The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-30
Tells Hearers Why Alabama Offers Underwood for
 the Presidency
RECORD IN HOUSE
 PROVES HIS WORTH
Was Given Party Leadership at Criti- cal Time and His Brilliant Sue cess Points Him Out for Still
 Higher Things

hess of Oscar w. Underwood for President of the United States. He did not discuss Woodrow Wilson.
 He was greeted by magnificent au- dience of 2Ooo people. It was appar- entIy an audience which had come for the purpose of enlightenment. It was attentive and sympathetic. It was ex- | lceptionally generous in its applause and when the speaker in eloquent lan- guage told of the matchless courage and remarkable talent for constructive statesmanship possessed by Underwood the people stood upon their feet. There was real demonstration.
 The governor was introduced by James L. Anderson, president of the Falton County Underwood club. who in another campaign was the manager of Hoke Smith When ONeal stood upon his feet he was greeted with pro- longed applause. Thus encouraged in the knowledge that his audience for the greater part was with him in his views. the speaker proceeded calmly and dispassionately and then with characteristic impulsiveness. Then .n spectacular manner he tore into threads the arguments that there is no place in the nation for a man of the south
 His support of the tariff for rev. enue only Was masterful. His refuta- ton of the argument of MT. Bryan that Underwood Is a reactionary. contained in addition to strength of conviction a bit of sarcasm at the expense of the gentleman from Nebraska that con- vulsed the audience.
 The governor scored a great success and added new laurels to those already awarded him for being the most fin- ished orator of the south He was kindly throughout and compliments V ore directed also to all other demo- cratic candidates. He had no rebuke or criticism for Wilson. The humor of his theme was directed against Colonel Roosevelt and Colonel Bryan and that humor contained no atom of bitterness.
 O'NeaPs Tribute
 In his address Governor O'Neal paid the following magnificent tribute to MT. Underwood:
 We advocate him because. through his profound knowledge of parliamentary law, his courage, his ability and his deep devotion to democratic principles, he was able to still the voice of faction, to com pose all differences, and to convert a democratic minority into a democratic majority in the House of Representa- tives, and to make that majority united, aggressive and capable of constructive statesmanship.
 We advocate him because, with math- less skill, he stood undaunted at his post of duty, marshalled his party against all the hosts of privilege, redeemed every pledge and kept the democratic faith. un- awed by the threats of powerful interests grown arrogant by governmental favtors- ism and unaffected by the dictation or party leadership which he did not receive by the party commission.
 we advocate him because, though subjected to the strong searchlight of publicity, not single blot on his escutch- con has been revealed; because he has proven equal to every emergency; has ex- posed the false pretenses of the republic an party, and through his superb leader ship has made democratic success not
 
 plause)
 Exponent of Tariff Reform
 eve advocate him because he is the un- relenting foe to special privilege and mo- nopoly, protected and entrenched by an unjust and iniquitous protective tariff; be- cause he is the greatest living exponent of tariff reform-the issue upon which t ba n- plause) we advocate him because he has never yet surrendered principle at the dictation of a cowardly expediency (prolonged ap- plause), and because wisely progressive he is not willing to embark the country upon new, untried or revolutionary legislative experiments. tApplause.)
 Within tile last few years, when the country returned democratic majority to l Congress- there was. as now, a call for a democrat fitted to take the helm and in that crisis and juncture Of the party's needs the representatives in the House of the democratic party. selected as I be- l ieve the democrats of the nation will in this junctvre. select Oscar w. Under- wood (Appause)
 "'rhe democratic party at the time 1 he was placed in charge of the ma jority in the House had been so long
 
 distracted by a want of unity and har- nnony of action it had wandered in the pursuit of so many strange doctrines that many had come to believe that | It's days of usefulness were over and that, as national party 1t was .n- capable of meeting the great issues and solving the great problems which confronted the country or of enacting any constructive legislation. In this hour of need the democrats of the House turned to Underwood as the man most capable of directing their con certcd action and under his leadership that delusion has passed and the whole country begins to realize that perma- nent peace, prosperity and security can alone come from democratic success. For this happy result no man is en- titled to more credit than oscar W. Underwood. He has proved equal to every emergency. He has met every issue with that ability that comes from thorough knowledge of his ubject that courage which is sustained by Q ccnsciousness of right. (Applause.)
 Signalized by Same Qualities
 If he is our nominee, his campaign will be signalized by the same qual- ities of craftsmanship he has shown al the head of the majority in the House. If the party turned to him as it's leader in Congress. why should not his party turn to him as it's leader now and why may we not feel the se- rene confidence. the firm assurance, that his leadership of the party in the nation will be as wise. as capable, as brilliantly successful as is his leader oF