The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
Ridiculous Story Circulated That He Saved Underwood
 by Withdrawing Clayton
GOSSIP CAUSED BY
 RESULT IN TEXAS
President Will Most Likely Make Number of Speeches This Fall in Advocacy of
 Democracy
ny HUGH w. RopEpTs

Certain Alabama newspapers have re- cently taken President Wilson to task on account of his alleged "interferences in the politics of the several states Tho chief executive was advised in lam gnage as polite as language can be made. to desist
 And in this connection, the old story to the end that but for the activity of the President in the recent cam rafgns in Alabama, certain 'desired ends might have been achieved was re- vamped Up to the present time, MT.
 Wilson has not deemed it necessary to
 make reply, and his intimate friends
 are contending that very probably he
 will continue to have nothing to say In Alabama comparatively little is
 known concerning MT. wilson's course
 in connection with the recent cam
 paign in Texas. It is said that he in
 dorsed the candidacy of Colonel Thomas
 Ball, prohibitionist. who was over
 whelmingly defeated by his anti -prohi-
 bition opponent. Colonel James Fergu-
 son. 1t is safe to state, however, that
 the inducements did not cause the de-
 feat of Colonel Ball. For 1t is almost
 the invariable rule that the indorse-
 ment of any individual without the bor- ders of state has comparatively lit-
 tie effect on the fate of candidates
 In Texas, there is a wholesome lack
 of friendship for statewide prohibi-
 ton, and contempt for the methods em- ployed by prohibition leaders to ad- vance their own ends. In view of that
 fact. Colonel Balls friends in Alabama
 can with little justice attribute his de- feat 10 the activity in his behalf of the President.
 In Alabama Politics
 The charge that President Wilson n- terfered with politics in Alabama is absurd No more ridiculous story was ever related than that two politicians from this state induced President Will withdrawing Henry D. Clayton ss a
 candidate for the Senate. In the first place, the President would scarcely know either of the politicians were he to meet them face to face, and in the second place. the preservation of Mir. Underwood at his hands was not necessary Had Mir Clayton remained in the race. for the Senate, MT. Under wood would have disposed of two oppo- nents. In the light of the present. no sane man can doubt that fact. They were not the enemies of Cap tain Hobson who prompted the Presi- dent to his one act which might be con sidered an act in behalf of MT. Under wood They were his friends. For 1t was freely charged by them that MT.
 Underwood did not stand for those progressive" ideas for which the Pres ident stood. and 1t was even hinted that between the two there was noth- l ing of the nature of friendship, politi- cal or otherwise. AIr. Wilson promptly served a dinner in honor of the Ala bama leader. He served that dinner teal aspiration, but to rebulSe his op- | ponents who had endeavored to misrep- ! resent the true situation.
 1 If MT. Wilson interfered in Alabama | politics, he did so with the delicacy of a political genius. and only then when forced In behalf of truth to do so Had he not served his dinner, the result
 would have been the same. Had he spoken for Captain Hobson. MT. Un-
 derwood would nevertheless have won. The Fall Campaigns
 l In Washington the idea prevails that
 MT Wilson will not Interfere this
 fall in the contests for congressional seats Efforts will be made, 1t is prob able, to induce him to change his mind. | It Is safe to predict however, that he will not attempt to turn the tide in
 favor of any candidae, although 1t is highly probable that he will deliver
 several addresses during October in sup
 port of democracy, and in defense of
 that legislation which democracy will have accomplished.
 1 In this direct manner, he may be in- huential in returning a magnificent
 democratic majority to the House. Should he take up the fight for any i'm dividual candidate, 1t is believed that he
 would accomplish little of material | good.
 MT. Wilson, if he had interfered' in | the politics of other states no more extensively than he has "interfered' in the politics of this state, he should be absolved from blame, and shielded from | the poison tipped harbs of his enemies.