The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-27

will yet be a bulwark of defense against that eneroachment tide of socialism which will yet threaten our institutions. The principles and the- oFtes of government which have been foa centuries the birthright and her. la ge of the Anglo-Saxon race havo enabled our people, to distinguish be- tween license and liberty and to cling fast to the doctrines uponl which our free institutions were founded. It IS for this reason that the south Is. re- garded as the conservative section of the country; not that conservatism which opposes a wise or necessary progress in governmental affairs, but that conservatism which opposes un- tried or revolutionary experiments, which adheres to the principles of rep ~esentative democracy and which be- lieves that a just, fearless. impartial end independent judiciary Is essential to a free and orderly government.
 T am convinced, therefore. that by reason of it's wealth and natural re- sources the character of it's populas tion, it's deep and abiding loyalty to the principles of our govern ment.. the south need not hesitate to present 10 the nation one of its own for the highest office in the gift of the people
 
 by conversation with leading men and by gathering the trend of public opin lon from its most influential journals, l was convinced that it was in the south alone that any question Is raised as to MT. Underwood's availability on account of his southern birth. The great war Is in fact but dim and fading memory, faint cloud on the far horizon but a memory necessarily ztiu fa other sections. Since it passed into History another war has been fought and in that war the best blood of the south has stained the bars of our com mon flag a deeper red and southern Falor and loyalty has given it's stars a brighter color. The first blood that was shed in that contest against the and oppression of despotic Spain was that of boy who came from North Carolina, and 1t has been elo- uuently said that when Bagley fell t was under the stars and stripes, and that when he lay dead upon the deck of his vessel no voice asked from what section he came, but the nation, united as of old, mourned the death of a gall lant American soldier. If southern men, wearing the blue and beneath the stars and stripes, can die for their country why may they not serve her lcyally and we'll in the highest public office?
 Democratic Party Fortunate
 ''The democratic party is fortunate Tn having the opportunity of choosing its candidate from such splendid array of distinguished men. Out of that whom shall we pick? The dem ccracy of Alabama has already an- swered that question: and 1t is my sin net of roi will join her sister state in acclaim ing Oscar w. Underwood as the can didate best calculated to unite all elc- rnents of the party and as best fitted 10 represent those policies upon which alone the democracy can win or de- serve success. We selected him, not because he is our most distinguished citizen-a Kentuckian by birth and an by adoption-hut because his broad patriotism Is not restricted by sectional lines; because he has dem onstrated his capacity for leadership, and because, more than any other can 1idate, he combines those qualities of ltatesmanship, that mastery of pub lie questions and that peculiar fitness, training and experience which the con- litions now confronting the American people should demand of our leader in
 he approaching struggle.
 Reasons for Advocating Underwood
 T advocate him because through his profound knowledge of parliamentary aw, his comprehensive grasp of every public question, his courage his ability md his deep devotion to democratic he was able to still the voice of faction, to compose all differences, md to convert a democratic minority into a democratic majority. in the House of Representatives and to make hat majority united, aggressive and capable of constructive statesmanship.
 T advocate him because, with match less skill, he stood undaunted at his post of duty, marshaled his party against all the hosts of privilege re- deemed every pledge and kept the dem ocratic faith, unawed by the threats of powerful interests grown arrogant by governmental fayoritism or unaffected by the dictation or arbitrary counsel of one who assumed the party leadership which he did not receive by the party's 
 q advocate him because, though sub iected to the strong searchlight of pub licity, not a single blot on his escutcheon has been reevaled; because he has proven equal to every emergency, has exposed the false pretenses of the republican party, and through his superb leadership has made democratic success not only possible but almost certain
 T advocate him because he Is the un- relenting foe to special privilege and protected and entrenched by an unjust and iniquitous protective tariff. Because he is the greatest living ex- ponent of tariff reform-the issue upon which the coming contest must be fought.
 "I advocate him because he has never yet surrendered principle at the dicta- tian of rd1 axn nd cause. While wisely progressive, he-is not willing to embark the country upon new, untried or revolutionary legislative ex- periments.
 Tn the approaching campaign the fun damental principles and policies which divide the two parties will be clearly and fully revealed. Through the isader- ship of such man as Oscar W. un- the cRuntry will be made to un- that ~the extreme high protec- tive policy of the republican party has checked the growth and expansion of American commerce and industry has driven our merchant marine from the high seas, has enormously increased the cost of living to the consuming masses of our people, has denied to American labor and capital proper access to the markets of the world, has caused peri odical panics and business prostration, mas lOStereu inonopoly anu speciti priNi- lege by the destruction of all competi- ton, and has, under the false pretense of protecting the wage-earner, made harder his struggle for existence. The business unrest, uncertainty and bewil- lerment which now checks our industrial growth Is due to the broken pledges of the republican party and their manifest for leadership. Pledged to re- wise the tariff downward, and having secured a new lease of power on the strength of that promise, no sooner had