The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Victory Regarded as NOta- ble Achievement in
 South's History
COUNTRY VOTE WON
 FOR THE ALABAMIAN
Oscar Turner Tells of the Great Fight Made Yesterday-Means the South Will Assert
 Its Rights
By HIGH w. ROBERTS

ny HUH w. hObGhIS Alabama is, elated. Georgia has not proved untrue.
 Yesterday the Empire state of the south nobly rallied to the support of the great son of the south.
 The victory of Oscar W. Underwood was
 notable. When the facts are carefully
 studied, it was remarkable. As should have been expected, the wool
 hat boys told the tale. The plutocrats
 were lined up in dense and inpenetrable
 phaIanxes behind the learned governor of New Jersey. But those who toll, those
 the weight of whose dinner pail is af- fected by the operation of the tariff. met the issue squarely. As result, without the assistance of the most populous cities of Georgia, Underwood has carried the state.
 It was a great day for Georgia. The
 result put that state on record as adher- ing to the opinion that the south shall
 not be forever denied the privilege of di- recting government, that the door of the
 White House shall not be forever barred to southerner because he is a south erner
 Turner Telephones the Latest Oscar C. Turner spent yesterday in At lanta. over long distance wires last night he said:
 Georgia is all right. Underwood has
 carried the state by a majority of prac-
 tically 10000 votes. He lost nearly all the
 larger cities and the counties in which
 those cities are situated. But the farm
 CTS left their ploughs. despite the fact
 that they are far behind in their crops. Patriotism asserted itself.
 "The Constitution has just issued an extra edition claiming the state by 10000 The Georgian claims the state for Un- derwood by 12,000 The Journal, which
 has been leading the bitter and unfair fight against Underwood, declines to be interviewed.
 There were interesting scenes on the
 streets of Atlanta today. Both factions
 were in work up to their elbows. Wilson lcarred the Gate City and Fulton county by about 2700 votes.
 Tt was a great day for Alabama and Georgia and Underwood and the people The result will have a splendid effect l elsewhere. It simply means that Under
 wood will be the nominee of the people,"
 Story of the Fight It was a terrible fight. It ragged fur- ousy even to the very end. No quarter
 was asked. The people were as much in terested as they have been in the historic
 Neighbors fell out. Many scathing criti- cisms were made. It was a period in which friendships came to an end. Six weeks ago Wilson had Georgia cinched This was conceded. But Un-
 derwood determined to make a fight. He
 got into the field with both feet and his friends rallied to his support As soon as the truth shot home that southerner
 with a broad mind and big heart was in the fight to win, Wilson's strength waned. Day by day new recruits fiocked to the standard of the Alabamian. And on the eve of the election it was generally known that Underwood would carry Geor- ga by a neat though not overwhelming | ma jority, and that few if any of the | larger cities to which is confined the l idle and influential wealth of the common wealth would contribute to that result. Influence of Hoke Smith - 1 No sooner had it become known that l Underwood was determined to make a | fight-in Georgia than Senator Hoke Smith entered the field in the interest of Will son. The Atlanta Journal, which has
 always supported Senator Smith in his
 every political aspiration. became the
 strongest opponent of Underwood. | The Atlanta Constitution entered the lists wearing the colors of the Alabaman. Gov. Joe Brown and his faction rallied
 to the support of Underwood | And between the two the contest waged furiously for six long and feverish weeks. l The Journal, in its desperation, assailed | from every angle the great opponent of 1 Wilson. The Journal declared that Un- derwood was the instrument of Wall street. and that Wall street was using | him in Georgia to aid in it's desire to defeat Wilson. The Journal even related stories to the effect that Underwood, while being an Alabaman, was not a real south
 erner; that, in fact. his forebears were | union sympathizers in the days of the l Civil war. The Journal painted Under- wood a Stalking horse' for Governor Harmon. and published Monday afternoon an intimation from Senator Smith to the effect that Underwood was running for 1 the presidency in hope of becoming speak l CT of the House.
 | On the other hand, the Constitution, l in it's magnificent fight, presented Un- derwood as the embodiment of the great l tariff issue on which the lines of democ-
 racy will be formed; presented him as the true southern statesman and as the personification of the only opportunity | by the grasping of which southerners
 
 I dom.
 And the fight came to an end with 1 Underwood, the leader and friend of the
 people. the people who really need tariff 1 revised downward. the victor. the brave,
 manly, honest victor
 l UnderwoOd's Opportunity Enhanced | Alabama is elated. Tuesday Underwood defeated Wilson in Florida, carrying the 1 state by an estimated majority of be-
 tween 7oo0 and 10000 votes. Yesterday
 he defeated Wilson in Georgia. carrying | at least 100 counties of that state and l establishing a majority of practically | 1U.t00.
 l As result of the two elections the en- | tire delegations of the states will be l instructed to cast the votes of the states for Underwood of Alabama. As result MT. Underwood will hold the whip hand l in the convention.
 Many people believe that as a result of l the apparent willingness of the south to | sur-nrf Mir. Underwood that he will be made the nominee of the party June 9.