The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-22
Must Prove It's Ability

lty.
 Must Prove Its Ability It can and must prove that 1t can gov ern the country-that it can loosen and strike from the threats of throttled busi- ness enterprises the shacxles which bind them without destroying business itself. without involving the country in panic, anarchy and ruin.
 "This can only be done along the lines of -progressive conservatism. If it will do so, it will draw to it's ranks, with out regard to former party affiliations, all really patriotic citizens wi1o love their country, who want to see her supreme among the nations of the world, and who hate fraud, graft, hypocrisy and the cor rupting influence of special interests which have for 50 years, with the short inter- ruption of MT. Cleveland's administration, dominated and conTolled this govern ment.
 We should not expect too much of the President-elect. He has been a student of government before and since he left college. He is of Scotch Irish ancestry, a race of men who have stamped them- selves upon the history of their country as men of great intellect, strong eharac- ter. and of unimpeachabe integrity. In all that involves character and mental training our new President assumes his task as we'll equipped as any man since Thomas Jefferson.
 | Cannot Originate Legislation But the President cannot originate leg islatipn. MT. Cleveland found it so, and such has been the experience of every Pr esident before or since. In England, so far as the questions here involved are concerned, legislation originates in the house of commons; in this country such legislation originates in the House of Reps resentatiyes. And here is MT. Under woods opportunity. Upon MT. Wilson as chief executive and with MT. Under wod as leader of the democratic majority of the House, rests primarily the hope of the democratic party for continuance of power and upon them, t2o, rests largely the hope of the country for the improve ment of conditions which are fast becom- ing intolerable. MT. Underwood is pecu- liarly fitted by nature, study, tempera- ment and experience to perform his part of this service. During his long stay in Congress he has been a close student of these questions. He enjoys the affec- tions of his supporters and commands the respect of his opponents-he is sincere, he is a statesman and not demagogue-he possesses the confidence of the country, and hence I say all men without respect to party would be surprised to see him lay down the work which he has so aus piciously begun and assume another posi- tion less important if not less honor- able. A
 s.The despair of most men is to f9ach the door of opportunity. If it is open to you one might be excused for expressing surprise, if you should deliberately close 1t.
 ''The Duke of Marlborough we knov was rejected by William of Orange and under Queen Anne, the Kings successor,
 succeeded where William himself had failed, and became the greatest soldier rtrI.x =hna Ina ,o1f ful. Dttxa< a<.a Eugene, Frenchman by birth. was re- jected by Louis XIII and Madame Main- tenon. He became an Austrian and not only proved himself one of the greatest generals of his age, but lived to accom- plish the humiliation of his oppressors.
 If Lee and Jackson had received no commission, if they had been mere prl- yates in the confederate army, We might never have heard of them. They received commission, they performed a service, which achieved not only faine for them selves. but which furnishes an imperisn- able heritage for all true southerners.
 "All of which teaches us that there is tide in the affairs of men which if taken at the flood leads on to fortrne.'
 Attitude of Republicans
 Finally, MT. Roosevelt and MT. Taft, the one retiring, the other retired, are prolific of suggestions to remedy evils now existing and which have long existed. Prominently mentioned, among other things, is the fact that the tariff needs readjustment and that our currency sys- tenn lacks elasticity and is in other re- spects wholly inadequate,
 '"rhe inquiry is pertinent. if this be true, and it is true, then why has not the party in power. the party which has long been in power, not supplied the needed relief, When it comes to increas- ing the tariff the party in power seems to think that Congress is capable of acting. When it comes to reducing the tariff, they would have us believe Cen gress is incompetent to act, without the advice of q commissioni
 With reference to the currency, they assume. in effect, the same position.
 For the party which has been in power practically for half century, such sug- gestion is pitiable, For executives, who have exercised power for Il years, such a contention is ample explanation for the disastrous defeat which has attended their candidacy far reelection
 We shall never be free from the evils which afflict us until an enlightened public sentiment requires public men to say what they think. and do what they sayr"