davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

In politician this would be accounted
recklessness, because party and spoils are
translated in many minds to mean the
same thing; but it is the highest wis
dom in statesman. Even should il
have but partial success in controlling
a party following, it must be productive
of immense good m showing that the
South has in Mr.. Underwood a man
who can be trusted by the Nation-a
man whose patriotism is not limited by
small things, nor suffering from the
burden of any prejudice.
For our part, we believe that such
wisdom is of more practical value than
would be the keenest political schem-
ing; and that this very absence of self
seeking, this contempt for the arts of
the politician, is working for him, while
he himself has his mind conferred upon
things he regards as of more moment.
The country could do no better than
to put its entire trust in such a man;
and there is good reason to think that it
will do so. AS Mr.. Lewis says, it
should not hesitate to employ him as
night Waterman" This coming, not
from the South, but from a writer whose
attitude is critical and whose atmosphere
is of the North, is certainly a tribute
not to be despised; its significance is
very great.-The Mobile (Alabama)
Register, January 81, 1912.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

The most salient fact connected with
the story Of the bill in the present Con-
gress is the remarkable strength of the
Democratic tactics, and the high quail
ity shown by Mr.. Underwood, the leader
Of the party on the floor. The farmers
free list" bill was a master stroke, and
Mr.. Underwood utilized it in the debate
with an effectiveness that left nothing to
he desired. What gives real strength to
the Democratic position is that the party
is graphing with big and difficult
question in a spirit that is at once
courageous and practical. If there is to
he an era of such leadership as that rep
resented by Mr.. Underwood, the term
aoractical politics" may be rescued from
tbe ignoniny into which it has fallen
and recover the meaninr 70 which it is
lepitimately entitle S2yk Evs-
,,ing R0si, rspr' ''ot'aao
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

life and especially by the intimate, ex-
tenslve, and increasing intercommuni-
cation within our borders. Our people
have for forty years literally lived to-
gether, and always more and more
closely. They have gradually ceased
to think in terms of sections, and the
South is to-day no more distinct and
apart from the East or the Middle
West or the West in the minds of those
who dwell elsewhere.
In the next place, no one under sixty
has any personal experience of the
civil conflict, and that means not mere
!y that the majority but that the great
body of voters are without this ex-
perience. 1t is more than a quarter of
century since the Southern Cues
ton entered even nominally into a
National contest. If it were raised
now by any party, and those who would
be influenced by it had to stand up
and be counted, we believe they would
be ludicrously few. On the other hand
we are confident that, were the issue
made, a great many voters-chiehy
among those who were most earnest in
their loyalty in the civil war-would by
common impulse of generosity and of
self-respect incline toward the Southern
candidate. If forced really to think of
the matter, and to act on their conclu-
sions, it would seem too absurd to act
in the present en- the issues long since
settled, settled in their favor, and set
tied forever.-The New York Times,
November %, 1911.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
a Southern PreSi-
Dental Possibility

In the mention of Oscar w. Under
wood, Of Alabama, for the Democratic
Presidential nomination resides a good
deal more than suggestion that we
have got too far away from the Civil
War era to regard a statesman as nee
essarily unavailable" because he comes
from a commonwealth that was a menu
Der OF tie Southern Coniodcracy.
OF the men now before the country
as possible or probable Democratic
candidates for the Presidency, Under
wood is certainly one OF the strongest.
He has had a fine training IN Congress,
Jd is in himself q man of natural force
and large capacity for work-and work
ers are what we want in executive posi-
tions. He has been member OF the
House Of Representatives for some hi
teen years, and has risen by force OF
merit, and nothing but merit to a posi-
ton which made it inevitable that he
should be Chairman Of the Committee
on Way, and Means when the Demo
Gratis came into control oil The popular
branch OF the Government. lie mas the
vopth, the environment, the enthusiasm,
The courage, the political sagaci'y, and
he statesmanly qualities fully to Justify
his consideration in connection with the
Presidential nomination.
Mr. Underwood is a conservative man.
,,,ho is capablc OF entertaining pro-
gres,iye ideals and al the same time OF
Tcalvine fully the duty and the ne
re.sity Tor conserving substantial inter
ests Of the community The Democratic
0arty might 90 farther and do vastly
p tyo.so an ii it should nominate him
o "o' ;,s .ardsrd-bearer of l9l2.-Mm-
81 sSys uagasiae, January 1912.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

Committee, Mr.. Underwood has shown
himself to be the right man in the right
place. What advances are made bv The
party in 1912 will be due largely to him.
lie knows tariff in all its schedule
winnings, as a man knows the Railways
OF his own house. He has wisdom. He
has temper and spirit but is neither
unreasonable nor vindictive. have
faith in the tariff thoroughness of Mr..
Underwood. If l owned the revenues
OF the Government | shouldn't hesitate
to employ him as ight-watchman-
Alfred Henry Lewis, in the Cosmobol-
, |. January, 1912. .
Mr.. Underwood is faithful in his
friendships. To those whom he casually
meets, he is affable, albeit non-oom-
initial, keeping his own counsel. He is
never rude nor hard; never violent,
even with blood foes. For the stranger
within his gates his air is gentle and
frank. He is easy to see, and, speaking
generally, has been ever careful to keep
himself within the reach of all. News
paper folk, sent to Mr.. Underwood by
some stress of duty, never fail to like
him. He has his dignity, but there is
no reserve. He maintains no distances
between himself and them. He answers
question with a round readiness, or
says plainly that he can't answer it and
tells why. He expedites the business in
hand, and will even anticipate the pur-
pose. of ones coming, and put questions
to himself-Alfred Henry Lewis, in the
Cosmopolitan, New York, January, 1872
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
Southern Leaders
and the Tariff

No sensible man, certainly no one
friendly to the South, wishes to see the
tariff made a sectional question. The
course of Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Under
wood tends to prevent this. They stand
not only with their own party through
out the country, but with the strong
public sentiment in support of tariff re-
duction that has divided the Republican
party, and thrown the House into the
hands of the Democrats. When we say
that in this they are serving their own
section, we have in mind the important
fact that they are bringing to bear on
national affairs the intelligence and
strength of their section, and giving it
the opportunity to take a leading part
in the affairs of the Nation. They are
undermining the unfortunate section
alism that has, perhaps unavoidably,
pervaded Southern politics for a long
time. They are ranging the South on
the side of progress and in the line
of the most significant movement of
national opinion that has manifested it
self in years. Nothing is more certain
than that Our vast and intricate and
oppressive tariff system is to be
reformed, and its reform is bound to
be the one task of craftsmanship in the
next few years. 1t can be determined,
and under certain conditions it can be
led by the men of the South.-Ne7V
York Times, January 81, 1911.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
a Voice
From Virginia

"All of the avowed aspirants are
men of distinction and merit, but my
Individual opinion is that the party has
an opportunity to make magnificent
selection by choosing for its standard
bearer in 1912 the wise, well-balanced
and thoroughly equipped Albanian.
Hon. Oscar Underwood.
"Mr Underwoods record in states.
manship is a good enough guarantee
of his fitness for the White House.
He measures up to all the requirements
of the exalted position. He is fearless
and broad-minded, and there is nothing
of the demagogue in his composition.
Some will cavil at his Southern origin
and raise the oft-repeated cry that no
Southerner can be elected to the presi-
dency. This bugaboo is raised in spite
of the fact that all the leading papers
of the North and South and all writer's
of any note have declared time and
again that sectional feeling and preju-
dice, based on the war of '6l-65, have
died out completely.
"If that be true is there any longer
any valid reason against going to the
South for candidate? If Mr.. Under
woods personality and public service
render him peculiarly available should
the matter of location bar him from the
nomination? The idea is absurd."-
Hon. A. c. Broxton, of Richmond, Va,
in The Baltimore San, January, 1912.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
n Voice
From Florida

Oscar Underwood, however, has
more friends than any man mentioned
for the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation. He is more popular throughout
the country with all the Democrats than
the others. He is almost the unanimous
second choice. If you ask the Harmon
men who they would be for in case
Harmon could not be nominated they
will say Underwood; when you ask the
Wilson men the same question as to
Wilson, they reply that if Wilson can
not be the nominee, Underwood is their
choice; and the same thing is true of
the Champ Clark men."-T. A. Jennings,
National Committeeman from Florida,
in the Pensacola Evening Meas, Friday
evening. January H. 1912.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
'1OInAl APPROPRIATIONS FOR The
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC ROADS
a'u Ouy OF Congress Unquestoned from the Founda-
uon of the Government

reat April S OF Oscar W. Underwood in the u S. House of Rep
Union having un Committee of Whole House on the state of the
0Pai for the Department. n1ede 6 . the bill az 1855 making
Mr. Underwood said: "'' ''''' year CHUNG
@ made this appropriation looking to the i'm
@ State; say there no mani @ on te doe e Of
duties to % believe sovereign States Composing the " Gno b n
should the Federal do not %tn1Tt ad or hndnee
s that the Governments na a belong solely to the States
and effect I powers Constitution that it Should
s5 an PoSs Language Ss the c6 5s s and as 1n
5al 3i s6s u H sstt. he Constitution
scott an: at 5o e Sa B';3 G @ eH
thy contemplated b SSSI% po5 and modern methods ; that
e d d s cou G'fe develed m ey Snd
Su S'e VIZ" no greater the fathers sOf hsn odsy
s Mr. Ross Ia: r wss find anything in the Constitution
NJ Underwood Why tit'5T 2c s.a build E Postad;T
Douglas 'p Ee a@gt to Of f' tab pot9 and
Mr. Wms rt a @ to BE very different Thing them
@ men u wrote OF he. 'qars Of the By Of the
& TG0d that Ih 96. cQ GSye46 that m today the leaders
@ aid the building sood Toads S Se cean NO no 6fn mn
as oVe8m a OF the nation during the first half century of
On March . 1875 the House Of Representative, passed M toovtn. ~
a fG5s q: 9 qes;e % G &a and ss ss
q Iar" Jefferson said in letter o MI Leper in 1908:
war De necessary be
ldurlg checker
o This the object which all
}h Secretary War Calhoun made report the House
81 Representatives roads and canals, which he said $3.50 ~
mo object Of the kind is important and there
9ae Individual inadequate.
by me General Government perfected a
IN addition to Congress
by
TO establish potoes and posroad Cooley, his book
dona Law, -
Every road within State including railroads, canals, turnpe,
navgabe created within
postoad whenever by the Of the Department.
made the the mails
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD
AND THE PAPERS

The careful reader of the newspapers
is surprised at one notable feature of
the papers from practically every Sec
ton of the country. This feature is the
general notice and attention paid to Con-
gresham Oscar Underwood as a candi-
date for the Democratic presidential
nomination, and the uniform praise
which invariably accompanies the men,
ton of him and his candidacy. This is
all the more surprising because Mr.. I'm
derwood maintains no press bureau. On
the other hand, prominent candidates
for the Democratic nomination like Gov
ernor Harmon of Ohio, Governor Will
son of New Jersey and Speaker Clark
of Missouri, maintain large and active
bureaus, which are continually sending
out campaign literature to the papers
of the country.
Notwithstanding this, at the present
time Mr.. Underwood is receiving more
attention than any other, we might say
any other two, presidential candidates
combined. The attitude of the voters
towards Mr.. Underwood may be doubted
until that attitude is made clear In an
election, but it cannot be doubted that
his record and his strong personally
are admired by the newspanc1s Of The
country For now he is RED Giving u1prs
free and favorable advertising dun my
other public man of the c1|.I| 81
Montgomery (Alabana) Ter
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
INTEGRITY, PURITY
CIVIC COURAGE AND ABILITY

In this mornings magazine section
of The Times Our readers will find the
very interesting report of an inquiry
by staff correspondent into the record
and repute, in his own home, of the
Hon. Oscar w. Underwood of Ala
bama, who has recently been discussed
as a possible Democratic candidate for
the presidency. 1t is needless to say
that The Times is not concerned to adj
vance the interests of any gentleman
in this direction in preference to any
other: 1t is concerned only in laying
before its readers such information,
carefully gathered and impartially pre-
sented, as will aid in the formation of
sound public opinion and a choice that
will be to the greatest advantage of the
Nation.
We think Our readers will agree that
any party may be congratulated among
whose prominent men, to whom the
eyes of the party are directed on the
eve of a presidential campaign, there
is one with such standing among those
who know him best as Mr.. Underwood
has. Plainly he is man to be trusted,
because he is trusted, for his integrity,
purity, civic courage, and ability, by his
own people. Whether, when the time
comes for choice, he will be consid-
cred the best man is a question which
it is now too early to decide. But there
is one element that will enter into the
problem which may we'll receive atten-
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD LOOMS UP

Whether the disclaimer of Represen-
tative Oscar w. Underwood of candi-
dacy for the Democratic nomination for
president is to stand or not, there is no
question that he is looming large and
seriously, no less at the North than at
the South, as a possibility, if not this
time, then in the near future. Mr..
Underwood is making widespread and
distinctive impression, not only as the
honest, bold, sagacious leader of the
House majority and not only as mas
terful Southern Democrat, but as an
American publicist and statesman
man of affairs and broad concept of
his responsibility to the whole people
Richmond, Va, TimeS-DiSpdtch, re-
printed in the Birmingham, Ala, Age-
Herald, January q, 1912.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

ton even thus early. 1t is the fact
that Mr.. Underwood is a man of South
ern birth, Representative from a South
ern State. There is a feeling, rather
than definite opinion, which finds ex-
preston more often in his own section
than in the North, and perhaps more
often in his own party than in the op-
posite party, that this fact would be a
source of weakness if Mr.. Underwood
were named by the Democracy.
Of course, this is a matter not easily
to be decided with confidence in ad-
vance. There has been no occasion for
distinct expression of public sentiment
regarding it. 1t is half century since
a Southern candidate for the presidency
came before the Nation, and a good
deal longer than that since one was
elected. Great events have interviewed
and left their impress on the minds
and hearts of men, the depth and di-
rection of which no one can surely es-
innate. Our own judgment is that a
candidate from the South-other things
being equal-would not be weaker and
might even be the stronger for that fact.
In broad way, it may safely be said
that there is in our people now a sense
of tried and proved and established
nationality which might, and probably
would, welcome an opportunity for
manifesting itself. This sense of ma
tionality has grown progressively ever
since the close of the war for the
Union. 1t has been steadily strength
ened by the conditions of our National
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

ucts of the district. One-third of all the
iron-ore holdings of the Steel Trust are
in and around Birmingham. Surely, at
first glance, bad outlook for tariff
reformerl And yet Mr.. Underwood
succeeds and re-succeeds himself with
ever climbing majorities.
1t is the Underwood honesty that
does it-that, and his clean courage.
The dominant quality in Mr.. Underwood
is honesty, and folk have found it out.
Honesty is among the scarcest of earth
ly commodities, and when a community
has discovered it in the possession of
an individual, it guards it and works it
like a gold-mine for every final ounce.
Mr.. Underwood is honest: His cleo
ton was not the work of money. He
was not chosen as either the pet of the
railroads or the first-born of the trusts.
His. seat was given him by the people,
and because they believed he would fill
it to the best of public advantage.
This emanation of the popular gives
Mr.. Underwood the House high ground,
and he is so far military in his genius
that he knows how to fortify and hold
it. From his place as peoples repre-
sentative, he can overstare and keep in
check the Paynes and the Dalzells and
the Crumpackers, who are present mere
ly by the grace of pirate money, and
dwell, therefore, on House levels much
lower than his own.-Alfred Henry
Lewis in the Cosmopolitan, New York,
January, 1912.
4
AS the head of the Ways and Means
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11

a Real NJ an

The Democrats of the House have
reason to be proud of their floor lead
er, Chairman Underwood, of the Ways
and Means Committee. Mr.. Underwood
has given ample evidence of the pos
session of the qualities of mind essen
tial to the position. He has also dem
onstrated most conclusively that he is
man who cannot be cajoled or bull
lied from the course he considers right.
In the debate over the Canadian rec
iprocity bill former Speaker Cannon
made the bluff that the steel trust ia
vors the enactment of the measure.
Mr. Underwood called the bluff very
effectively by producing a telegram
from his home district saying that the
United States Steel Corporation has
stopped work on important mills there,
giving as their reason that Underwood
stood in Congress advocating the tariff
reductions on steel included in this bill.
Mr.. Underwood added that two years
ago the steel trust opposed his election
because of the tariff views and threat
ened to turn him out of Congress il
he voted Tor reductions on steel duties.
i voted for them just the same" be
stated, land they failed in their efforts
to turn me out of Congress"
Underwood is every inch a man, and
the people have more respect for one
such as he than for a whole battalion
of corporation-controlled standpattsrs>--
The OcalG Daily Banner, Florida, Apra
%, 1911.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD-HOUSE LEADER
CLEAN COURAGE, HIGH HONESTY
FAITHFUL IN HIS FRIENDSHIPS

His name is Oscar w. Underwood;
his years are on the sunshine side of
fifty. AS chief of the Ways and Means,
and chairman of the Committee on Com
mittees, he is Speaker Clark's right arm
in the House.
Mr.. Underwood's cry is Tariff for
revenue onlyp When Mr.. Bryan, eaten
of a rule-or-ruin spirit, came to Wash
ington at the beginning of the special
session to trouble the waters of party
hope with an attack upon the wool bill
as proposed by the Democrats, Mr.. I'm
derwood, in going after Mr.. Bryan,
stated his own tariff position. Said he :
The Democratic party stands for a
tariff for revenue. The Democratic
party does not stand for free trade,
and / do not believe the people will
be misled by the statement of Mr..
Bryan"
That Mr.. Underwood is against pro-
lection, and fights it, evinces his cour-
age. He comes from the Birmingham
district in Alabama breeding-ground
of protection. In Mr.. Underwood's dis
trict there are nine railroads, one hum
dred and forty-eight miles of street-car
tracks, $l50,000,000 of invested indus
tries, an annual pig-iron output of
100000 tons, and a production of
100000 tons of coal. The city of
Birmingham has an annual payroll of
$5O000000. The Tennessee Coal & Iron
Company, which is part of the Steel
Trust, controls one-third of all the prod
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
A PRACTICAL DEMOCRAT

St. Louis honors Oscar w. Under
wood for his character, for his achieve
ments and for his Democracy.
The Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee is a practical Democrat. His
leadership in the House of Representa-
tives shows that He possesses the
ability to enlist men of varying ideas.
plans and moods in support of desirable
and feasible objects Men who agree
on basic principles may be involved in
bitter hostility by antagonisms which in
their essence amount to little.
\
Mr.. Underwood's example as a leader
of Democrats in Congress is worthy of
emulation elsewhere. 1t makes for toll
erance. Tolerance makes for unity.
Unity makes for progress. There is no
other way to render Democracy eff
fective.
The young Democrats Of St. Louis
who persuaded Mr. Underwood to be-
come their guest will find in his policy
as wei as his. principles the best hope
Of party achis cement and party life
The st Los4s RsPabhc, October r.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
UNDERWOOD IN THE WEST

az am praa6cd to see this State NOV
..o onward in almost every line and l
~ ~ ,ts wonderful growth Of Birming,
no,s ''Y "o that The Age-Herald
has KEEP, iull step with the ,.o progressive
shirt and has led IN me | VIZ 6s,or I'm
"Tbe growing strength Of oscar I'LL oH,
,.,i. ,C in the minds Of the people
GsI %rJ the United States has given
t tiob,gs a kind Of publicity that the
State could obtain in no otne -.;o,, way ~
o,3a, +' on the great qncsu2n. ~, a.
che tarif for it was not [n Sys., , ,;I,
We ' a.o,id come out Of Alabama y, WIN u
one . "Gr interests who would DC e.
sI't ~ defv the trusts. oscar On-
ialrw ,o is regarded by many iy men u, s ao
,%a hest equipped, clcanest la' ieSc, III II
tnday mentioned for the Prls,Gis.,ify,,
TO-DAY m,,nl[rinated, he will undoaI,e .hs
ne Is Il Ij9' any strong sentiment o. o., 'i bo
win. II a.iy his election he vii pc
South ayi''', 0rt in Colorado, with II! II.
n ,1or.ands of visitors from an sr.+ pa man
tbs limited States he is TIE nls or ,,
OF the J ba most Of them The pro .ho
named o w to his candidacy by t tns
inence gwen and the public press mas :
, n.nscd a strong tide to r,S him TO the
t Sone and believe will carry nm pleasure ca
H I,y;,n a. House ! took muI II., 5Ra lr~
WHIT, l,J IN organizing the Gnde e. good
in aiding 1 N J, and it is doing goo ,S
Club in DERIVE. .,hfiyS-Harry Hawkins
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-11
MR.. UNDERWOOD

Meanwhile Mr.. Underwood has a
work to do in Washington for which he
has revealed remarkable aptitude. 1t
is not too much to say that the existing
harmony among the Democratic mem
bers of the House, and the ability they
showed at the last session to work to-
gether, are largely due to his skillful
leadership. He proposes to resume the
task of tariff revision at the point where
it was interrupted by the President S
vetoes.-The Providence (R. I) Jour
nal, December 2, 1911.