Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-30
Oscar Underwood,
Statesman, Student
and Leader.


country these decades of politics not one of them has won
larger fame and general and cordial adj
miraton than Oscar Underwood of Alabama.
Since John T. Morgan died in Alabama and Alexander
Stephens passed away Georgia. the South has had states
who genius and constructive achievement has even
equaed the present leader the Democratic majority the
floor of the House of Representatives.
history Democratic party Congress within the
years has also largely the history the Repre-
sentative the Ninth Congressional District of Alabama
Every tariff that has been proposed adopted defeated
within that period has been largely buded largely amended
designed by powerful advocacy criticism AS expert
upon tariff he has equal upon the Democratic side Every
currency bill every born within that period
felt the formative reomave power of this master
economist and practical statesman
The spectacular the most patient the most thorough
the and the popular in Congress
Mr. Underwood public life understand and
industrial age and his public life has been sudous
and dilgent it has been successful.
South has this time that she could less
afford lose temporarily release from public life than
Mr. Underwood
Mr. Underwood and Champ Clark working successfully
perfect harmony have led the Democratic party Con
gre of defeat and dsoganizaon and Encouragement
what year ago the compact united, effective and
triumphant majority party that posbeum politics has
known If there to-day dividing wedge driven into its solid
column the work of the dictator and his blind and serve
followers that has wrought the schsm What Underwood and
Clark and Doremu and German have stood for everywhere
vaany been the American spirit expressed against
foreign English dictaon BY his
record he the leading American statesman of to-day He has
the indispensable aid the Wilson Administration in fran
ing and supporting and pushing to conclusion the tariff bill
which his He equally vital to the
passage of the currency bill which does bear his name
but part of his genius and leadership He than
all his fellows the insertion into the tariff bill the last stage
of the per preferential tariff goods imported in Amer
ships which would have been the foundation the
merchant President Wilson and Secretary McAdoo
of their way Attorney General McReynold
kill by law after Underwood blocked and
defeated the Administration effort repeal Congress-
But the quality in which Oscar Underwood of Alabama
reeminent among all contemponeous statesmen his
fnchg public Of conviction which daunted
stayed by by personal rares the finest
the desirable quality American
ing in this era of trucking and time serving
the the tariff which Underwood and
his fellow Democrats presented President Taft 1912 his
rode successfully square the breach against
and his supporting iron
in Alabama
When William Bryan capped the climax of his successive
visits dctaon cd Congress and to coerce
the House obedience mandate it was
Leader Underwood who OVERRIDE his
thorty and when Bryan the very zenith his power with
his will accepted lord by his cngng party denounced I'm
dewood The Commoner the Alabama statesman and
collected without fear hesitation denounced Bryan
Congress within few weeks of the assembling
the national convention which the Nebraska might
despoc power the Underwood candidacy for the
Presidency 1t bold brave thing that scarcely any other
man in American politics had the courage and conviction do
to-day if Oscar Underwood timid time serving
statesman selfish office seeker he would stand aside
and let President Wilson's of Juggeau roughshod
over fearless of the true American policy and
the full Presidential influence in the very crisis of his
campaign for United States Senate from Alabama
Underwood statesman worthy of the better days
republic represents Alabama He represents Amer
American independence and the best American policy
Of future countrys interests held high above his
personal preferment.
He has illustrated three great occasions not in words but
in splendid deeds that HE WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN
BE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA OR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
Surely the State of Alabama will not-can not-fa
" nd PACK with added power to Washington in this hour of
need he abe et and bravest constructive statesman
Al