The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-18

ular vote has passed the House. The democratic party is not foolish enough 10 suppose that by committing the election of senators to a direct vote of the people it will eradicate all of the abuses which have too often characterized senatorial elections. It does not believe that this constitutional amendment, standing alone, would protect our elections from the corrupt misuse of money but under our other wholesome and wise legislation, aided by enlightened public sentiment, We have reduced that evil to a minimum. Nor do we believe that the direct election of senators will completely eliminate the boss, because we know that in certain states of the union the boss has always bene more potential in the state conven- ton han with the legislature; but, talk ing 1t all in all, we know that the people can be safely trusted to elect their sena-
 tors and bringing the representatives of the people nearer to the people them selves we will help to rescue this repub-
 lie from the dangerous tendency towards a direct democracy by making it more truly representative democracy.
 Economy in Expenditures
 "Economy in public expenditures is be- ing enforced 10 the extent of the power of the House of Representatives.
 "The democratic House has passed measures IeNlSlnR llt llllpultouS ItpuD- lican tariff down to revenue basis And to those who might declare that we have not cut it as deep as we ought to have done, I need only to say that all the high tariff republicans in Congress sotcd against, and even the republican Presi- dent, who claims 10 be only a modcra te protectioGist vetoed them.
 "The House has passed an excise bill whereby large incomes will be justly sub | ,A<,f fa ion, fa,. Ia This measure is in the form of an ex- else tax SO as to meet the position of a divided court in opposition to the income tax In the Sixty-frst Congress the dem- ocrats forced the passage of a resolution proposing .Gn amendment to the consti- tutior to authorize the federal govern mec1t to impose an income tax without apportionment. Twenty-eight states have ratified this proposed amendment, and 1t
 is not far distant when the eight more states necessary will join in this ratlioa- tion. And when this time shall come the democratic party will lift from the con sumption of this land part of the onerous taxation which now expresses it and lay it where it justly belongs, upon those whose abundant income will en- able them to pay it without abating even the luxu-ios which they enjoy.
 ''The history of the things accomp-
 ished by the democratic House of Repre- sentatiyes could not be written without an account of the work and the con trolling Influence of our own Underwood. Called to the responsible position of lead CT of the House he has exceeded even the most sanguine expectations of his friends and associates. It must not be forgot ten that the rules adopted by the demo- cratic House have shorn the speaker $ office of much of it's power and the power taken from that place has been trans ferred to the democratic leader, who acts by and with the consent and advice of the committee on ways and means and his democratic associates in party council
 Upon him chiefly devolved the duty of framing the tariff and of much other important legislation and of presenting to and defending the same In the House of Representatives, and of formulating the party policy and guiding its action. He has met all the responsibilities of his high position in wise, statesmanlike and courteous way. Just as he has met these responsibilities with wisdom, tact and courage. so Alabama stands ready to pledge the nation that he will meet and discourage the higher duties to which we expect the country to call him. He Is a democrat whose democracy does not need to be qualified by adNerbs or adjectives or prefixes or suffixes. He has the cour- age on every proper occasion to declare against dangerous heresies and innova- tions He has never said foolish thing and he has never done cowardly thing. He is brave leader, wise leader-in short, great leader. If the Baltimore convention shall be guided solely by the consideration of the qualifications of the man to name as the democratic candidate for President. and pay no heed to some antiqdated and worthless idea of geog- raphy, then the leader of the democ- racy. one who will carry our banner to victory in November next: will be Oscar W. Underwood. Alabama gives him to our whole country He will make great President"
 During the course of Chairman Clay tons speech he was frequently interrupt ed by loud and continuous applause. MT. Clayton then said the permanent or earization of the convcs'.on would he taken up.
 1 w. M Lackey of Ta1lapoosa took the | hosr and said he T21ted the convention to gives three chs( and tiger for
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