The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-18
Hillary HOwse Makes Ring ing Speech Before Under
 wood Conference
SAYS TENNESSEE
 WILL BE IN LINE
Will Proceed at Once to Organization of Underwood Club in Nash ville Which Will Spread
 Over the State

Hillary Howse, mayor of NashYlile, and one of the greatest political fac tors in Tennessee, in course of an irn- nromptu speech last night in favor Of oscar Underwood for the presidency of the United States, took occasion to express his satisfaction that the day of "Governor Hooper has had its set ting sun"
 You people in Alabama" stated he in stentorian tones, "know conditions ln Tennessee. but you do not feel con- corning these conditions as we do. We know that it Is a disgrace that repuo- lican is governor of the grand old Vol unteer state, and especially mean republican. as Hooper is.
 "But the executive committee yes terday, led by Chairman Vertrees, tin- ished Hooper, and the situation now is one in which the fanatics and 1nde- pendents will have to come out of their holes and fight. Finally, it is so ar ranged that every man in Tennessee will have to declare himself either republican or democrat, and this means that the day of Hooper will soon be over.
 "Therefore. tonight I feel like rejoic ing. The redemption or the beginning of the redemp ton of my native state is matter which lies close to the core of my heart. And we have squirmed long and painfully under the disgrace which has been ours.
 Now as concerns Underwood. l have never met him. But 1 know that he Is big, brainy, conservative, honest and unafraid. He Is a southerner! And there is no man under the sun who loves the south as I do.
 "In Tennessee, there is strong ani- mostly against Woodrow Wilson. The state at the present time is about equal ly divided between Underwood and Har- mon When l return to Nashville l will organize an Underwood club, and by correspondence with the mayors Of all other Tennessee cities, will perfect an organiza ton which cannot be defeated
 in Tennessee. You will find us fight ing, and we will win. l feel confident that the delegation from Tennessee will cast it's votes in the national -conven- ton for the man of Alabama, of whom you and all of us are justly proud.
 "The time has come for the south to assert itself. We have the opportunity and the man. If we who have fur nished the bulk of democratic votes for half q century have not the man. hood to demand the leadership, then we have just reason to hang our heads in shame
 Let us all get up and go about this Underwood matter in fighting spirit. This is a crisis when we need men, strong men, and men who are not afraid. We can accomplish. We have simply got to act"
 Mayor Howse and party returned to Nashville last night at 12 o'clock over the Louisville and Nashville railroad. The mayor was accompanied to Bir- mingham by Albert G. Ewing, Jr., city nent lawyer who is doing special work for Nashville. and Morgan Wilkerson, member of the board of public works. They were inquiring into the Birming ham law in reference to the assess ment of property owners for the pave ment of sidewalks and streets.
 During the day the party was enter tained by members of the city com mission and other citizens of Birming- ham. The mayor and the city attorney, professed Underwood men, attended the meeting for the organization of the Underwood Marching club of Alabama last night and were elected honorary members.