The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-11
COUNTRY INDORSES
UNDERWOOD IDEA
SAYSH. D. CLAYTON
Unanimous Selection as
Leader Means Voters APP
prove His Tariff Course
CLAYTON TALKS ON
OTHER LAWS NEEDED
Sherman Law Must Be Strengthened
and Wise and Efficient Currency
Law Must Be Enacted by
Party in Power
ny c. e. STEWART

Washington, March 10.-(Special. j.
The action OF the democratic caucus
of the House of Representatives. COM
posed of the members of the Sixty
third Congress, many OF whom are be-
ginning their first term In the national
legislature. and who are fresh from
the people, in unanimously selecting
for the second time Oscar Underwood
for the chairmanship of the ways and
means committee and the floor leader
of the majority, is sufficient proof that
not only Congress. but the country in
dorses his tariff views and demands
that he be allowed to express them
in the tariff bill to be enacted in the
special session declared Representa-
tive Henry d. Clayton. chairman of
the House committee on the judiciary.
This is to be- in my judgment.
progressive administration said Mr..
Clayton. THE democratic party stands
for progressive principles. The first
progressive step we ought to take now
is step toward tariff reform. It is
step long demanded by the people
of the United States and one they
commissioned the republican party to
take in 1908.
Punished for Failure to Act
When that party so signally failed
to carry out the demands of the peo-
pie and to redeem the promises made
in the campaign of that year in the
next general election in 1910 the peo-
pie rebuked them for their failures and
elected a democratic Congress. That
Congress entrusted the task OF draw
ing a tariff bill TO oscar Underwood,
and though the bills he submitted and
which We're passed by the Congress
failed because of the presidential vote,
how well they met the approval of the
people was shown in the result of the
1912 election in which all branches of
the government were delivered to the
democratic party and they We're COM
missioned to carry out the will of the
electorate.
mo one is better prepared and
equipped so carry cut a great reform
30 vital and far reaching in its ef-
fects upon the Industrial life of the
nation than is Mr. Underwood said
Representative Clayton. He has pre-
pared himself for the task with years
of painstaking and careful study. He
realizes, probably as few other men
in the country realize. how closely in
terwoven the high protective tariff
system and the great business inter-
ests in this country are. He knows
that the complete revolution of such
system and such relations must be
brought about gradually and with
abundant precaution must see that the
patient does not receive at the outset
an overdose and collapse under the
treatment.
"The action of the caucus then but
reflected the confidence of the people
In Mr.. Underwoods ability to perform
THE dalfcafa and iruportant task cOn-
tinued Mr.. Clayton. and in selecting
the new members of the ways and
means committee care was exercised
by the caucus not to hamper him by
selecting men whose views might run
counter to his.
Other Pressing Reforms
"The democratic party Is pledged to
other progressive reforms of great and
pressing need, second only to tariff
revision" continued Mr.. Clayton.
"Among these Is to enact a wise and
efficient currency law which Will cre-
ate currency system IN the United
States which is elastic enough to meet
the requirements of the greatest emer-
gency. During the last Congress there
were two great committees engaged
in thorough probe of financial con-
ditions existing In the country which
have grown out Of our present ad-
mittedly inefficient currency laws.
When their labors have been finally
completed and a careful analysis of the
result obtained I am confident taht
Congress will be able to provide Leg
islation upon this subject which will
result obtained / am confident that
with the financial power and greatness
of the United States and which will
compare favorably with the currency
laws of the most advanced European
governments
Strengthen Sherman Law
'In addition to this and of equal
Importance are the antitrust laws. The
/ Sherman antitrust law Is a wise meas
ure and has contributed immense power
to the government In the control and
regulation OF the great corporations Of
the country, which have taken ad-
vantage OF their power and force in
the Industrial life of the country to
drown out the competition offered
them by their weaker competitors and
to advance the prices of the necessities
of life to an almost prohibitive point
to the laboring people This law win
be strengthened by supporting remedial
legislation. simplifying methods of pro-
cedure and making 1t less difficult to
bring. transgressors to the bar Of JUS
tice."
ClaytOn's Work in Congress
There are few men in Congress who
have contributed more to the statute
books OF the country than has repre-