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

deserved larger fame and general and cordial ao
miration than Oscar Underwood, of Alabama
Since John T. Morgan died in Alabama and Alexander
Stephens passed away Georgia the South has had states
men who in genius constructive achievement has
equaed the present Democratic majority upon the
floor of the House of Representatives
The history party Congress within the
last years been also largely the history of the Repre-
sentative Ninth Congressional District of Alabama
Every tariff has been proposed adopted defeated
that period has been largely buded largely amended
designed by his powerful advocacy criticism AS expert
upon the tariff he has equal upon side Every
currency bill every economic born within that period
has felt refomative power of this
economist and practical statesman.
The least spectacular the patient the thorough
the most determined the popular Congress
Mr. Underwood public life to understand and
industrial age and his public life has been studous
and digent it has been successful.
The South this that she could less
afford lose temporarily release from public life than
Mr.. Underwood
Mr. Underwood and Champ Clark working successfully
and perfect harmony have led the Democratic party in Con
gre out of defeat and dsorganzaon and encouragement into
what year ago the most compact united effective and
triumphant majority party that postbeum politics has
known If there to-day dividing wedge driven into its solid
column the work of the dictator and his blind AMI serve
followers that has wrought the chism What Underwood and
Clark and Doremu and German have stood for everywhere
vaany has been the American spirit expressed against
the surrender foreign and English dctaon BY of his
record the leading American statesman of day He has
been the indispensable aid to the Wilson Administration in fran
ing and supporting and pushing conclusion the tariff bill
which bears his He equally vital the construction
and passage of the currency BILL which does not bear his
but part of his genius and leadership He wiser than
all his fellows in the insertion into the tariff bill the last
per preferential on goods imported in Ameri
ships which would have been the foundation of the Amer
merchant marine President Wilson and Secretary McAdoo
of their way Attorney General McReynods to
kill the by law after Underwood had blocked and
defeated the Administration effort to repeal it Congress
But the quality which Oscar Underwood of Alabama is
pre- eminent among all conemporaneous statesmen mis-
nchng public of conviction which daunted
stayed by influence by personal inerestth the
and the desirable quality American
ing in this of trucking and serving
In the of the which Underwood and
his fellow Democrats presented to President Taft 1912 his
convictions rode successfully square into the breach against
interests and his supporting environment of steel and iron
in Alabama
When William J. Bryan capped the climax his successive
visits of dcation the cd Congress and to coece
the Democratic House into obedience his mandate was
Leader Underwood who OVERRIDE his arrogant assumption of
thoty and when Bryan the very power with
his will accepted lord by his crngng party denounced I'm
dewood The Commoner Alabama statesman cool and
collected without fear hesitation denounced Bryan upon
the floor Of Congress within weeks assembling of
the national convention which the Nebraska might
depoc power the Underwood candidacy
Presidency bold thing scarcely any other
American politics had the courage conviction to do
And to-day, if Oscar Underwood a tmd deserving
statesman selfish Office seeker he would
and let President Wilson of Juggernaut roughshod
his fearless convictions of the true American policy
receive the full Presidential influence the very crisis
campaign for the United States Senate from Alabama
But Mr. Underwood worthy the days
Of the republic He represents Alabama represents Amer
honor American independence and the best American policy
personal preferment
He has illustrated three great occasions words but
in splendid deeds that WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN
BE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA OR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
Surely the great State of Alabama will not-can not-fai
send back with added power Washington this
need the ables truest and braves constructive
one this Commonwealth contributed to the
public.