Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-05-16
Have Kept The Faith

made OF the Underwood bill,
passed by the Democratic house
by an overwhelming majority,
with but five Democrats voting
in opposition. it is conceded by
practically everyone that it is
the fruition of an honest attempt
to redeem pledges made by the
Democratic party to the country.
Should the party be defeated
at the polls in 1914, as Repub-
leans like to predict, it will be
because the people have changed
their minds on the question of
tariff reduction and not because
the Democrats have not kept
their promise to them. The pee
pie demanded reduction of
duties, the Democratic party
only of the three promised such
reduction and the Democratic
party was placed in power. In
an election held in strong
Republican district in Massa-
chusetts. while the Underwood
bill was under consideration in
the house, a Democrat, making
his campaign on the issue of the
passage or defeat of that bill,
was elected by a large majority
over his Republican opponent.
This removed all lingering doubt
of the attitude of the people
toward the bill and greatly
strengthened the hands of
Majority Leader Underwood.
The bill has been passed by the
house and now goes to the
senate. 1t should be passed
there. Whether endorsement or
reputation awaits the party re-
sponsiblc at the polls in 1914 the
party can do no less than COM
plete the work so well begun by
the house. 1t is under orders to
reduce the tariff and reduce the
tariff it must.
That only five Democrats
voted against the bill is cause
for congratulation. Although
seven Republicans and Bull
Moosers voted for it the Under
wood bill is a Democratic meas
ure, prepared by Democrats and
put through by Democratic
votes. To the Democratic party
goes the credit or upon the
Democratic party falls the
blame. For one The Virginian is
more than willing for the party
to assume all responsibility, as
it must. The Underwood bill is
the embodiment of Democratic
principles so far as those prin-
ciplcs could be embodied in one
measure at this time and under
present conditions, and the
Democratic party is willing to
stand or fail by the result.
The reasons for the vote of
the four Louisiana Democrats
against the measure are not
hard to find. They voted as they
believe the interests of their
State required, although in the
opinion of the vast majority of
their party they believed wrong.
They probably represented their
constituents, if they did not
lrepersent the sentiment of the
country and if they did place
themselves in the anomalous
position of calling themselves
Democrats while holding fast to
the cardinal principle of the
Republican party. The motives
which inspired the Democrat
from New York in voting
against his party are not so
clear. Doubtless they are salts
factory to him and others can
only congratulate themselves
that the reasoning that appealed
to him appealed to none of the
hundreds of his colleagues.
In the fight which waged for
four weeks of consideration of
the bill, one man stands head
and shoulders above all others.
That man is Oscar Underwood.
The passage of the bill was not
Only a triumph for the majority
party but a personal triumph for
Underwood. The leader of the
opposition does not emerge from
the battle with so much credit.
Representative Mann has won
fairly the professional name of
"The Suffragette of the Political
Situation" His action Wednes-
day in the house, is forcing
delay of a day in the final vote
on the Underwood bill, was as
: childish a bit of malice as inter.
ruption of the proceedings of the
{ house of commons or pouring
, molasses in a mail box. All he
. really achieved by demanding
r the reading of the enrolled bill
: was to spoil the pleasure o.
$ some people in the galleries wht
wished to be able to say tina