The Cairo bulletin., 1912-02-23
WASH|NCTONH HAD
MUCH GOOD SENSE
Congressman Underwood l.auds
list President at Banqu, t in
Honor Of Natal Day

Philadelphia, Feb. p Congress-
man Oscar w. Underwood of Ala
bama, chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee Of the House, de-
liyered an address in this city tonight
at the annual banquet ct the State
Society of the Cincinnati His sub
iect was George Washington, and he
said in part:
Washington did not foresee all
the perplexing problems with which
we have to deal today, in our tariff |
or in our great corporations, in our
currency, in our foreign possessions, |
or in a reconciliation OF the rights
of labor and capital; he did not
foresee the vast task we all have,
whether native or foreign born, Of
taking the new material constantly
coming to our shores and assimilat-
| ing 1t into our growth and mould
ing it into loyal and intelligent
support of our institutions; he did
not see the menace of destructive
Socialism nor the extent to which
unfortunately, we were to go In sub
shutting party interest for political
principle, though as to this he gave
us paternal warning. Nevertheless
| he did foresee sufficient Of our prob
| lens to be able to commend to US a
course, the principles of which, IL
steadily adhered to, should bring us
safely through all the perils toI
which we may be exposed while he
did not outline the bylaws, SO to
speak, that must from time to time,
| be framed and adopted for the de-
tailed life of this country, he did UNI
derstand, as no one else understood
the organic principles upon which
were to rest the security and the
welfare of our national life. And
subject always to his urgent advice
against permanent alliances with
| foreign powers, like high priest
| among men, he preached the gospel
Of tolerance, of beneyoence, of
i peace, of reasonableness and of
righteousness towards oil peoples
Common Sense Was Good.
Washington distinguishing COM
mon sense and practical turn of mind
served him we'll in the administra,
ton OF his high office Few, If any,
generalities or quixotic schemes for
action were suggested by him; but,
on the contrary, he seemed to be
master Of the underlying principles
of the business needs OF the country
as he had been of the plans of his
campaigns. AT time when SO many
OF us are disposed to put upon the
statute books nostrums for relief
frosl our industrial aud financial
and economic evils, it will be well
for us to call to mind the striking
contrast between the moderate vol
ume and temperate character of laws
enacted during his Presidency and
so much OF our present day legisla-
ton of the experimental sort, re-
flecting often merely a view of to-
day. that Is likely to be the heresy
of tomorrow, and attempting to deal
with the Objectionable tendency be-
fore it is seen that it win not be ar
sufficient understanding OF II to be
In position to know or apply the
appropriate remedy. Accordingly the
RECOMMENDATIONS lind the legisla-
ton OF Washington's administration
were not along guess work lines;
but the elements Of sOberness, pa
thence and wisdom willch he so in
variably manifested were typical of
the plans he favored and adopted to
bring order out of financial and in
dustrial chaos, promote industry
among the people and restore their
energies by opening up new sources
of revenue and prosperity, and by
assuring men that they should gath
er and be secure in the possession of
the harvest of their labor.
Listen to His Appeal.
There is q great need too for us
in this day when constitutional re-
straint has become irksome to many,
never to turn deaf ear to the stir
ring appeal of Washington to his
| people--that the departments into
| which our Government is constitu-
! tionally divided shall be kept with
determined hand within their re-
| spective hour daries Speaking here
not as a party man but as a citizen
OF the Republic, my observation aud
reflection have shown me how
| treacherously easy is the transition
from Capitalization Of government --
which those of the Republican party
| set 81 much store by and which a
good III ny Of Hs ! s,ioG-sts are In
clned to acquiesce into per-
| qnnuii1otinn of pnvarp,,,a,t anJ 49,.