The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-18
UNDERWOOD PRESIDES
AT ALUMNIGATHERING

tho man who stands on the Hill tops
can see THE way from afar.
1 There are many changes taking
. place to-day in the political, economic
and Industrial development Of the ma
Y ton. To the man who is lost in the
/ maze Of his own business and mas not
/ the time on the desire to climb TO the
! heights above his own personal de
sires and ambitions, the way seems
dangerous. and the onward march be-
| set with perils. But the man who is
/ not tied down by the personal equa-
! ton is able 10 realize that the line
! 81 march leads 10 the progress OF
mankind and upl!ft of society
To change the Constitution OF the
United States requires two-thirds
I vote in each branch of the Congress-
and the proposed amendment must lie
ratified by three fourths of the states
/ of the Union. For many years il Was
said that the Constitution could not he
changed except as the outgrowih OF
I war conditions. The adoption OF two
amendments To the Constitution within
the year, one affecting the political
\ machinery OF the government AMI the
4 other changing the fiscal policy Of the
nation. clearly demonstrates that there
/ is ~ strong sentiment III the country to
break away from the fixed standards
that have controlled oar government
\ in the past, and that AN onward move
ment - leading us To adjust our ma
tonal life to new corcitions and pro-
grcssivc ideals.
4 HcncHted hy ChnnIcs.
1T is safe To say that the recent
] changes in the Constitution would have
4 been considered extremely radical a
few Years ago. To-day they have been
adopted by almost unanimous consent
No man is so bold as 10 declare that
they are not in the interest Of better
government for the whole people and
that they haze not cuualized ANA
strengthened our fiscal system
within tho last two decades tho
Y Federal government has enacted lc9is-
lation that was viewed with alarm :,
quarter OF a century ago. and the PEG
pie have accepted it
The railroads have not become bank
( rupt or been destroyed by the rcgula
tion Of freight rates and the prohIbi-
tion Of rebates; in fact. many OF the
i foremost railroad men are to-day con
tending that the powers of the Inter
1 state Commerce Commission should lie
extended TO intrastate as we'll as inter
state traffic.
The powers Of the State govern
ments have not suffered by the enact
m"nt Of - pure food law. and the Scnti-
mcut Of the people is in favor OF its
honest and rigid enforcement.
\ only few years ago political
party that coitcndcd thai taxes on con
sumption should be diminished. and
THAT part Of the burdens of the govern
mcnt should be borne by the wealth
Of tho country Was hailed before the
bar OF public opinion as being guilty
Of extreme radicalism: and 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 q part OF the tax burdens of
the government on incomes derived
from all classes OF, property.
Tendency of Times.
The tendency of our times is un-
douhtcdly toward greater freedom OF
thought. the uplift Of humanity. the
adjustment Of governmental privilege.
the equalization of the burdens OF tax
alton. and an open and honest admin
istration of the laws Of our country.
There are some who. from selfish
motives. from the bias of their
business interests. have not yet real
lied the sound sentiment on which this
forward movement rests; who view
with alarm the changed conditions that
!. lie ahead Of us.
There are others who delay the for
ward march toward better conditions
and higher ideals Of life and govern
ncnt by radical suggestions and the
advocacy Of the government taking cX
IRENE positions. They often halt the
column by alarming the conservative
thought Of the country; but in the end
the common sense Of the American
people can be relied upon to separate
the chaff from the wheat and to dis
: cr!minate between hrogrcss and rad
icalisin.
IL What may be regarded as radical
II to- day may lie the Inner citadel of
II conservatism tomorrow. The real diff
hculty lies in the approach and not in
II the attainment Of the end, for if the
\ goal sought liz = false one the discov-
i cry VIII be made before the end ia
II attained and the movement will he
II abandoned. ON the other hand, If the
II object 10 be attained is sound and for
H the public veal, the nearer We APP
1 proach the more apparent IT becomes
L that the movement is II worthy one.
H and when the goal is reached all hon
II est people approve.
H DnnHcr HrfOre Nation.
i The danger that confronts us in the
\ onward march Of the nation comes
i from the hasty adoption of ill-consd
II cred proposals, sometimes coming from
Il ill-advised. but honest, advocates OF
Il real progress. and as often coming
II from the cunning hirclings of reaction
II AIRY interests who would, under tho
1 name Of progress, start a false move
i mcnt TO mslcad and confuse, in the
II hope that they may delay the day
ii when special privilege shall he di
II vorccd from our economic and govern
H mental system.
II In my Judgment VIC should cease to
II view with alarm new proposals that
II are the natural growth OF the ten
III dency or our times, but we should not
III rush forward with undue haste to well
III come every legislative business
III stranger who comes To our gates; we
III should progress in our national life
j with the honest desire 10 attain high