The Washington times., 1912-06-20
HOWELL THINKS
!. time IS At HAND
FOR UNDERWOOD
Noted Georgian Opines Sec
tloinal Lines Should Be
Disregarded.
PEOPLE OF SOUTH
MISTAKEN, HE SAYS
Sees National Leader In Alabama
Man, and Hopes He
Will Win.
By THEODORE rILLER.

BALTIMORE. June 2o-Asking the
ooliteration Of sectional lines, II they
still exist. and declaring that Oscar w.
Underwood Is the strongest candidate
the Democrats can name, Clark Howell
OF Georgia, Oldest member, in point
OF service, on the Democratic national
committee, is in Baltimore today to at
tend the meeting of the subcommittee
on Arrangements.
Now and then, Mr.. Howell takes a
few minutes of to explain why Under
wood should be the party's nominee.
! For weeks past he has been dlnning
into the ears OF Southern folks the idea
that only In the South is there an OBJ
session that a man below Mason and
! Dixon's line cannot be elected President.
Mr.. Howell. who Is editor OF the At
lanta Constitution, and who has seen
more than a score Of years service
in the realm of national politics, ex-
udes confidence over Democratic affairs.
He predicts that the convention at Bal
tinore will really select the next Pres
i ident, that this is Democratic year,
and that nothing can stop the onward
rush Of Democracy-especislly II Under
wood is named.
When Mr.. Howell attended a meeting
Of the national committee in Wash
:
Lowing question relative to the anti
Tqpated idea that the South must not
dare otfer one of its own sons as Presi-
dental timber
Time For Change.
THE South has been eating in the
Democratic kitchen for forty years.
Isn't 1t about time we were invited up
TO the first tabe?'
Whereupon. Mr.. Howell returned to
Georfia and sounded the bugle call for
Athe Underwood boomers. Georgia went
for Underwood by the way. and will
play second fiddle only to Alabama
when it comes to sounding the praises
If the majority leader of the Houss at
the Baltimore convention.
While he says the issue of sectional
Ism does not figure in the problem now
confronting the united Democracy at
Baltimore, the Georgia member of the
national committee believes the North
wohld vhtc fer Southern man for
President.
ut is tin,a." he said, that the South
threw OF this od-fashoned idea that
the North will not support a man from
our own section. We have done PEN
ance in the South for fift years.
During all these years we have de-,
livered our votes for any one named
ton he hailed. The obsession that l
Gouthcrnrr is handicapped by place of
, birth in Il Presidential race, exists no
where except. amony our own people,
and they are gradually outgrowing this
peculiar view. The time il ripe for
the South 70 como into its own and
Underwood is the ahlest advocate Of
the Democratic doctrine of a tariff
Tor revenue only. AS the Demo-
rrsts will make the tariff the para
mount Issue in their platform, HIr.
Underwood at once becomes the logical
candidate of his party The Democrats
will conduct their campaign on their
record in Congress. No man Is more
record l say this without detracting
from the record Of any Democratic
member Of Congress. for there is glory
enough in the record for all.
National Leader.
F'I am not urging Mr.. Underwood s
claims for nomination for President be-
cause he Is a Southern man, and be-
cause I am a Southern man. What is
true of myself Is true of other Southern
friends of Mr.. Underwood. We are
urging him because he is national
leader, national statesman. His work.
his ability. his achievements belong to
the nation, which has been the gamer
tionalism in the South. If sectional lines
have. not been wiped out after nearly
half a; century. when will they disap-
pear? II the sdtt fast that Mr.: undsrw9Td S1
nomination for President, We would be
willing, as much as we love and honor
him. to surrender him to any section
of the country that he may be nomi-
mated and elected President. We are
willing to do this in order that the
whole country may profit by his wise
craftsmanship his lovable character and
his creed.
We believe that the next Democratic
Candidate for President will be the next
President, Believing this, we are con-
YlnCed that Democratic na rf uifb
Mr., Underwood as its candidate, will re-
turn to power with long lease on the
Presdency assured"