davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD A UNIFYING
FORCE

The Republicans cannot agree with
his tariff views; the country, we are
sure, will never put him into the presi-
dency, but assuredly he must be con-
coded to be the ablest, the strongest, the
most influential Democrat in Congress
to-day, and he has shown a marvellous
capacity for leadership. His party asso-
ciates stand solidly behind him, and that
could not have been said of any other
mar in recent years who led the Demo-
Gratis in the House of Representatives.
X Il 4 Il Il Il 4
The shrewd Republican politicians
who predicted that the Democrats in
the House would be split into a dozen
bitterly fighting factions in less than a
month, are now amazed at Underwood's
SUCCESS as a harmonizer and a uni
flying force. He has succeeded where
everybody else failed; it seems likely
that with the prestige Of success he will
grow larger and more powerful as time
passes. W. detest his political princi-
-. L. - 81 l.. Iii. = l.. -.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
Let Us Claim Our Birthright

For 50 years we have eaten in the
political kitchen. Consistently, we have
waxed cheerful when denied even the
dubious privilege of the second table.
And to-day, when the clock Of destiny
strikes, when the door of opportunity is
wide ajar, when the North actually lives
up to that prophetic utterance in the
Senate of Ben Hill, 1--WE are back in the
house of our fathers, and we are here to
stay, thank Coda few of us are still
blushing and stammering, still wearing
political sackcloth and ashes, still UP to
the old easy mark" game Of doing all
the drudgery, with none of the cakes
and ale! Let's end this disgracefu1
farcel We furnish, have long furnished,
the electoral votes, the powder and shot.
the munitions, of the Democratic party.
Let's assert those equal rights and priv
leges as American citizens, as the re-
malnder Of the nation fraternally bids
us to do. Let's cease the qualification
Of informing the nation, by our actions,
that we cannot bring forth a man capa-
bic for the presidency. For the sec
tional cowardice, here and there mani
tested, is equivalent to that shameful
and ungrounded admission.-The Con-
Stitntioh, Atlanta, Ga, January Fl, 1912.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11

Candidate

Mr.. Underwood's service to the coun-
try during nine terms in the National
House of Representatives has been most
distinguished, and has made his name a
household word in the homes of the
people. For more than 20 years he has
been in the very front of his party's
battle line, a leader from his youth, and
faithful to his party's principles
and candidates. No Democrat can find
a flaw in his political record; no charge
OF desertiOn in any campaign; no accu-
sation of serving special interests can
lie against him.
His congressional colleagues respect
him for his sincerity, his high sense of
honor, his sagacity and his acknowl-
edged ability, and this in itself is an
infallible proof Of his merit, for none
know 50 well the capabilities of a
statesman as those who have served
many years with him and noted his
conduct in days of peace and those of
political storm.-Cmcimati Enquirer.
October %, 1911.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
Underwood Presf-
Dental Timber

Mr.. Underwood would make an ideal
President. He is a broad-gauged, level
headed citizen; he doesn't slip his cere-
bral cogs and go off at a tangent as a
rabld exponent of revolutionary dogmas
in an effort to popularize himself; he is
uniformly courteous to all men; he be-
lieves in reducing the high cost of liv-
ing in this country, not talking about it,;
he does not believe in destroying the
industries of the United States while at
the same time he is a thorough believer
in the principles of tariff for revenue
only.
4 X Il Il y X
There is no nub-dub about Mr.. I'm
derwood. He doesn't believe in shams.
He is a big, b%rawny, brainy statesman,
without his lightning rod out to attract
the Democratic nomination for the pres
idency, and largely on that very account
he is liable to be the very man that will
get in the way Of the bolt that may
elevate him to the White House,. W.
Flenncr, in the Times Democrat, Mus
kegee, Okla, October 28, 1911.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11

course, as a people, to be so interpreted.
1t is not in human nature to accord
respect, where self-respect is absent.
How, then, can we expect the remainder
Of the nation to continue to respect us,
when we grovel in the dust Of a by
gone era, and let go by default the
rights inherent in American manhood?
For virtually half a century the South
has furnished the hewers of wood and
drawers of water for the Democratic
party. 1t has, faithfully with each re-
current four years, furnished the Democ-
racy's army and its line oficers-cheer-
fully yielding command to other sections.
With a smile, it has steadily forsworn
the political loaves and fishes, content,
for the sake of the party, that they go
to doubtful States-time and again to
States most of US knew at the time were
st%eel-riveted Republican.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
Southern
Leaders

Naturally the men who have led the
Democrats in the House Of Representa-
tiyes SO successfully under trying con-
ditions are freely mentioned at the pres
ent time as possible candidates for the
presidential nomination by the Demo-
cratic Convention. These leaders are
Champ Clark, Speaker Of the House,
and Oscar w. Underwood, a new and
coming man.
Both are Southerners, by the way, but
in my mind there is no reason in these
days of broadening views and lessening
prejudices why a ~Southerner should not
be nominated and elected to the presi-
dental chair of the United States. In
fact, there are many reasons why it
should be so."-London cable of William
Randolph Hearst IN the Ncqo York
american, MONDAY, September rs, 1911.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD THE TAN

We have been humbugged and scared
off long enough by the bogy of North
ern prejudice against a Southern candi-
date. Underwood stands for just those
things which recent Northern MAORI
ties have declared they want-a revi-
sion of the tariff downward ard the
destruction of special privilege His
qualities of leadership have been tested
and approved. In his personality he
is splid, clean and sane, with the cour-
age of a fighter and the clairvoyance of
a true r~eformer, and if the South pre-
sehts him as her candidate and the party
ratifes her choice this fine, strong char
acter of a new day in our annals will
catch both the sentiment and the sober
judgement Of the North, sweep away the
last remaining debris of the dead old
and its dead Issues and carry
e47 tasl that section TO give rs
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
AMUSEMENT

Of the n in which the North views
the situation. We use Underwood only
as an illustration, though his magnificent
record as House leader during the spe-
cal session would, as our correspondent
declares, have assured his nomination
with a sweep"-had he lived at the
North To the North, it makes no diff
ference where Underwood, or any other
one of the galaxy being discussed, was
born. The representative Northerner
does not bride at mention Of Bull Run
or Gettysburg. 1t remains for the South
to develop political stage fright over
these diminishing chapters in our his
tory. The last smouldering embers of
sectional acrimony were stamped out by
the Spanish-American war. The last
barriers between North and South were
crumbled before the achievements of
Joe Wheeler, of Fitzhugh Lee, and of
many of the younger generation on both
sides.
The most convincing evidence of this
fact is the manner in which the nation
received the announcement of the broad
and patriotic action of President Taft
in elevating Justice White, a Confed-
crate veteran, to the Chief Justiceship of
the United States Supreme Court. A
protesting snarl rose here and there
from the irreconcilables. And the voices
most bitter in denunciation of that
jaundice came from-the Northern
press! 1t is only essential for the occa-
sional freak irebrand to rise and at
tempt to wave the bloody shirt" to be
buried with ridicule, not only by his
confreres, but as well by the news
papers of all sections of our common
country.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
Takes Up
Underwood

The years since the Civil War have
rolled too fast and far to permit it to
be conceivable any longer that the cir,
c%umstances Of Southern birth shoulh
constitute in Northern judgment a di5-
qualification in any degree whatever.
Both as to nomination and as to elkc-
ton the Southerner will be rated in 1912
on his individual merits. As far as this
particular Southerner, Mr.. Oscar w.
Underwood, is concerned, it is agreeable
to note the absence Of geography in
the regard in which he is held lin all
parts OF the Union-Ne1v York San,
1911.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
'E GOVERNMENT, AS CON-
AMERS OF CONSTITUTION,
ULWARK OF CIVIL LIBERTY
irting from Path Established
\ the Fathers
BY Mr. UNDERWOOD BEFORE CATHOLIC
W YORK CITY DECEMBER 10, 1911.

!ernment is the protection Of life, liberty and prop
t property rights is essential to the advancement Of
Ike to the realization that the just enforcement of
to good government than the enactment Of new
a half ago the Federal Constitution was written;
S fundamental features for our State Constitutions.
I'd with almost every conceivable method Of govern
rs before the birth OF our republic. The statesmen
ne new government were essentially students of the
i'd lovers OF the liberties OF the people. Most ~
and their fortunes in the struggle for their c~ountrys
n Justly charge them with either lack of informa-
lal principles Of government, or want of honesty
Iernment that would secure to themselves and their
Jnion' establish %ustice, insure domestic Tranquility,
efense, promote the general Welfare, and secure The
mselves and their Posterity."
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
,ers of a Direct Democracy.

story OF the past that those governments had failed
liberties of the people had been destroyed by the
en- marked the administration OF a government where
forum by the assembled multitude, and were not the
men especially trained for the work in hand.
llure OF every direct Democracy was due not to
lrpose. on the part OF the aggregate citizenship as
to the fact that they were often swayed by their
JUDGES, and lacked intimate knowledge of the re-
ms.
individual entity will c%ontroyert the Golden Rule
ITO others as they would be done by, but it is rarely
Ice to those who may be temporarily in the minority.
ID excuses Of a direct Democracy, the trainers Of
q to establish a government that would protect the
: individual and at the same time reflect ultimately
I the enactment of the law of the land.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
list Bill VETOED
BY PRESIDENT TAFT
DRAWN BY CHAIRMAN UNDERWOOD OF THE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
A Bill of Direct Benefit to the Farmer, Whose
Hopes We're Dissipated by a Repub-
Ican President
Mr.. UNDERWOOD THE FRIEND OF ALL CLASSES
MR., UNDERWOOD, FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND
MEANS, SUBMITTED TIE FOLLOWING REPORT (EXTRACTS).
ITO accompany H. R. 4413.

The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the bill III R
-4t4l3), to place on the free list agricultural implements, cotton bagging cotton
ties leather boots and shoes saddey and harness, fence wire, meatSc cereals
h h1 bread, timber, lumber, sewing machines salt and other articles, having
ment and recommend that he bill 10 pass.
1t was expressly stated n the Democratic platform of 1908 that the bdated
promises OF tariff reform made at that time by the Republican Party we're a
tardy recognition Of the righteousness of the Democratic position on this oues.
ton but that the people could not safely inrust the execution of this i'm.
pohht work to a party which is o deeply obligated to the highly protected
interests as is the Republican Party
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
South Wanting in Boldness

What has been the answer Of the
South-at least, the answer that may be
interpreted by the silence or the diff
dence Of hundreds of thousands of rep
resentative Southerners?
Obsessed by the ghosts OF half a CEN
fury ago, guilty OF an embarrassment
and a circumstances that is nothing
short Of arrant sectional cowardice,
there is a feeling among many South
erners that the wraiths of the sixties
still stand between the South and the
White House-the South and that par
~ticipation in the nations voice, the ma
tons destiny, to which the nation is
eager to admit us.
The consequences Of this abnegation of
common manhood could not be more
forcefully portrayed han in the words
of the Constitutions Washington corre-
spondent, in a dispatch discussing the
presidential status resulting from the
Harvey-W ilson-W atterson episode. III
he," writes our correspondent, canvass
ing the possibilities of Oscar Under
wood, the brilliant Albanian, along
with other Southerners, pays the penal
ty Of being a Southern man, it will be
the South and not the North to ex-
act it."
South's Political Stage Fright
That is also an accurate delineation
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
,ges Now Proposed.

lat we shall in part abandon the representative
ar Revolutionary fathers, and adopt a system that in
direct democracy when the ultimate power to make
city in the hands Of all the people, and the independent
ect the Constitutional guarantees Of individual liberty
to the will OF the majority through political com
Olson and Hamilton, soldiers in the war for Ameri-
1t their great minds and mature judgments to the
4 Of the United States, but there is one whose sincere
Nted as to the value Of a representative government
me, even by those who doubt the sincerity of pur-
pIrion Of other men.
Tefferson's Wise Views.
rights of man" Thomas Jefferson declared;
, signal advantage, too, of having discovered
hese rights can be secured, to wit: Govern
'ot ip person, but by representatives chosen
~claration Of Independence, knowing that all popular
ne, resting on the direct decisions of the people, had
! reverted into uncontrolled d~espotisn, rejoiced that
/ a representative government could express the will
now proposed to abandon the representative principle
4 by our fathers and revert to the direct action Of
ile Of an Athenian democracy adapted to modern
nment Only Check on Excuses and Passion.
yernment was established to guard against. the ex-
the ancient direct popular government to destruction,
snt does not at all times Immediately respond to public
who insist that the principle OF government is at
4 They do not reflect that at times they may mis-
that at other times the instrument of the govern
hom the people can change at recurring periods)
principle Of the government itself.
me to b. We that the Congress of the
enlightened and maturcd,
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

By this measure agricultural tools and implements of every kind are placed
IN ihe rec hSb in order to remove or to prevent any possible discrimination
against or farmers in the prices of these necessary articles and to place them
on an equal footing with thd: competitors elsewhere in the world Our d.
manufactures Of agricultural TOOLS implements vehicles, and machin-
cry have grown to great proportions and are largely organized into great tructs
and combinations. these organizations are selling their products al over +o
world meeting and overcoming all competition. They need No nrota~ion
and az a rule, ask for none. For a number of wears thew sold rn,nv ~
har products in foreign countries at lower prices than at home and
so recently as 1907 agricultural associations in public resolutions nro+ostod
against this practice. The imports of these agricultural imoIements p oo @
significant; the value of all such imports free and dutiabe, in 100 an1rrtad
to $lZaN The exports Of these implements have become a matter of ror.
Importance than the domestic trade, the figures indicating an Increase from
S5S'2i04 in 1870 to- $8l4W3 in 1910 This foreign business viii be greatly
aided by the removal OF duties from lumber, as provided for in this hill eN'
BAGGLNG AND BMING MATERIALS.
IL is OF the greatest Importance to our producers of cotton and other apri.
Gu otba commodities nSnH5 t tina thu materials necessary for baggng, sachng bang
or otiherWNe packing these commodities be made free from duy 50 Thar tevv
may be available to the producers at the most favorable prices possible, with,
out shelter tor the eXacuon of unreasonable prices by trusts and COMMUNICATION
OF manufacturing interests. The bill, therefore, places all such materials and
articles N the free list including cotton bagging and cotton ties imr and ine
butts. hemp flax, seq tow, buraps, and other materials or 6berS suitable FOR
coverings, and bags Or sacks made therefromL together with all hoop or band
IRON or hoop or band steel for bang any commodity and wire for baTno
agricultural products All these coverings and materials for making roverinoss
are essentials n the transportation of agricultural products to their markets
The products can not receive the benefit of any protection in these MARKETS.
and for this and ether reasons it is unfair and unjust to continue duties On n
coverings for agricultural produce. These duties have ANNOYED and bnrierod
farmers and have served principally to increase the profits of exacing tnta
and combinations. ~"""s "US
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
5 First Written Constitution.

world its first written Constitution, created a gov
te contradistlnction to a government of men. The
Constitution were amiliar with the repeated fail
on the principle Of a direct democracy, where the
g-maklng power and in some instances the ultimate
try.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
Not a Question of Expediency or
Discretion

In the face Of these cumulative facts,
there are some in the South who still
question if, "on account of past Of
f%cnses," it is discreet" or ~"expedient'
a Southern man to offer himself for
presidential honors! We insult our
we debase our manhood, we sur
render the rights the North is SO willing
to concede US, when we permit our
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
preventative Form of Government.

they established a representative form Of govern
a law-making power responsive to the will of the
me they wrote in the Constitution certain checks and
ent the more brutal force Of a majority from de-
roperty rights Of the individual.
in mind that the trainers of our Constitution were
h freedom Of Government, for they created a Gov
delegated powers expressly given to the Nation by
he States the right to make most Of the laws that
he citizen. The underlying principle Of the Consti-
the liberty of the citizen and the protection OF his
(. power of the Government itself.
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
CONTINUED from First Column

N~NHIHrSA NUN IHSl OOUNl)
The response may not be as rapid, but it is probably more permanent and
Legislation. N VI ON
Cannot a committee of the Congress, composed of representative men
initiate Legislation, within the limitations Of the Constitution, guard against ex-
ce%eS me abuses protect the rights OF the minority, voice the wishes of the
that they may accomplish one result are tempted to reach Sc far that they
leave a wake OF destruction as to collateral matters the Measure touches?
Untrustworthiness of Petitions.
1t is true that under the system proposed, a petition by a percentage Of
voters would first have to be obtained. But let every man ask himself how
often he has signed petitions to please or get rid Of the person who presented
the paper to determine what thought and delberaton will be exercised by
the average man who signs a petition.
People Suffer More From Failure of Law Enforcement Than From
Lack of Proper Legislation.
Should stop to cridcte II government, I would say that the people suffer
tar more from the failure to enforce the laws on the statute books than they
do from the lack Of proper legislation. How many remedial laws are to be
found on the statute books that If fairly enforced would remedy the evils
we complain against; but i is SC much easier to cry out for new LEGISLATION
ready have
If there are evils in our government as it exists today, it is not in its
organic form. It is due to the failure of those in office to honestly, fairly
and Justly perform the duties imposed upon them. The remedy is plain
responsibility the unfathful servant and elect those who will be faithful and
true to the trust imposed upon them.
The People and the representatives.
You tell me the people cannot elect honest and faithful servants. I tell you
that the masses of the people are far better judges of men than they are of
measures and are far more likely to select an honest man than an honest
measure.
When you say that the voter cannot select a public official who will reflect
If y "oone in his office, and be faithful to the Constitution of his
on the very first principle of free government and
he n ""ence Of the American people
when the love of liberty and freedom
4 has whhstood the storms of
h-~orter inger and
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
sndent Judiciary Established.

hese rights, an independent judiciary was established
vecutiye nor the Legislative branches Of the Govern
guaranteed rights Of the individual.
trainers of the Constitution were unwilling to trust
held in check by the veto power of the Executive;
ridled abuse Of the power, they established Constitu-
y that a majority Of the people could not trample
itself destroy.
Majority of the people will not endanger the liberties
l wish that this were true, but the history Of
that at times the people, when unchecked by
destroyed individual rights and individual
Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1912-04-11
TIME TO ABANDON
UNWORTHY SECTIONAL
AMUSEMENT

The most humiliating paradox in
American politics to-day is the shrink
ing attitude OF some OF our own people
toward the presidential possibilities OF
southern men.
The civil war, the memories of which
furnished the nursery for this indefensi-
bic sectional abasement, is 50 years at
our back. Ninety per cent Of the Amer
lean voters who elect a president re-
member this war and its dividing rancor
only as history. With outstretched
hands, having given every proof of view
ing Mason and Dixon's line as no more
a political barrier than the Mississippi
or the Rockies, the dominant generation
at the North invites the South, its pub
lie men, by right OF citizenship and by
right Of demonstrated ability, into full
fellowship in the nations ~counse1s.
The Colorado statesman., 1912-01-13

man.
The white race is fast losing
faith in the Negro as an efficient
and acceptable factor in the equa-
tion of our civilization, privilege
and opportunity is but the out
ward expression of this apostacy.
AS the white mans faith in you
decreases, your faith in yourselves
must increase. Every Negro in
America should be taught daily,
with his face toward the light to
utter this prayer: Lord, L be-
lieve; help Thou my unbelief."
Through courage, expressed in
the active as well as in the pess-
i've voice, courage to do and cour
age to endure, you must so assert
and exert your manhood, that you
will not only believe in yourselves,
but the rest of the world will be
compelled to believe in you. Then
and not till then, all will be well.
Such is the mark and the high
calling to which you are called.
May you rise to the level of it.