanimous
second choice. If you ask the Harmon
men who they would be for in case
Harmon could not be nominated they
will say Underwood; when you ask the
Wilson men the same question as to
Wilson, they reply that if Wilson can
not be the nominee, Underwood is their
choice; and the same thing is true Of
the Champ Clark men."--T. A. Jennings,
National Committeeman from Florida,
in the Pensacola Evening Meas, Friday
evening, January Il, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
MR.. UNDERWOOD

Meanwhile Mr.. Underwood has a
work to do in Washington for which he
has revealed a remarkable aptitude. 1t
is not too much to say that the existing
harmony among the Democratic mem
bers of the House, and the ability they
showed at the last session to work to-
gcther, are largely due to his skillful
leadership. He proposes to resume the
task of tariff revision at the point where
it was interrupted by the Presidents
yetocs.-The Pro0idence Or. j. Jonr-
nal, December z, 1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
THE MANNER OF MAN HE IS

After the Southern manner, Mr.. I'm
derwood Is unafecscdly democratic. He
meets men as one who, respecting him
self, also respects them. He does not
wear the manner Of n who expects to
find his inferior. Still Loss would he
remind you Of one who fears ne may
meet his superior Never docs he pose,
nor seek to transact his dignity at the
humbling expense OF another--Alfred
Henry Lewis, in the Cosmopolitan New
York, January, 1912.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
ESTIMATE OF OPPONENTS

Men like Payne and Mann declare
him TO be the most resourceful an
tagonist they have found on the Demo-
cratic side. A skillful parliamentarian,
a good speaker, holding himself always
in perfect control, he is a model leader,
and his following is daily increasing
Washington Correspondence in The
Eyening Bulletin. Philadelphia, Pa,
Iunc. 1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
DOCTRINES CONTRARY TO THE FUNDA-
MENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OUR GOVERNMENT

ln address before Young Mems Democratic League of St. Louis Oct TO- l9D
Some Democrats want to put the initiative and referendum plank into the
National platform OF, the Democratic party. think that would be uwisc
The initiative and referendum as a local issue is sometimes successful But
when you attempt o apply it to the United States you destroy the entire fabric
OF the Constitution. We are not a true democracy. This Is a representative
goyenmenL"-From Knoxville Journal and Tribune, U. a 1911
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12
The SonSSrwa-
tive South

Not many days ago, it was suggested
in an editorial in this paper that the peo-
pie of that section of the Union that
tried a half a century ago to break up
the Union of the States, might possibly
turn out to be the home of a conser-
vatism thai would stand as a barrier
against a cnange in our scheme of gov
ernment that would destroy the fabric
of the Constitution adopted by our wise
forefathers, and ratified by the States
that had fought for and achieved indie
pendence and freedom.
AS evidence that such a thing may be
among the possibilities a paragraph is
here quoted from a speech made by
Hon. Oscar w. Underwood, of Ala
bama, to the Young Mems Democratic
Of St. Louis:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12

As the reader knows, Mr.. Underwood
is the Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee of the House of Representa-
tives at Washington. But for the fact
that he is a native and a lifelong resi-
dent of the South he would stand a fine
chance to be made the Democratic can
didate for President next year. Candor
compels the statement that he is as well
qualified for the performance Of the du-
ties OF the great Office as any n in
his party who has been mentioned in
that connection, and it is not doubted
that if elected he would make a safe
President.-KnoFViNe Journal and Trib-
uae, October "a, 1911.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-04-12

Some Democrats want to put
the initiative and referendum
plank into the national platform
Of the Democratic party. l
think that would be unwise.
The initiative and referendum
as a local issue is sometimes
successful. But when you at
tempt to apply it to the United
States you destroy the entire
fabric of the Constitution. We
are not a true democracy. This
is a representative Govern
merrt."
The Washington herald., 1912-06-21
DISTRICT SUPPLY
BILL PASSES HOUSE
Conference Report Is Agreed to
Without Concerted
Opposition.

After a two-hour debate early yester-
say, the House voted to concur in the
conference report Of the District appro-
priation bill. and the Presidents sigma
ture is now all that is required to enact
the measure into law.
Eleventh-hour opposition Of q random
character failed TO result in sending the
bill back to conference. The provision
for the public schools Of the District, q
feature of the House bill, which remain
ed practically unchanged IN the confer
ence report, was challenged by Minority
Leader Mann, who sought information as
20 probable future provision for schools
Chairman Burleson Of the subcommittee
on District appropriations. Informed Mr..
Mann that Supt. Davidson had been in
structed to prepare and bring in a re-
port on a permanent system Of school
extension for the guidance OF Congress
In the future
Mr.. Mann also challenged the provi-
sion for assessing owners of property
abutting on proposed sites for new parks,
one-third OF the expense involved IN
acquiring such land. He was informed
that the conferees believed property own
ers would be more than recompensed for
such assessments by the increased valve
Of their property. There was a short
discussion over the Fairgrounds item
which Is charged entire TO the District
revenues, but no formal opposition re-
suited.
The Washington herald., 1912-06-21
GrIggs Packing Company.

The rapid growth Of the Griggs Pack
ing Company OF this city shows il TO be
one OF the best managed and most pro-
gressive business organizations in Vir-
ginia. They have had to enlarge their
plant several times in order to handls
the increased business, and they are now
erecting a $4,000 addition to their storage
plant This building is to be four stories
high, made Of brick, concrete. and stecl.
with the latest improved storage doors,
which make 1t absolutely fireproof. Two
large freight elevators will be installed
and a picking room on each floor with
chutes therefrom to cars on the siJs
track. The combined capacity Of the
plant will be 5000 barrels OF apples.
with ample room for the storage Of any
other products they desire to handle.
This plant has a capacity Of one hun
dred hogs per hour, and is modelled after
the large slaughtering plants Of the
Western cities, being complete in every
respect. The meats are cured in the
simple country style, and are In demand
the year around. They also have an ice
making plant with a capacity Of ninety
tons daily, the water for which comes
from artesian wells two hundred feet
deep, and it is clear as crystal. making
the ice especially desirable for house
hold use and other places where purity
is essential For city delivery service the
company operates a large fve-ton motor
truck, in addition to fifteen wagons.