The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-25
Greeted by Many Prominent
Citizens-He Is Intro
duced by John B.
Knox
TELLS PEOPLE THIS
is GREAT YEAR FOR
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Warm in Thanks TO Those Who
Braved Cold, Raw Morning to
Make Trip to Station to
Greet Him
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

BY HUGH w. ROBERTS
Admission welcomed Oscar w. Under
wood yesterday morning.
John b. Knox and A. w. Bell promi-
nent citizens, went out to meet him at
the junction. When the train came bear
ing them all, the crowd which had gath
ed in the chill of the morning and Wait
ed an hour for the coming, expressed
itself in a wholesome shout.
On the platform of the Pullman stood
Mr.. and Mrs. Underwood, Mr.. Knox and
Mr.. Bell. Newspaper reporters pressed
about them, and Congressman Blackmon,
striding through the crowd. climbed up
the steps to shake the hands of the dis
tinguished visitor.
To the front was a gathering of prom
inent people to the number it was esti-
mated, of 80. Familiar men We're seen.
There were Joseph J. Willett. Wiley Ttn
stall, r. L. Rand, Chancellor W. W..
Whiteside, Judge j. f. Green, c. ii.
Young, Joseph Slattery. NJ. B. Wellborn,
DR.. j. l.. Wikle. d. 7. Goodwin, A ].
Goodwin, Henry Martin, S. w. Tate, DR..
r. z. Hughes, Harry NJ, Ayers, j. II.
Edmondson and many others.
The crowd applauded. Mr.. Knox stepped
forward
Mr.. Knox Speaks
Gentlemen" he said, in his we'll known
style and manner II have the honor this
morning of presenting to the people of
Admission the great leader of the demo-
cratic party in Congress, and a man who
will soon be the recipient of still greater
honor
There was another burst of applause
and Mr.. Underwood stepped forth. He
looked over the audience which stood
shivering around the Pullman. He spoke
in a most impressive manner.
my fellow citizens, he began.
II am delighted to be again among my
own people," he added Il am deeply
touched by the compliment you have paid
me in your coming out in the cold TO give
me welcome. 1t has been a serious re-
gret with me that during the past two
wears | have been unable to visit you.
1t has been good while since | was in
Alabama There has been great work
for the democratic party to accomplish
and | am gratihed to tell you in person
that much of that work has been ac-
complished-a portion of our pledges to
the people of the nation redeemed.
This has been a great year. The party
has been triumphant. Important leglsla-
ton pregnant with good for the people at
large has been enacted into law. An
other great bill win soon be passed
through the Senate, and others will fol-
low. until the people have been given
everything which they were promised.
after every person in life at this time
has passed to the Great Beyond, and
men whose praises and virtues have
been proclaimed in the remotest hamlet
of every state in the union.
To Honor the Greatest
But, fellow citizens. we are honored
at this annual gathering tonight with
the presence of a guest who is the
most distinguished citizen of the Estate
of Alabama, who is acknowledged by
the large majority of the American peo-
pie to be today the greatest living
statesman, a man who has done, more
for the welfare of the common people
and the permanent prosperity of the ma
tion than any other man within the
last half century. and whose memory
will linger in the breast of a grateful
people, state and nation long after his
temporal life shall have ended and the
-
been forgotten.
1T is superfluous, it appears to me,
that / shall call the name, Oscar w.
Underwood. the idol of the American
nation. 1t is, with a just pride that we
of the state of Alabama claim him as
Our Oscar but I deem it far more
appropriate that he should be called
for he is in truth and in fact, Oscar
w. Underwood of America. the pride of
the greatest people of the greatest city
in the greatest state in the south.
1T has been well and truly said
that he has been honored by his. peo-
pie as few men have ever been but
it may also be as truly said that he
has in turn honored these people, as
also the state of Alabama and the ma
tion at large. and today he stands be-
fore us the most universally loved Cit
Iizen in our state. The state OF Ala
bama has heretofore for years been
conspicuous in the councils of the ma
tion for It's able representation, but it
is confessed by ALL whether at, home or
abroad, that Oscar W. Underwood has
been and. now is the peer of any mem
Der of that able and DISTINGUISHED body.
Twenty years of loyal ardent and con-
scientious. service in the national Con-
gress has met with a hearty and en-
thusiastic appreciation of his people at
home as well as those of the majority
of the other states of this great union.
Loved as Few Men Are Loved
oscar Underwood is loved by the
citizens of this state from the gulf to
the Tennessee line as few men of this
state have ever been loved He has
spent the better past of his life in con-
spicuously serving his people in the
national Congress.s For 20 years he has
been member Of that body and during
all these years the breath of criticism
and scandal has never sought to tar
nish or besmirch his fair name
"Would to God we had many more
such men. and Mr.. Underwood, | want
you to know that the men represent
ing this Board of Trade co1lectfvely
and Individually feel a Keen sense OF
gratitude upon having you as their
guest upon this occasion.
Il feel. fellow citizens. that / would
be unduly trespassing upon the time
OF those who are to come after me
this evening Should | further impose
upon. yonr patience. and accordingly |
now introduce to YOU the toastmaster
of this OCCASION, the Hon. Sterling A.
Wood of Birmingham. who though
sterling HIMSELF will frankly admit
there are others.''--Mr Wood