Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
SAFE WAY LAID
BY WASHINGTON
Congressman Underwood Com
ments on Common Sense of
Country's Father.
CURE OF PRESENT EVILS
Elements of Patience, Soberness and
Wisdom Characterize His
Administration.

Philadelphia. Feb. 23.-Congressman
Oscar w Underwood Of Alabama,
chairman OF the ways and means COM
mittee OF the house. delivered an ad-
dress in this city last night at the
annual banquet OF the State Society
Of the Cincinnati. His subject was
George Washington, and he said in
part:
Washington did not foresee all the
perplexing problems with which we
have 10 deal today. in our tariff or in
our great corporations, in our curren-
cy. 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 assimilating it into our
growth and moulding it into a loyal
and intelligent support OF our institu-
tons; he did not see the menace of
destructive socialism or the extent TO
which. unfortunately. we were to go
in substituting party interest for po-
litical principle, though as TO this he
gave US paternal warning.
POINTS SAFE COURSE.
Nevertheless he did foresee sufi-
cient Of our problems TO be able to
commend TO us a course, the prin ciples
Of which, IL steadily adhered TO. should
bring us safely through all the perils
70 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 I'M
derstand. as no one else understood,
the organic principles upon which
were TO rest the security and the vel
fare OF our national life. And subject
always 70 his urgent advice against
permanent alliances with foreign
powers. like a high priest among men,
he preached the gospel of tolerance
OF benevolence. OF peace, Of reasona-
bleness. and Of righteousness towards
all peoples.
MASTER OF NEEDS.
"Washington's distinguishing COM
mon sense and practical turn OF mind
served him well In the administration
of his high Office. Few, if any, mere
generalities or quixotic schemes of &C
ton 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 cam
paigns. At a time when so many of
US are disposed TO put upon the stat
ute books nostrums for relief from
our Industrial and financial and eco
monte evils, Il will be well for us to
call 10 mind the striking contrast be-
tween the moderate volume and TEN.
perate character of laws enacted dur.
ing his presidency and so much of our
present day legislation of the expert
mental sort, rejecting often merely a
view of today that is likely to be the
hercsy of tomorrow, and attempting
20 deal with the Objectionable tendency
before il is seen that 1t will not be ar
rested of itself. or before we have SUI
ficient understanding of it TO be in &
position 10 know or apply the appro
pirate remedy.
NO GUESS WORK.
Accordingly the recommendation
and the Legislation OF Washington's ad
ministration were not along CUES
work lines; but the elements Of sober
ness. patience and wisdom which h.
so invariably manifested were typica
of the plans he favored aud adoptet
To bring order out OF financial and in
dustTia chaos, promote industr
among the people and restore their ell
ergies by opening up new sources o
revenue and prosperity, and by assul
ing men that they should gather an
be secure in the possession OF tn
harvest OF their labor.
There is a great need too for u
In this day when constitutional r,
straint has become irksome TO man!
never TO turn a deaf ear to the stirrin
appeal OF Washington TO his people
that the departments into which on
government Is constiutionally divide
shall be kept with determined han
within their respective boundaries.
Speaking here not as a party maj