The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-15


We did not support him under false pre-
lenses and that when We asked them
to support underwood we did it because
we felt that we had the man for the pres
ldeney and that we knew that he would
not only be an honor to the SOUTH but
to the entire country
IL strikes me that the honor of the
Alabama democracy is at stake; that 1t
Is up TO the democratic party To show
the country that we have faith in Tn
derwood and that our candidate offered
TO the Baltimore convention. is not q tool
OF wan street or the liquor interests. and
not a tool of any other interest except
OF the people of this country, who have
to toll for their living and whom the
democratic party resents. In the Ian
euage of Captain Bell of Admission, who
declared besides prohibition, Underwood
has harmonized the democratic party and
Kept them together as no man has done
since the Civil war. He is a leader of
men and would do Alabama more good
in the United States Senate than any
other man.
Let Democrats Arise
Il say, let the democrats of Alabama
arise to man and give Underwood such
majority that the people out of the
state who supported him for the presi-
dency will not regret their vote real
ize that the position I take in this matter
VIII heap the Indignation and enmity of
captain Hobson and his we'll organized
forces upon my head and that as can
didate for attorney general l will feel
the effects of their work, but if my posi-
tion tonight on this matter spells my
defeat In the democratic nomina ton for
attorney general. then 1 will accept it
gladly. If it has gotten to the place
IN Alabama that a man running for Of
tce has to keep a closed lip and not
express his opinions when such an i'm
portant matter is before the people as
this senatorial fight, to be nominated to
the office which he desires, then 1 say
do not possess the necessary qualif-
cations for the office
IT am an American and it is a privi-
lese of an American to express his opin-
ions. especially in things political. /
have been advised not to take the stand
that / am taking tonight. My friends
whom I have consulted have opposed
me taking the stand. saying that it would
result TO my injury, but when that dis
tinguished son of Alabama whom we all
so proudly presented to the nation in
the Baltimore convention is called a tool
OF the Wall street and the liquor in
terests and a charge Is made that the
people of Alabama voted for him under
false pretenses, you cannot stay out of
it, I cannot refrain from telling the
L
took in Underwood's fight at the meet
ing of the executive committee in Bir-
mingham, of the part that I took in the
election of the delegates to the Balti-
more convention at the state convention
in Montgomery, and of the part that I
took in the fight We made for Under
wood in the Baltimore convention, and
truly say to you, my friends, that
when it became necessary to withdraw
the name of Mr.. Underwood from the
list of candidates for the nomination. 1t
was with a heavy heart and rebellious
spirit that consented to it. I am frank
to say that had it been within my power.
l would be there today casting my ballot
for Oscar Underwood for the nomina-
tion as candidate for the President of
the United States for the democratic
party. | for one do not believe that he
is tool of Wall street or the liquor
interests and I want to hear my name
as a member of the first Underwood club
| in St. Clair county and the second in
| the state.
Purpose of Meeting
The purpose of this meeting being to
organize an Underwood club at Pell City.
A. e. Ledyard was elected president and
| Pat Robertson secretary. The enrolment
! Of members was called for and about sc
voters responded. Among them were Hon.
J. Fall Robertson, ihember of the legisla-
| ture; Hon. b. Nj. Hill. tax collector; Hon.
| Frank M. Morris, tax assessor; Hon. Pat
| Robertson, jury commissioner: Col. Gard
ner Greene road commissioner and candi-
| date for attorney geenral; Hon. t. P
| Rennie, president Pell City Manufacturing
company; Hon. A. +. Ledyard. secretary
| Peli City Manufacturing company; Hon
| NJ. NJ. Smith. attorney: DR.. r. A. Martin,
! DIR. L. c. Martin, and others.
| The name selected for the club vas '"The
| Underwood Club of st. Clair county.''
Mr. Ledyard said in his remarks that
Hobson was afraid of hobbies, his two
hobbies being big navy and prohibition.
| and that the captain had ridden both of
his hobbies too long and that defeat was
staring him in the fact. Mr.. Ledhard
said that he doubted very much Mr.. Hob
sons democracy and referred to his fight
against the democratic nominee in the
main last year, and he said that if it
had been in Hobson's power that he would
have thrown the United States into war
several times since he has been a men,
Der of Congress and a lecturer.
The speaker referred to the speech of
Mr.. Donaman of Connecticut, and said
that according to Mr.. Hobsons own state
ment he had only answered roll call 16
times since the 5th of May and that dur
ing that time as a member of Congress he
had drawn from the government the sum
of $3l25 for which he had not rendered
services
Changes Necessary
Mr.. Rennie said that he had been a
protectionist all of his life, but that he
had lived long enough to know that the
tariff laws were not exactly right, and
that he knew that there are some changes
necessary and that for the first time In
his life he would enroll his name as a
member of a democratic club. and for
first and only time he would support, vote
and work for q man as a candidate for
the nomination of United States Senate
on the democratic party. He wanted the
club to know that he was ready to do any
help in anyway that he could to SECURE
the nomination for Mr.. Underwood. He
said that Mr.. Underwood was by far the
biggest man in the United States today,
and that 1t would only be fitting for Ala
bama to promote him to the United States
Senate.
Hon. NJ. M. Smith said in part:
Il do not believe that there Is a man
In Alabama today who is the peer of I'm
derwood and I verify believe that Alabama
recognizes his worth and that the demo-
CRATES OF this state will send him to the
Senate, and that 1t will not be necessary
for Mr.. Underwood to come to Alabama
and enter into the active campaign. We
all known that he is needed in the House
and we know that for him to come here
to make campaign will be = sacrifice to
his party"
Mr. Smith said that he did not believe
that Alabama would elect a man to the
Senate who would deal in such politics
did Mr. HohsoO on s<l,a Plnor ~