The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

impossible to do this. Encounterng the
same class of conditions which he met
in the passage of the tariff measure he
succeeded in the passage of such bill
which is now before the Senate.
What then has this great Alabama
statesman done within the short period
of few months? He has rid the people
of the nation of the iniquitous tariff and
in his end of Congress has furnished d
currency bill that will put capstone on
his tariff accomplishment. This has been
the work of a superior statesman, it has
been successfully wrought, and that
statesman is an Alabamian who now
asks the suffrage of the people in his ele-
walton to a sphere where he can be of
vaster service in a wider field. If merit
was ever worthy, or If ability was ever
worthy of recognition, it is here. To
smite our most distinguished statesman
with defeat in the face of accomplish
ments like these seems unworthy a great
people of a great state.
Another matter is worthy of considera-
ton; we have an opportunity to send our
ablest man to the Senate. where he is so
much needed. Because of his tremendous
accomplishments he is in the gaze of the
entire country. Second in prominence
and in public confidence and esteem is
Mr. Underwood at the present time. To
Mr. Wilson belongs the first place, but
CLOSE DeSlue HlIl Is MT. OnQeTWOOu. f19
would take with him into the senatorial
chamber the confidence of the nation, and
would give Alabama a pre-eminence in
the national Senate. 1t is a rare oppor-
tunity for any state. Because of these
considerations the present writer is free
to say that he would support Mr.. Under
wood in preference to any other in the
state. If these considerations are not suf-
ficient, then it would be hard to find such
as would be.
As is well known to many, am a pro-
hibitionist, and have wrought for that
cause for a long time in a number of
states, but / am not of the type of pro-
hibitionists that would make that the
be-all and end-all of every man who Of
fers for position. and will say that
would never support for office a pro-
nounced liquor man where that cause
was at all involved. In this instance 1t
is not involved. To be sure it readily
serves an ambitious end now to inject
prohibition as scare-crow into this cam
paign, by proclaiming that a prohibition
ist should be chosen to fill the existing
vacancy in the Senate. in view of the
fact that that question is liable to be-
come an issue before Congress- To this
there might be made several replies, one
of which is that In the first and only
measure of that character that has come
before the national Congress in the shape
of the Webb bill, Mr.. Underwood not
only personally supported it, but actually
cleared the way for it's passage through
the House by an overwhelming majority.
This indicates the calm poise of the
statesman who acts on the merits and
wisdom of each event and occasion, and
who does not cheaper his influence by a
superf1uity of vapor and an explosion of
barren loquacity.
Another consideration is that one may
always trust fair man, one who is
known to be fair and just on all occa-
sions. Under conditions like these one
could support with his ballot even a per-
sonal enemy who was known to be per-
fectly fair II Mr.. Underwood has not
established a reputation for fairness, he
has established no reputation at all.
1t is equally astounding and amusing
at this late day, after 20 years of estab-
lished integrity, during which time not
even whisper has been heard in oppo-
sition to Mr.. Underwood, to be naive.y
informed now that he is ''the tool of the
liquor interests" Attacks like this, so
far-fetched and unjustifiable, recalls the
apt warning of England's greatest dram
atist when he says:
"Be advised:
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That 1t do singe yourself; we may out
By violent swiftness, that which we
run at,
And lose by overrunning.''
III 1t be true that Mr.. Underwood is a
tool of anything, then Is he a veritabIe
Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde-good at turns
only for the sake of appearing SO for
sinister purpose. Then is he a shrewder
monster than he has ever been thought
capable of becoming. Then has he not
only long duped the intelligence of the
Ninth district, but that of all Alabama
as we'll as that of the entire nation of
the American people. There is not a man
living who has ever known Mr. Under
wood who credits this charge even for a
moment.
To seek by strained effort to lug the
issue of prohibition into this contest is
fraught with evil to that cause itself
Such course minimizes prohibition and
in the estimation of the cool and thought
full, reduces 1t to actual discredit If II
were actually involved the case would be
different. But to force it into a great
contest like the present. especially in the
face of the facts as presented, contrib
utes nothing to the promotion of the
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