The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-27
LETTERS TO EDITOR
President Wilson'S ANNOUNCEMENTS IS


10 the Editor of The Age Herald:
In this mornings Age Herald is a COM
munication from Mr.. c. L. Yarel CRITICS.
ing Senator Hoke Smiths statement that
President Woodrow Wilson is the great
est President we have ever had"
Had your correspondent simply differed
with Senator Smith in this Judgment, or
denied its correctness. should not have
said word for "of taste there is no dis
putting"
He did not stop at this, but went fur
ther and belttled the President and Mr.
McCombs and asserted that in the three
weeks President Wilson has been in Of
net he has done nothing in that time
but appoint some very ordinary men to
important positions"
Whatever may be the opinion held by
the people of the United States of Will
liam Jennings Bryan l believe they
would say with practical unanimity that
he is very strong, able man, actuated
by very patriotic motives to high aims
for the benefit and glory of the people,
and that no very ordinary man" could
have been nominated three times as the
candidates of a great party-the great
est, in my judgment, that ever existed In
| this union, and that no very ordinary
| man" could have received more popular
.
having received about 100000 more popular
votes than were cast for President Viii
| son.
Will any intelligent man assert that a
| very ordinary man" could have carried
to successful completion the great tun-
mel which will for all times be monu-
ment to William G. McAdoo?
| Could very ordinary man. have at
| tanned at the bar and in Congress the
| high position for integrity ability and ef-
| ficienct public service as that occupied
| by Albert Sidney Burleson?
| Can there be found in the union a good
| lawyer, or judge, who will give it as his
opinion that a very ordinary man. OF
! lawyer, could have prosecuted SO skillfully
and successful a powerful lawless COM
binations of wealthy criminals. defended
| by able, scrupulous lawyers, as did James
| c. McReynods?
| In my opinion. our neighbor and rep
resentative, Oscar Underwood is by far
the most learned man in the special field
| of constructive tariff legislation that lives
and yet / doubt If he could have made
any better argument on this subject thar
that made by Congressman Redfield, ano
which was so highly esteemed by the lead
ing democrats, that hundreds of thousand:
of copies were distributed in the last cam
paign with great benefit to the cause
Certainly no very ordinary" man coulc
have made that argument, which of itsel
| was enough to commend it's author t,
| President Wilson as well qualified fo
Secretary of Commerce. The very high
+; extraordinary abilities of these cabne
! officers shows that the President wal
| thoughtful, and in search of men VIII,
We're specially well qualified for the eff
ficient discharge of the duties of the of
| fees to which they were appointed, ant
! it is fair to presume that he used tn,
same care in selecting other officials Il
| get men of a high order of ability anc
efficiency.
These instances completely rebut tn,
charge of appointing very ordinary mer
| to office.
Another charge made against the Pres
ident is: Another thing showing up tn,
| Presidents greatness is the Chinese pol
icy first adopted; 1t looks like blunder.'
| 1t appears to me to be the greatest of
fetal act performed by any President o.
recent years. What did he do?
| The former administration had invited
j. Pl Morgan and other bankers to joir
European bankers in buying millions o.
bonds Of the Chinese government.
The invitation implied a promise Il
pa k' the lenders, and this backing
might lead at some time In the future Il
complications and war.
War to collect the Interest or principa
of bonds our government bas asked ths
bankers to buy.
rejoice that President Wilson is 50
great that he would not willingly spenc
a dollar nor risk the life Of one of our sol
diers, In order TO collect interest on 9
Chinese bond or the bond itself
| The act shows that his ear can hear the
heart beat of humanity. rather than thu
pulsations OF pocket books of bond
holders. In my Judgment. In less than 6
month, as President, Mr.. Wilson has
SHOWN that as democratic President ne
Is worthy to be classed with the ilustrious
line OF great men, following the creates
President; the greatest democrat thai
ever lived. labored for and loved his fel
low man-Thomas Jefferson.
] SAMUEL WILL JOHN.
Birmingham, March 20. 1913.