The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-07
WHEN H. D. CLAYTON
WORE WQRR|EDL0Ok
Friends Began to Boom Him
for Vice President
RACE FOR THE SENATE
Well Known Congressman VIII Con-
suit His Constituents Before Full
ly Making Up His Mind
About Running
RACE FOR THE SENATE
nv c.E STEWART

the atmosphere was reeking, murky and
hot The great and near great states
men assembled in the box-car lobby
like lot of chickens in coop, were
congratulating each other over the fact
that at last a NOMINATION had been made
by the convention for the office of
President of the United States. They
were a weary and unlaundered lot; the
Precipitation ran in little rivulets from
their anatomies. and formed little oceans
on the tiled floor of the rotunda; an
analysis of these miniature seas would
have disclosed about As per cent beer
20 per cent Baltimore real estate and
23 per cent pure cussedness, antagonism
to Bryan-trace.
In anxious whispers they were dis
cussing and chewing over the available
material that the party might offer up
for sacrifice as candidate for the Vice
presidency.
They were trying to decide upon
statesman who possessed the qualities
of drawing votes to the ticket, and
who was patriotic enough to bury him
self in obscurity. To the shame of our
system of government the second high
est office in the gift of the people has
become a dumping ground for person.
ally popular politicians who have lit
tile other value. The vice president of
the United States has less to do with
the actual running of the government
that an elevator boy at the capitol.
He cannot afford to hope to become
President, for the only route open to
such an ambition must come through a
misfortune to his chief. No self-re-
speeding man who has mental attain
ments qualifying him for the presidency
would accept the vice presidency as a
speculation on the possibility of serving
in the White House.
Runs Into Henry Clayton
At the very edge of this steaming,
seething mass Of political humanity,
your correspondent ran into Henry ID.
Clayton of Alabama, chairman OF the
House committee on the judiciary. Mr..
Clayton was disturbed. He wore an air
of great gloom and perturbation; his
brow was drawn into a deep frown and
there was a dangerous glitter In the
Claytonian judicial eye.
The writer could discern no surface
reason for Representative Clayton's
manifest mental displeasure and dis
comfort. By his side was Mrs. Clay
ton, a beautiful and accomplished wom-
an of high mental attachments. 1t is
first choice for the presidency. but be-
ing seasoned politician, we knew
that there was something deeper and
more personal than this disappointment,
keen as ii might have been, disturbing
him.
Some of my friends said Mr.. Clay
ton, mo doubt with the very best of
intentions are booming me for the vice
presidency. 1 cannot accept 1T, and !
must hurry back IN there and put
stop to it. appreciate the compliment
I do indeed from the bottom of my
heart, but I am, not yet ready to have
erected over my political career the
mausoleum of the vice presidency, mag
nificent as it certainly Is. I feel that
can serve the party to far better enos
than in this"
And Mr.. Clayton is right. To have
nominated him for the vice upresidency
would have robbed the House of one OF
it's most useful members; 1t would have
taken from the councils of the nation n
great legislator, ripe in experience and
gifted in legal and legislative lore.
Mr. C1ayton's friends desire to see
him in the United States Senate, not as
it's presiding officer, but as a senator
from Alabama, in which capacity they
declare he is better equipped to serve
his state and the country than any
other man in public life from Alabama,
with the possible exception of Oscar Tn
derwood himself.
Mr.. Clayton has not fully decided that
he will enter the contest for the Senate
to succeed Senator Johnston, but he is
being urged to do so by friends from
every walk of life in Alabama, who de-
clare that he will undoubtedly be
elected.
The Avowed Candidates
The avowed candidates for Senator
Johnston's seat are: Representative
Hobson and ive-elect Aber-
crombie. Senator Johnston himself Will
also likely be a candidate for relec-
ton.
Mr.. Clayton's refusal to be considered
as a candidate for the vice presidency
was not prompted from his Intentions
to become a candidate for the Senate;
he felt that in the House as chairman
of the judiciary, he could be of greater
service to his party and to the country,
than as vice president.
MFR. Underwood did the right thing
in declining the honor of the nomination
for the vice presidency" said Mr., Clay
ton. ut would be q great loss/ o the
country to take Oscar Underw I'd out
of the House of Representatives. Re-
naming there he will continueefto be
the leader of democracy or speaker.
For 16 years he has made close study
OF the tdF1II anu no man Knows IL as
he knows it. His name will be a
household word during the coming cam
paign. The platform Endorsed the I'm
derwood wool bill: the Underwood
metal schedule: the Underwood farm
ers' free list bill. and in short fall the
Underwood tariff measures
..Mr. Underwood enjoys the confidence
of his party its leader In Congress
as few men have before. He came out
of the fight with his position as the
.partys best asset more fully estab-
lished."
Mr. Clayton might have added II mod
esty had not forbade, that the platform
also indorsed the Clayton resolution for
= six wear one term for the presidency.
and the Clayton anti-inJunctionsbill, and
the election of United States senators
nv a popular vote of the people. a meas
ure that has received the hearty sup
poyt Of both Mr.. Underwood and Mr..
Clayton: the campaign contributions
publicity bill which Mr.. CLAYTON apd Mr..
Underwood have stood for with'every
ounce, OF their energy
Mr. Clayton IS very busy with mat
ters now pending before the committee
Of the judiciary. and he VIII give his
undivided attention to these problems
during the remainder of the session.
He. will not dete rhine his course re-
garding the senatorial race in Alabama
until he returns and consults with his
constituency; ne will be governed TO a GER
tain degree by their wishes.