The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-17
UNDERMINING THEIR OWN HOUSE

From the Atlanta Constitution.
 Still smarting under the crushing defeat handed them, the anti Underwood parti- sans in Georgia are striving by the most transparent methods to discredit the house leader in the attitude he has taken in his support of the constitutional amendment providing for direct election of United States senators. The attack, from a re- publican source, would be at least under stood. But directed from democratic quar- ters at that democrat who, more than any of his confreres since the civil war. has given his party it's opportunity before the country. the partisan anlmus is too plain to be mistaken.
 We do not undertake to say Into what weird intricaeies the scheming of colds blooded and jealous partisanship may con- trive to distort the application of the Bristow amendment.
 We do know that the perfected reso- lltion. as 1t passed the House by a vote of 2S7 to 39, does not confer upon the Con- gress supervisory electional powers one whit more sweeping or arbitrary than those under which every representative
  ways held his seat. and will continue to hold his seat.
 Here is the alleged offending Bristow amendments
 ''The times, places and manner of hold ing elections for senators and represen- tatives shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof, but the Con- gress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations except as to the places of choosing senator's
 Here is how Leader Underwood. in the speech explaining his vote. sent sky high the sinister interpretations of his critics:
 This resolution does no more for mem- bers of the Senate than the present law does for members of the House. favor putting them both on the same level in this particular. The amendment does not change or fix the qualification of voters. If the Congress wanted to change the elec- tion machinery of the states with refer ence to the election of members of Con- gress. they have the right to do it now, just as they had the right to supervise campaign expenditures"
 But the conclusive evidence of the in- sincerity of the attack upon Underwood is found in the fact that, only 12 years ago, Representative Bartlett, the majority of the Georgia delegation and the majority of the southern representatives voted en- Enthusiastically for resolution providing for direct senatorial elections which was Identical in substance and meaning with that one at which a few of them now pro fess to gag.
 Why this sudden about face?
 The fable about the wolf and the sheep sheds explanatory light. The wolf, with the determination, nolens volens, to de- vour the sheep, had followed it down to a drinking stream. Because you are mur- dying my drinking water" proclaimed the wolf, fangs showing, "Pm going to eat you" The sheep protested: But how can l muddy your drinking water, when I'm standing farther down the stream than you?" Tt doesn't matter" snarled the wolf, I'm going to eat you, anyhow" Whereupon the slaughter.
 That's 1t, with Underwood and his crit ics. Anything for an excuse to pull him down, to discredit him before the party. to lessen the overwhelming appeal he is making to the nation as a courageous and constructive statesman. The majority of democrats and of Americans, entirely able to see through the trick and to think for themselves, will see that the attempt fails miserably. Underwood will go on steadily winning in Congress, in the south, in the nation-despite the i'll natured attacks of those who, striving to pull him down. would pull down also the pillars of the house by which they are themselves she1- tered.