The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-11
MIR. UNDERwOOD's SENSIBLE OB-
 STARVATION


 From the Houston Post.
 There is weight of truth in a state ment made by Representative Oscar Un- derwood, leader of the democartic major ity in the lower house of Congress fol- lowing the comforting upon him of the honorary degree of doctor of laws by Co., lumbia university Wednesday. that will appeal with more and more force to thoughtful students of the problems of the day, as well as to the intelligent eiti- zenship of the country as whole, as the confusion that has been purposely inject ed into the discussion of public questions before the people by self seeking dema- gogues during the present campaign grad ually clears up, as it will do under the eomposure of a free people who may be fooled sometimes but not always.
 T think" sale MT. Underwood there is false issue being brought before the conservatism. In fact, we are all pro- gressives. We could not go on otherwise. And yet there is an element of conservat- ism which has prevented the country al ways form going upon the rocks of dis aster and danger. l think I can say that all of us who have our country at heart the great principles of government or rep resentative government that were handed to us by our fathers-wil be both con servative and progressive. Then, witl the wisdom that comes of courageous, pa triotc statesmanship, Representative Un- derwood added: "When conservative lei us hold to the sheet anchor of the repub- lie; when progressive, let us progress within the laws of the country and con stitution."
 There is the true definition of progres- siylsm-that which progresses by applying to the solution of the problems of the az, the fundamental principles upon whcf this republic rests by keeping within the constitution and the laws of the country made in pursuance thereof. If, as som, have complained, the government is no kept close enough to the people. the way is open to restore 1t into their hands with out doing violence to the constitution. o by innovations undermining our presen government of checks and balances.
 That the issue being brought befoye tn country as one of ''progressivism and con servatism' is false one, has recent, been made glarngly manifest by thos who controlled the recent democratic con vention in this state. After going befor the voters in support of the radical issue of initiative referendum and recall, an, of free raw materials, and of the candi date for the presidency who is favorabi to them, and winning a victory therefo in the primaries these leaders repudiate, all of the issues mentioned by equvoca tion of language in formulating 6 plat form that cannot be construed otherwis than as a plain straddlng of them. l those who constructed this platform di not regard the character of ''progres sivisrn' that was preached in the lat campaign and which helped them Go vii the victory for Woodrow Wilson as pro gressivism which put into practice woul' in reality mean retrogression. then the. evidently thought that the people who arr to participate in the coming July pri mares would so regard it.
 l As a progressive of the true type, Mr | Underwood has established a record fo engineering more legislation in the inter est of the masses through the house thai MT Bryan and all of his vociferous fol throughout their combined careers.