The Washington times., 1912-06-14
HELM IS CHOSEN
TO OFFER NAME OF
OSCAR UNDERWOOD
Alabama Orator Will Make
Nominating Speech for
"Favorite Son."
By THEODORE TILLER.

The magic eloquence of Congressman
James Thomas Hefiin of Alabama will
De depended upon to convince the dele
gates to the Baltimore convention that
Oscar w. Underwood should be the
Democratic nominee for the Presidency.
A practical decision has been reached
that Tom" Hefiin will present the
name of Alabamas favorite son.
The prospect Is a pleasing one, for
when Heflin is in form one may almost
have visions of modern Demosthenes.
eee militant Democracy why Under
wood should be it's standard bearer,
there will be little left to tell for the
fell:w who seconds the nomination.
Picture the scene, you who believe
that oratory is lost art. Out front will
be more than two thousand delegates
and alternates waiting for an oppor-
ieries will ef be lied o with s the expectant pe sa
wives, daughters, and friends Of the
perspirfng Democrats below. The plat
form will be thronged with platform
makers, with campaign managers. with
with prominent citizens"
Real Work Begins.
The marching clubs will cease march
ing and the bands will cease to play.
The moment will arrive when the pre-
hminaries are over. when the actual
work of selecting a candidate Is under
way.
A commotion will be heard to the rear
OF the platform: hands will be uplifted.
and a "sh!' will lull into comparative
auietude the thousands who have trav-
eled from afar to see Democracy re-
deem itself
Who is this man who pushes a chair
aside and makes his way out front?
Who Is he who projects his towering
form ri nf 70
where there is a little stand with a
pitcher of water? What message does
he bring that the delegates, led by
those from the sovereign State Of Ala.
at Oyster Bay or the White House?
Heflin Comes Forward.
1t Is ]. Thomas Hefiin, Of Lafayette,
standing six feet two. his frock coat
Tapping about his confident form, his
head thrown back, his eyes glued upon
the Stars and Stripes, surmounted by
a mental picture of President Oscar W.
Underwood.
Be still. We enthusiastic hosts! Save
Your cheers for the peroration. Have
you never heard Heflin speak before
In the Congressional Directory the
autobiography Of Congressman Under
wood occupies FIVE lines. 1t Is supposed
to cover all periods of his existence
from the time that he first blinked at
the light of day in Louisville. KY. un-
I'll the State of Alabama decided. along
with sundrv other States. that he was
Presidential timber.
Five lines will barely call the atten-
ton of the Baltimore convention to the
fact that Heflin has begun a nominatino q
speech. Perhaps q hundred lines will
acquatnt the delegates with the fact
that in early boyhood Underwood show
ed great constructive ability and that
he collected marbles with the same
scrutinizing detail with which he later
annexed delegates.
Like Clark Griffith.
Proceeding further, Mr.. Hefin prob
ably will tell the convention what It
already knows-namely, that one Oscar
w. Underwood qualified as majority
leader par excellence, that he has made
a working organization out Of the Dem
ocratiC majority in the House which Is
only to be compared to the feat of one
Clark Griffith in administering the oxy-
gen treatment to the once inert WASH
ington baseball team.
ences to Mr.. Underwood's tariff record
and the manner in which he arose on
the House floor one hot summer day
and had the audacity to proclaim that
William. Jennings Bryan didn't consti-
tute the entire Democratic party, Mr..
IIefin probably will have convinced the
Baltimore convention that the cause of
q real candidate is being espoused.
Perhaps you have never heard Heflin
speak. rrrhars You have never occu-