The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

DIR. Bakers Call
Mr.. Underwood declared that his tenn
perance record was Just as good as that
Of Captain Hobson despite the vicious
fight which the politicians of the Anti
Saloon League, hungering for power" are
making against him.
He declared that he had supported anti
shipping bills before Hobson went to Con-
gress, and that although his opponent
had charged that he had been insincere
in his support of the Webb anti-shipping
bill, Congressman Webb, father of the
bill, had made public a statement dia-
metrically opposed to the oft-repeated
statement of Hobson.
In this regard. he gave a bit of interest
ing history. He told the people of Gads-
den and Boaz that following the passage
of the Webb bill. Dr. Baker. superin-
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League of
America. had called at his office in Wash
ington in company with Congressman
Brombaugh of Ohio, for the purpose of
thanking him for his efforts in behalf
of temperance.
DIR. Lawrence Appears
Unfortunately, Mr.. Underwood said.
'I was absent when they called. But
on the following day, Brombaugh called
at my office with a letter which he had
received from Baker. The head of the
Anti-Saloon League sent me word in
that letter that my temperance record
suited the Anti-Saloon League. and that
If in my campaign in Alabama, that is
sue was raised against me, that he would
give me a statement.
Later, however, Brombaugh received
another letter from Baker He urged the
Ohio congressman in case he had not de-
pad hi ,1ft. Il a
ing SO; that he had had a letter from
Rev. Brooks Lawrence of Alabama tell
ing him of the nature of the fight to be
waged against Mr.. Underwood. and that
1t would be unwise to let Mr.. Underwood
know of the message which he had sent.
But Mr.. Underwood added, 1.-The
countermand of the order came too latelf'
Whereupon, Mr.. Underwood told the
people that he would always vote for tem-
perance measures making it possible for
the people to put into effect and before
their local laws, but that he was opposed
TO nationwide prohibition because it was
not democratic for Alabama to say what
New York shall do, or for New York 70
say what Alabama shall do either in re-
gard to prohibition. white supremacy, or
any other matter.
The Federal BayOnet
What Is nationwide prohibition? This
question Mr.. Underwood answered. He
explained in the first place that inasmuch
as the prohibitionists were asking only
for local option in eastern, central and
western states. it would be impossible to
secure the ratification OF all save 13 states,
there was no reason to hope that such
an amendment would be enacted into
law. that his opponent knew that fact
and had only raised the fictitious issue
to make it possible for him to run for
the Senate, make it possible for him to
run and at the same time conceal OF
even partially conceal, the record which
his absenteeism in Congress had made
unavoidable.
He told the people that even should
such an amendment be passed willy-nilly
over the protests of the people of states
not sufficiently educated on prohibition
to be willing to accept it. 1t would bring
the law into disrespect, and hurt the great
cause of real temperance. He told them,
Furthermore, that should nationwide pro-
hibition be enacted into the organic law,
a boy in Marshall county who violated
the law would be shipped to Birmingham
for trial before jury who knew moth
ing of his character, and on which sew
eral negroes-not his peers-might be
numbered; that on conviction, the boy
would be sent to the federal penitentiary
in Atlanta for confinement.
The white" Schoolhouse
Mr. Underwood delivered yet another
blow which put the people of the state
to thinking. Captain Hobson has talked
we'll throughout Alabama in behalf of
education. He has been quoted in news
papers favorable to his cause that while
in his brain was a niche reserved for
the greater navy. and a niche reserved
for prohibition, that in the very center
IN. ~
HILL"
Mr.. Underwood, after reading the quota
ton, said in Huntsville:
THE committees of the House are made
up by the ways and means committee of
which | am chairman. In the last Con-
gress Captain Hobson asked to be given
place on the educational committee. 1
asked for the place for him and he got
ii. He introduced one bill. 1t went out
of sight because he did not stay by It
and push its passage. He afterwards said
that the committee had had but one meet
ing in ID months. He was seldom there
to aid in securing quorum.
In this Congress, it happened that
Hobson was the ranking democrat on the
educational committee. He was entitled
to the chairmanship of that committee,
and could have had it had he seen proper,
in observance of the caucus rule to yield
his place on the committee of naval af-
fairs. He had an opportunity actually
to do something for the little white
schoolhouse on the hill' and the boys and
girls of Alabama OF whom he has long
talked-talked-so we'll But he declined
in order that he might retain his place
on the naval committee. He threw his
weight against education, and in favor of
large navy and a trust which manu-
factures armor plate.
Mr.. Underwood's Record
Mr.. Underwood was received with open
arms. He was received with shouts of
welcome. He was recognized-despte the
charges of his opponent, as a great dem
ocrat. the author of the tariff bill, the
strong right arm of the Wilson admins
tration, as clean man in his personal
and political life against whom no charge
had been made until he crossed the path
of the ambition of an Alabamian.
He found votes awaiting him and he
made new votes. He clarified the1at-
mosphere. He patiently explained every
charge of his opponent and proved his
every statement by the record. He urged
those who intended to vote against him
because he did not believe in nationwide
to vote without falsely malig
ming his character He challenged them
to put their own witnesses on the stand,
Edward s. Dinwiddle legislative comman-
der of the forces of the National Anti
Ga alOop 7 ,ea Pua. Dr Ral<er euporiptop6ar+