The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-21
CONSERVATISM IN POLITICS.
UNDERWOOD SPEAKS AT UNIvER-
SITY OF VIRGINIA.
Urges. "Stop. Look and Listen Pol
, icy"-Subject Was: ''Thc trendency
OF the Times

charlottesville, Va. June IA plea
for conversatism in politics. a stop,
look. listen" policy to guard against
hasty adoption OF III considered pro-
posals was the keynote of an address
on The Tendency OF Our Times" de-
llvered at the University of Virginia
today by Representative Oscar w.
Underwood. OF Alabama, Democratic
leader of the house OF representatives.
IL was a notable occasion at Char-
lottesviile. with many of those who
have gone forth from the university
In the past reassembled to pay tribute
To their alma mater. Mr.. Underwood
n president Of the alumni and his son
was among the graduates.
Mr.. Underwood preached the doc
trine OF the political uplift. There
are many changes" he said. taking
place today in the political. economic
and Industrial development OF the ma
tion. To the man lost I'm the maze of
his own business. who has not the
time or desire TO climb to the heights
above his own personal desires and
ambitions, the way seems dangerous
and the onward march beset with
perils. But the man who Is not tied
down by the persnal equation Is able
to realize that the line of march leads
to the progress OF mankind and uplift
OF society"
Mr.. Underwood said the adoption OF
two amendments to the constitution
within the past year. one affecting the
political machinery OF the government
and the other changing the fiscal pol
Icy of the nation. clearly demonstrated
that there Is strong sentiment In tho
country to break away from the fixed
standards that have controlled the
government In the past and that an
onward movement is leading to the
adjustment OF national life to new con-
ditions and progressive ideals.
NO man." he added, "is so bold as
to declare that the recent consritu-
tional changes are not In the interest
Of better government for the whole
people and that they have not equal
lied and strengthened our fiscal sys.
tenn.
only few years ago political
party that contended that taxes on
consumption should be diminished and
that part of the government burdens
should be borne by the wealth OF the
country was haled before the bar OF
public opinion as being guilty of ex-
treme radicalism. Yet even those
who condemned the proposal have
enacted law taxing corporate
wealth and have ceased to protest
against an equitable income tax that
shall fairly distribute a part of the
tax burden of the government on I'm.
comes derived from all classes of pro-
perry The tendency OF our times I'M
douotedly is toward greater freedom
OF thought. uplift OF humanity, abol.
shment OF governmental privilege.
equalization OF the taxation burdens
and an open. honest administration Of
the laws.
What may be regarded as radical
today may be the inner citadel of con.
servatism tomorrow. The danger that
confronts us In the onward march OF
the nation comes from the basty adon-
uon ot ill-considered proposals OF real
prosress. and as often coming from
the cunning hirelings of reactionar,
interests who would under the name
OF progress start a false moyemep, %
mlseiad and confuse In the hope that
theS may delay the day when special
privilege shall be divorced from our
economic and governmental system
We should move forward with conser.
Vatism that will avoid reaction In
public sentiment and abandon q radI.
cal onrush that may lead To disaster.
OF delay the accomplishment OF n
good result"
Mr.. Underwood paid tribute to rho
precepts and teachings Of Thomas
JEFFERSON. the founder OF the Univer-
sity of Virginia. as IA lamp unto tho
feet and a light unto the path"