davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
RAJ APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC ROADS
md Duty Of Congress Unquestioned from the Founda-
ton of the Government

s from speech q Oscar W. Underwood the S House of Rep
ssif s %' 'Sff r f H's St
sg fl e Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending
g. Underwood said
tt hainn Objection made appropriation looking
d%owers IF The States wish there the floor Of
5 saan am believe the Sovereign Union have
lie nG do no ns usve the cena
Int % s as n belong SILLY 5send the States but
0d sde s 81 powers nt given it BY the M that d should
s' sSsss siR the s 10 and
sS1s te'5ss M SS"s5
sso ths propotoa and that The fathers did
building roads the mail through wilderness
oa Bu @ ss T M f fGnd be be n ERE
States lin the days of the fathers than today
does the gentleman find anything in the Constitution
p5ag The Federal raj, Government to build post-roads7
~ ds[al Gqysrqant TO establish postoace: and I
m e 5 0 very e % thing from adne m
ams That question was discussed the Third Congress and
who wrote The Constitution
H. e m rs @ so e U rnaG S e1 ha NO n
G sa the "A0" curing the century OF our
Il 1918 III House Of Representatives passed the following res
he postroad military and other
~ as Jefferson said a letter o Mr. Leper in 1908:
peace debt and if
be necessary, be carried without on and
checker whole with canals roads,
This 4 the object which all endeavors should be directed
Secretary Of War 1919 Mr. Calhoun made report the House
resentatives roads and canals in which he said
ir
object Kind important and there which
individual capacity inadequate 1t must be perfected
G0verEment
edition this Congress has and specific for
appropriation the authority conferred by Constitution
as postoces and post-road Cooley his book Constiu
Law.
Every road within State including railroads, canals turnpkes
navigabe existing created within State, becomes
whenever by the action of the Office Department.
ion made for the transportation of the mails it
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
JaekScrew or Axe

That with the Democratic party al
ready in power in the House, and hav-
ing a visible chance of coming into COM
plete power in the National Govern
ment, it is of interest to learn from
what viewpoint the actual pilot-in-charge
of the Democracy's legislative ship looks
at his task and by what stars he shapes
his course.
Are they fixed and steadfast lights of
the political armament or are they mere
I ly those will-o'-the wisps that flame UP
as paramount issues" for this year,
only to be forgotten next year? We
get a comforting light on this question
from another remark by Mr.. Under
wood:
Il think the big question is the tariff
1t is the question of the development of
the industries and commerce of the
nation"
From Democrat that is a remark
well-nigh startling, 1t exhibits such an
unusual viewpoint. 1t is almost like
hearing Andrew Carnegie confess that
there might be such a thing as a right
eous war. Heretofore, our Democratic
statesmen have so uniformly declared
that there was nothing to the tariff
question but stopping robbers" from
robbing.
They never seemed to think of tariff
as having anything to do with the de-
velopment OF industries and commerce.
Mr.. Underwood does He says we
should reduce our tariff because with
the settlement of the West we have left
behind the days when our home market
absorbed the products of Our factories
and left us no surplus for which we
needed to look for market abroad.
He holds that our industrial develop
ment has outstripped the increase in
domestic demand, and that we are pro-
ducing, or at least have the existing ca
pacity to produce, a great surplus of
manufactures for which we must find
markets in other countries. Therefore,
and since eve cannot trade with other
people unless we permit them to trade
with us" reduce the tariff to competi-
tive basiS-to the Lowest rates that will
raise the revenues that the exigencies
of the Government require"
One may agree or disagree with that
theory of tariff making. One may disbe-
lieve that its effects will be develop
ment of the industries and commerce of
the nation" But at least it is theory
consistent with itself and protesting
constructive aims and not merely clam
oring for destruction.
And its prepayment is no doctrinaire
fresh from academic halls with his nod
die crammed with Solutions" of every
thing Neither is he the freak product
of passing popular delight with the latest
novelty among political entertainers.
Chicago Infrr-OeeaH, September 20,
IQ1I
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15

ucts of the district One-third of all the
iron-ore holdings of the Steel Trust are
in and around Birmingham. Surely, at
first glance, bad outlook for tariff
reformer And yet Mr.. Underwood
succeeds and re-succeeds himself with
ever climbing majorities.
1t is the Underwood honesty that
does it--that, and his clean courage.
The dominant quality in Mr.. Underwood
is honesty, and folk have found it out.
Honesty is among the scarcest of earth
ly commodities, and when a community
has discovered it in the possession of
ian individual, it guards it and works it
like a gold-mine for every final ounce.
Mr.. Underwood is honest: His cleo
ton was not the work of money. He
was not chosen as either the pet of the
railroads or the frst-born of the trusts.
His seat was given him by the people,
and because they believed he would fill
it to the best of public advantage.
This emanation of the popular gives
Mr.. Underwood the House high ground,
and he is so far military in his genius
that he knows how to fortify and hold
it, From his place as peoples repre-
sentative, he can overstare and keep in
check the Paynes ard the Daizells and
the Crunpackers, who are present mere
ly by the grace of pirate money, and
dwell, therefore, on House levels much
lower than his own.-Alfred Henry
Lewis in the Cosmopolitan, New York,
January, 1912.
II
As the head of the Ways and Means
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
a Voice
From Virginia

"All of the avowed aspirants are
men of distinction and merit, but my
individual opinion is that the party ha:
an opportunity to make magnificent
selection by choosing for its standard
bearer in 1912 the wise, well-balanced
and thoroughly equipped Albanian,
Hon. Oscar Underwood.
"Mr. Underwood's record in states
manship is a good enough guarantee
of his fitness for the White House.
He measures up to all the requirements
of the exalted position. He is fearless
and broad-minded, and there is nothing
of the demagogue in his composition.
Some will cavil at his Southern origin
and raise the oft-repeatcd cry that no
Southerner can be elected to the presi-
dency This bugaboo is raised in spite
of the fact that all the leading papers
of the North and South and all writers
of any note have declared time and
again that sectional feeling and preju-
dice, based on the war of GIGS, have
died out completely.
"If that be true is there any longer
any valid reason against going to the
South for candidate? If Mr.. Under
woods personality and public service
render him peculiarly available should
the matter of location bar him from the
The idea is absurd" -
Hon. A. C. Broxton, of Richmond, Va,
in The Baltimore Sun, January, 1912.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
A FIGURE OF NATIONAL SIZE

The emphasis here is placed upon Mr..
Underwood's wisdom, but along with
this is mentioned his honesty.
These two qualities greatly impress
every one who comes into association
with Mr.. Underwood, or who closely
follows his course in Congress and in
public life. He is wise: he does not
disturb himself about little things; his
own personality is not obtruded; his
political ambitions play no part in gov
erning his words and actions. He has
an eye single to the performance of
duty and believes that duty we'll per-
formed is the most urgent considera-
ton. If doing his duty should mar his
fortunes-as he certainly believed it
would when he voted against the PEN
sion bill--he will take what comes with
cut complaining. Not every man can be
president, he thinks, but every man can
try to do the best that is in him for
his country and for the times he lives
in
And this is honesty. He plays no
politics; he stands out against raiding
the treasury-no matter what be the ex-
cuse offered-and he opposes his own
friends and associates quite as firmly
as he opposes his opponents when, in
his judgment, the thing proposed to be
done is not for the common good.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
Underwood
n Real Man

The Democrats of the House have
reason to be proud of their floor lead
er, Chairman Underwood, of the Ways
and Means Committee. Mr.. Underwood
has given ample evidence of the pos
session of the qualities of mind essen
tial to the position. He has also DEM
onstrated most conclusively that he is
man who cannot be cajoled or bull
lied from the course he considers right.
In the debate over the Canadian rec
iprocity bill former Speaker Cannon
made the bluff that the steel trust IA
vors the enactment of the measure.
Mr.. Underwood called the bluff very
effectively by producing telegram
from his home district saying that the
United States Steel Corporation has
stopped work on important mills there,
giving as their reason that Underwood
stood in Congress advocating the tariff
reductions on steel included in this bill.
Mr. Underwood added that two years
ago the steel trust opposed his election
because Of the tariff views and threat
ened to turn him out of Congress if
lie voted for reductions on steel duties.
Il voted for them just the same" he
stated, "and they failed in their efforts
10 turn me out of Congress"
Underwood is every inch a man, and
the people have more respect for one
such as he than for a whole battalion
of corporation-controlled standpatters.-
The Oclla Daily Banner, Florida, April
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
DERWO0D IN THE WEST

Z f. IL ~
m gratified to see this State NOV
ward in almost every line and I
he wonderful growth of Birming-
I observe that The Age-Herdld
spt full step with the progressive
and has led in the work.
He growing strength of Oscar I'm
od in the minds of the people
shout the United States has given
ma kind Of publicity that the
could Obtain in no other way,
iIarly on the great question of
riff, for It was not thought that
-ouId come out of Alabama with
lried interests who would be a
to defy the trusts. Oscar I'm
cd is regarded By many men as
list equipped. eisanest, fairest man
mentioned Tor the presidency. If
nominated, he will undoubtedly
If any strong sentiment of the
demands his election he will be
ated. Out ii Colorado, with its
|lnds Of visitors from all parts
United States. he Is the first man
[ BY most OF them. The prom
given 10 his candidacy by the
ines and the public press has
h a strong tide 70 rise which !
and believe. win carry him to the
House. | took much pleasure
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15

| Committee, Mr.. Underwood has shown
himself to be the right man in the right
place. What advances are made by the
party in 1912 will be due largely to him.
lie knows tariff in all its schedule
windings, as man knows the Railways
of his own house. He has wisdom. He
has temper and spirit, but is neither
unreasonable nor vindctive. | have
faith in the tariff thoroughness of Mr..
Underwood. If | owned the revenues
of the Government, | shouldn't hesitate
to employ him as night-watchman--
Alfred Henry evils, in the CoSmopol-
iio", January, 1912, j..
Mr.. Underwood is faithful in his
friendships. To those whom he casually
meets, he is affable, albeit non-com-
initial, keeping his own counsel He is
never rude nor hard; never violent,
even with blood foes. For the stranger
within his gates his air is gentle and
frank. He is easy to see, and, speaking
generally, has been ever careful to keep
himself within the reach of all. News
paper folk, sent to Mr.. Underwood by
some stress of duty, never fail to like
him. He has his dignity, but there is
no reserve He maintains no distances
between himself and them He answers
a question with a round readiness, or
says plainly that he can't answer it and
tells why He expedites the business in
hard, ard will even anticipate the pur-
pose of ones coming, and put questions
to himSelf-Alfred Henry I evils, in the
COSMOPOLITAN, New York, January 1912.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
UNDERWOOD
AND THE PAPERS

The careful reader of the newspapers
is surprised at one notable feature of
the papers from practically every sec
ton of the country. This feature is the
general notice and attention paid to Con-
gresham Oscar Underwood as a candi-
date for the Democratic presidential
nomination, and the uniform praise
which invariably accompanies the men,
ton of him and his candidacy. This is
all the more surprising because Mr.. IN
derwood maintains no press bureau. On
the other hand, prominent candidates
for the Democratic nomination like Gov
ernor Harmon of Ohio, Governor Viii
son of New Jersey and Speaker Clark
of Missouri maintain large and active
bureaus, which are continually sending
out campaign literature to the papers
of the country.
Notwithstanding this, at the present
time Mr.. Underwood is receiving more
attention than any other, we might say
any other two, presidential candidates
combined. The attitude of the voters
towards Mr.. Underwood may be doubted
until that attitude is made clear in an
election, but it cannot be doubted that
his record and his strong personality
are admired by the newspapers of the
country. For now he is receiving more
free and favorable advertising than any
other public man of the county,
Montgomery (Alabsma) advertiser,
January 5, 1912.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
UNDERWOOD-HOUSE LEADER
CLEAN COURAGE, HIGH HONESTY
FAITHFUL IN HIS FRIENDSHIPS

His name is Oscar w. Underwood
his years are on the sunshine side OF
fifty. AS chief of the Ways and Means
and chairman of the Committee on Com
mittees, he is Speaker Clark's right arm
in the House.
Mr.. Underwood's cry is Tariff for
revenue only!' When Mr.. Bryan, eaten
of rule-or-ruin spirit, came to Wash
ington at the beginning of the special
session to trouble the waters of party
hope with an attack upon the wool bill
as proposed by the Democrats, Mr.. I'm
derwood, in going after Mr.. Bryan,
stated his own tariff position. Said he
"The Democratic party stands for a
tariff for revenue. The Democratic
party does not stand for free trade,
and I do not believe the people will
be misled by the statement of Mr..
Bryan" ,
That Mr.. Underwood is against pro-
lection, and fights it, evinces his cour-
age. He comes from the Birmingham
district in Alabama breeding-ground
of protection. In Mr.. Undcrwood's dis
trict there are nine railroads, one hun
bred and forty-eight miles of street-car
tracks, $150,000,000 of invested indus
tries, an annual pig-iron output Of
100000 tons, and a production Of
100000 tons of coal The city of
Birmingham has an annual payroll of
$500OOO00. The Tennessee Coal & Iron
Company, which is a part OF the Steel
Trust, controls one-third of all the prod
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
.Outher7 Presi-
'ential Possibility

he mention Of Oscar w. Under,
of Alabama, for the Democratic
entail nomination resides goot
more than suggestion that we
got too far away from the Civil
ra to regard Statesman as nee
i y unavailable" because he comes
commonwealth that was mem
H the Southern Confederacy.
1.-The men now before the country
" ssible or probable Democratic
ates for the Presidency, Under
is certainly one Of the strongest.
had a fine training in Congress,
in himself a man Of natural force
rye capacity for work-and work
what we want in executive posi-
He has been a member of the
Of Representatives, for some fif-
ears, and has risen by force of
and nothing but merit, to a posi-
fhich made it Inevitable that he
be Chairman Of the Committee
Nays and Means when the Demo-
4 came into control of the popular
= Of the Government. He has the
j the environment, the enthusiasm,
the political sagacity, and
Jltesmanly qualities fully to justify
lsideration in connection with the
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15

In politician this would be accounted
recklessness, because party and spoils are
translated i'll many minds to mean the
same thing; but it is the highest wis
dom in a statesman. Even should it
have but partial success in controlling
a party following, it must be productive
of immense good in showing that the
South has in Mr.. Underwood a man
who can be trusted by the Nation--a
man whose patriotism is not limited by
small things, nor suffering from the
burden of any prejudice.
For our part, we believe that such
wisdom is of more practical value than
would be the keenest political schem-
ing; and that this very absence of self
seeking, this contempt for the arts of
the politician, is working for him, while
he himself has his mind conferred upon
things he regards as of more moment.
The country could do no better than
to put its entire trust in such man;
and there is good reason to think that it
will do so. AS Mr.. Lewis says, it
should not Hesitate to employ him as
night Waterman" This coming, not
from the South, but from writer whose
attitude is critical and whose atmosphere
Is of the North, is certainly a tribute
rot to be despised; its significance is
very great-The Mobile (Alabarna)
Register, January II, 1912.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
HEARS MUCH POLITICAL TALK

an travelling through the country /
hear no end of political talk" said
James A. Braun, sales manager of the
Wyeth Chemical Company of New
York.
During the past FIVE or six weeks l
have heard Underwood very much dis
cussed as a presidential proposition. |
found in the Carolinas a great deal Of
Underwood sentiment have been
keeping up with Underwood's record
in Congress, and I believe that his
commanding position in the Democratic
party will be appreciated by the rank
and file of the Democracy"-ARe-
Herald, Birmingham, Ala, Jan. 2. 1912.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

The most salient fact connected with
the story of the bill in the present Con-
gress is the remarkable strength of the
Democratic tactics, and the high quail
ty shown by Mr.. Underwood, the leader
of the party on the floor. The farmers
free list" bill was a master stroke, and
Mr.. Underwood utilized it in the debate
with an effectiveness that left nothing to
be desired. What gives real strength to
the Democratic position is that the party
fs graphing with a big and difficult
question in a spirit that is at once
courageous and practical If there is to
be an era of such leadership as that rep
resented by Mr.. Underwood, the term
practical politics" may be rescued from
the ignominy into which It has fallen
and recover the meaning to which it is
lcgitimately entitled-Nf7v York Eue-
ming Post reproduced in The FL Dorado
SEn (Weeklyl, FL Dorado Springs, Mo.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
This New Leader
From Alabama

But this new leader from Alabama,
with nothing meteoric or iridescen
about him; who has forged steadily
ahead during sixteen years of congress
sional service, and who has proved him
self equal to every emergency in the acid
test of debate on the floor of the House;
cool, imperturbable, resourceful, sure of
himself at all times; profoundly learned
on the great tariff issue he stands for;
whose impressive personality is reveal
ing itself in stronger lines every day
as the searchlight of the press plays
upon it-he is the Man Of Destiny for
The Democratic party in this year 1912
And as the campaign for the nomination
progresses, Mr.. Underwoods superior
availability will come out with increas-
ing clearness, and the Democratic masses
of the South will catch the inspiration
of the great fact that a Southern man
from the heart of Dixie is at last in line
for the presidency after all these weary
years Of waiting. When that psyche
logical moment arrlves-in the national
convention or before it--a very nearly
solid South, fused to white heat under
the enthusiasm of a genuine Southern
presidential candidacy will take Oscar
Underwood on its shoulders. sweep away
all the we'll laid plans of machine politics
and rush him right to the goal, winner
by sheer force of an overwhelming sense
of simple justice to the South. At
least that's the way we want 1.-THE
Snpdnee (Fla,) Democrat, December,
1911.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
Underwood Among
1912 Possibilities

The threatened breakdown of Ma
jority Leader Underwood, as a result of
long hours of hard work on the tariff
in the Ways and Means Committee, put
many Democrat in a nervous state of
mind. There developed suddenly full
appreciation Of the worth of the Ala
bama Congressman as a leader. For
Mr.. Underwood to become disabled or
to be removed from the scene of his
usefulness at this critical time would be
like pulling a corner post out from
under a platform on which was heaped
most of the political treasures of the
party, Democrats quite generally are
willing to admit.
Credit for the achievements Of the
Democratic House bearing the stamp Of
constructive craftsmanship is given
readily to the majority leader. Due 10
his success as legislative manager-his
ability in most tests to keep the House
Democracy unted-and the fact that
Civil War wounds have been allowed to
heal because of the scarcity of public
men of the type of Senator Hepburn,
of Idaho, a Southerncr is being Sc
riously considered North and South as
presidential material. The Underwood
for-President movement has been at
tracing volunteer workers steadily
since last spring when the newly-in-
stalled Democratic House assumed its
responsibilities. An Underwood boom
for the Democratic nomination for
President put on long trousers at the
beginning of this, the national campaign
year.-Austin Cunningham, in the San
AHtoni0 Express, January S, 1912,
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
A PRACTICAL DEMOCRAT

St Louis honors Oscar w. Under
wood for his character, for his achieve
ments and for his Democracy.
The Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee is a practical Democrat His
leadership in the House of Representa-
tives shows that. He possesses the
ability to enlist men of varying ideas,
plans and moods in support of desirable
and feasible objects. Men who agree
on basic principles may be involved in
bitter hostility by antagonisms which in
their essence amount to little.
= =
Mr.. Underwood's example as leader
of Democrats in Congress is worthy of
emulation elsewhere. 1t makes for toll
erance. Tolerance makes for unity,
Unity makes for progress. There is no
other way to render Democracy eff
fective.
The young Democrats of St Louis
who persuaded Mr.. Underwood to be-
come their guest will find in his policy
as well as his principles the best hope
of party achievement and party life
The ST. Lesis RsbHbRe, October IL,
1911
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-15
UNDERWOOD LOOMS UP

Whether the disclaimer of Represen-
tative Oscar w. Underwood of candi-
dacy for the Democratic nomination for
president is to stand or not, there is no
question that he is looming large and
seriously, no less at the North than at
the South, as a possibility, if not this
time. then in the near future. Mr..
Underwood is making a widespread and
distinctive impression, not only as the
honest bold, sagacious leader of the
House majority, and not only as mas
terful Southern Democrat, but as an
American publicist and statesman
man of affairs and broad concept of
his responsibility to the whole people
Richmond Va, Times-DiShdtch, re-
printed in the BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Age
Herald, January p, 1912.