davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
O. Southern Dresi-
Dental Possibility

In the mention of Oscar w. Under
wood, of Alabama, for the Democratic
Presidential nomination resides a good
deal more than a suggestion that we
nave got too far away from the Civil
War era to regard a statesman as nee
essarily unavailable" because he comes
from a commonwealth that was mem
Der of the Southern Confederacy.
Of the men now before the country
as possible or probable Democratic
candidates for the Presidency, Under
wood is certainly one of the strongest.
He has had fine training in Congress,
and is in himself man of natural force
and large capacity for work-and work
ers are what we want in executive posi-
tons. He has been member of the
House of Representatives for some ff-
teen years, and has risen by force of
merit, and nothing but merit, to posi-
ton which made it inevitable that ne
should be Chairman of the Committee
on Ways and Means when the Demo
Gratis came into control of the popular
branch of the Government He has the
youth, the environment, the enthusiasm,
the courage, the political sagacity, and
the statesmanly qualities fully to justify
his consideration in connection with the
Presidential nomination.
Mr.. Underwood is conservative man,
who is capable of entertaining pro-
gressive ideals and at the same time of
realizing fully the duty and the ne
cessity for conserving substantial inter-
ests of the community. The Democratic
party might go farther and do vastly
worse than if it should nominate him
as its standard-bearer of 1o12.-Man-
sey'S Magasine, January, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
UNDERWOODS INTEGRITY, PURITY
CIVIC COURAGE AND ABILITY

life and especially by the intimate, ex-
tensive, and increasing intercommuni-
cation within our borders. Our people
have for forty years literally lived to-
gether, and always more and more
closely. They have gradually ceased
to think in terms of sections, and the
South is to-day no more distinct and
apart from the East or the Middle
West or the West in the minds of those
who dwell elsewhere.
In the next place, no one under sixty
has any personal experience of the
civil conflict, and that means not mere
ly that the majority but that the great
body of voters are without this ex-
perience 1t is more than a quarter, of
a century since the Southern Cues
ton" entered even nominally into a
National contest. If it were raised
now by any party, and those who would
be influenced by it had to stand up
and be counted, we believe they would
be ludicrously few. On the other hand,
we are confident that, were the issue
made, a great many voters-chieHy
among those who were most earnest in
their loyalty in the civil war-would by
a common impulse of generosity and of
self-respect incline toward the Southern
candidate. If forced really to think of
the matter, and to act on their conclu-
sions, it would seem too absurd to act
in the present on the issues long since
settled, settled IN their favor, and set
tied forever-The Ne5U York Times,
November Is, 1911.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
Jackscrew 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 Democracys 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
ly those will-o'-the wisps that fame 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 remark
well-nigh startling. 1t exhibits such an
unusual viewpoint. 1t is almost like
hearing Andrew Carnegie confess that
there might be such 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 a 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 oar 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 "we Garnet trade with other
people unless we permit them to trade
with u.s." reduce the tariff to a 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-
lieye 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 PROCESSING
constructive aims and not merely clam
oring for destruction.
And its proponent is no doctrinaire
| fresh from academic halls with his nod
die crammed with solutions" of every
thing. Neither is he the freak producl
Of passing popular delight with the --latest
novelty among political entertainers.
Chicago Inter-Ocran, September 20
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
A FIGURE OF NATIONAL SIZE

In politician this would be accounted
recklessness, because party and spoils are
translated in many minds to mean the
same thing; but it is the highest wis
dom in statesman. Even should it
have but partial success in controlling
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
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 thaa
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 a 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 a writer whose
attitude is critical and whose atmosphere
is of the North, is certainly a tribute
not to be despised; its significance Is
very great-The Mobile (Alabama)
Register, January II, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
UNDERWOOD IN THE WEST

ST am gratifed to see this State NOV
ing onward in almost every line and I
note the wonderful growth of Birming-
ham. I observe that The Age-Heyald
has kept full step with the progressive
spirit and has led in the work.
"The growing strength Of Oscar I'm
derwood in the minds of the people
throughout the United States has given
Alabama kind Of publicity that the
State could obtain in no other way.
particularly OH the great question of
the tariff, for it was not thought that
one would come out of Alabama with
its varied interests who would be a
David to defy the trusts. Oscar IN
derwood is regarded by many men as
the best equipped, cleanest, falrest man
to-day mentioned for the presidency. II
ne is nominated, he will undoubtedly
win. If any strong sentiment OF the
South demands his election he will be
nominated. Out in Colorado, with It's
thousands Of visitors from all parts
OF the United States, he IS the first mar
named by most Of them. The prom
inence given to his candidacy by tht
magazines and the public press has
caused a strong tide toMrise which
~A balsasza xrri1 carrv him to FIX
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

ton even thus early. It is the fact
that Mr.. Underwood is man of South
ern birth, Representative from a South
ern State. There is a feeling, rather
than definite opinion, which finds ex-
preston more often in his own section
than in the North, and perhaps more
often in his own party than in the OPP
posite party, that this fact would be a
source of weakness if Mr.. Underwood
were named by the Democracy.
Of course, this is matter not easily
to be decided with confidence in ad-
vance. There has been no occasion for
a distinct expression of public sentiment
regarding it. 1t is half century since
a Southern candidate for the presidency
came before the Nation, and a good
deal longer than that since one was
elected. Great events have interviewed
and left their impress on the minds
and hearts of men, the depth and di-
rection of which no one can surely es-
innate Our own judgment is that a
candidate from the South-other things
being equal-would not be weaker and
might even be the stronger for that fact.
In broad way, it may safely be said
that there is III cur people now sense
of tried and proved and established
nationality which might, and probably
would, welcome an opportunity for
manifestlng itself This sense OF ma
tionality has sran progressively ever
SINCE TIE 1sSsx f III war fCF the
Union. II has beer steadily strength
ened by the conditions Of our National
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

In this mornings magazine section
of The Times our readers will find the
very interesting report of an inquiry
by staff correspondent into the record
and repute, in his own home, of the
Hon. Oscar w. Underwood of Ala
bama, who has recently been discussed
as a possible Democratic candidate for
the presidency. 1t is needless to say
that The Times is not concerned to adj
vance the interests of any gentleman
in this direction in preference to any
other: 1t is concerned only in laying
before its readers such information,
carefully gathered and impartially pre-
scented, as will aid in the formation of
sound public opinion and choice that
will be to the greatest advantage of the
Nation.
We think our readers will agree that
any party may be congratulated among
whose prominent men, to whom the
eyes of the party are directed on the
eve of presidential campaign, there
is one with such standing among those
who know him best as Mr.. Underwood
has, Plainly he is a man to be trusted,
because he is trusted, for his integrity,
purity, civic courage, and ability, by his
own people. Whether, when the time
comes for a choice, he will be consid-
cred the best man is question which
it is now too early to decide. But there
IS one element that will enter into the
problem which may we'll receive atten-
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
n Voice
From Virginia

"All of the avowed aspirants are
men of distinction and merit, but my
Individual opinion is that the party has
an opportunity to make magnificent
selection by choosing for its standard
bearer in 1912 the wise, well-balanced
and thoroughly equipped Alabamian.
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 denagogue in his composition.
Some will cavil at his Southern origin
and raise the oft-repeated 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 '61-65, 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
nomination? The idea is absurd. =
Hon. A. C. Broxton, of Richmond, Va.
in The Baltimore Sun, January, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
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 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-Disp0tch, re-
printed in the Birmingham, Ala, Age-
Herald, January %, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

q Real NJ an

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 a 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
he voted for reductions on steel duties.
Il voted for them just the same" he
stated, "and they failed in their efforts
to turn me out of Congress-"
Underwood is every inch a man, and
the people have more respect for one
such as he than for whole battalion
of corporation-controlled standpatters.-
The OcGlG Daily Banner, Florida, April
g, 1911.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
= Voice
From Florida

oscar Underwood, however, has
more friends than any man mentioned
for the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation. He is more popular throughout
the country with all the Democrats than
the others. He is almost the unanimous
second choice. If you ask the Harmon
men who they would be for in case
Harmon could not be nominated they
will say Underwood; when you ask the
Wilson men the same question as to
Wilson, they reply that if Wilson can
not be the nominee, Underwood is their
choice; and the same thing is true of
the Champ Clark men." IT. A. Jennings,
National Committeeman from Florida,
in the Pensacola Evening NeSaS, Friday
evening. January II, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
Southern Leaders
and the Tariff

No sensible man, certainly no one
friendly to the South, wishes to see the
tariff made a sectional question. The
course of Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Under
wood tends to prevent this. They stand
not only with their own party through
out the country, but with the strong
public sentiment in support of tariff re-
duction that has divided the Republican
party, and thrown the House into the
hands of the Democrats. When we say
that in this they are serving their own
section, we have in mind the important
fact that they are bringing to bear on
national affairs the intelligence and
strength of their section, and giving it
the opportunity to take a leading part
in the affairs of the Nation. They are
undermining the unfortunate section
alism that has, perhaps unavoidably,
pervaded Southern politics for long
time. They are ranging the South on
the side of progress and in the line
of the most significant movement of
national opinion that has manifested it
self in years. Nothing is more certain
than that our vast and intricate and
oppressive tariff system is to be
reformed, and its reform is bound to
be the one task of craftsmanship in the
next few years. It can be determined,
and under certain conditions it can be
led by the men of the South.-NeSV
York Times, January 81, 1911.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
UNDERWOOD-HOUSE LEADER
CLEAN COURAGE, HIGH HONESTY
FAITHFUL IN HIS FRIENDSHIPS

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, a bad outlook for tariff
reformerl And yet Mr.. Underwood
succeeds and re-succeeds himself with
ever climbing majoritics.
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 community
has discovered it in the possession of
an 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 and the Dalzells and
the Crumpackers, 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, !.
AS the head of the Ways and Means
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

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
out 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.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

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.
He 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 vindictive. l have
faith in the tariff thoroughness of Mr..
Underwood. If I owned the revenues
of the Government, / shouldn't hesitate
TO employ him as night-watchman.-
Alfred Henry Lewis, in the Cosmopol-
,ta", January, 1912. .
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
question with round readiness, or
says plainly that he can't answer it and
tells why. He expedites the business in
hand, and will even anticipate the pur-
pose of ones coming, and put questions
to himself.-Alfred Henry Lewis, in the
COSMOPOLITAN, New York, January, 1912.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
MR.. UNDERWOOD

Meanwhile Mr.. Underwood has a
work to do in Washington for which he
has revealed remarkable aptitude. 1t
is not too much to say that the existing
harmony among the Democratic mem
bers of the House, and the ability they
showed at the last session to work to-
gether, are largely due to his skillful
leadership. He proposes to resume the
task of tariff revision at the point where
it was interrupted by the Presidents
vetoes.-The Providence Or. ID Jour
nal, December 2, 1911.
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12
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
ity shown by Mr.. Underwood, the leader
of the party on the floor. The farmers
free list bill was 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
is graphing with big and difficult
question. u 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
Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-04-12

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 Clarks right arm
in the House.
Mr.. Underwood's cry is Tariff for
revenue only" When Mr.. Bryan, eaten
of a 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 | 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.. Underwood's dis
trict there are nine railroads, one hum
dred and forty-eight miles of street-car
tracks, $150,00OOO0 of invested indus
tries, an annual pig-iron output of
100000 tons, and production of
100000 tons of coal. The city of
Birmingham has an annual payroll of
$50,000.O00. The Tennessee Coal & Iron
Company, which is part of the Steel
Trust, controls one-third of all the prod