The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-04-03
TO BE FAIR A HARDSHIP

tive OF the lengths TO winch some
persons will go and the inconsisten
cies of which they can be guilty when
political exigencies drive them to it
1.-The Montgomery Advertiser fur
nishes a good example. Two years
ago the Advertiser wanted Under
wood nominated for presiden because
he was a conservative democrat. II
opposed Woodrow Wilson's nomina
ton because he was q progressive
democrat.
Now, Woodrow Wilson being presi-
dent and the progressive democracy
being in the saddle, the Advertiser
urges support of Underwood for the
senate on the ground that he is the
same kind of a democrat that Wood
row Wilson is and that if the people
approve of Wilson they must neces'
sarily and logically approve OF I'm
derwoOd.
so far as Underwood himself is
, concerned, his heaviest handicap IN
the race against Hobson lies in the
fact that every reactionary politician
and saloon advocate in Alabama and
out of it is supporting him..
We submit to the fair-minded that
this criticism of Mr.. Underwood is
quite unjust.
Take the course of this paper, for
exampe:
In casting about for a suitable can
didate for president its first selec-
ton was Woodrow Wilson. Its chief
desire was victory. II remembered
OF course that Woodrow Wilson had
not supported Mr. Bryan in his great
struggle for the presidency in 1896
and was not very active in his sup
port of him if at all in his later cam
paign, but it believed that he had
seen light" and like St Paul on his
way TO Damascus, his whole course
had undergone change, and having
been quickened by this new revelation
this paper thought that if the demo
cratic standard were placed in his
hands he would be more likely to car
ny Il to victory. perhaps. than any
of the array of men whose names
were then under consideration and
discussion.
Why?
Not because he was put down as
progressive" or "reactionary," but
because he was comparatively new
star in the political armament; be-
cause he was recognized as profound
student of political economy and be-
cause his hands were clean.
This paper continued its support OF
Woodrow Wilson for the nomination
until the Harvey atterson episode.
Colonel Harvey had first suggested
his name for the presidency and both
Colonel Harvey and Colonel Waiter
son had obtained a nationwide repu-
tation as astute and sagacious politi-
clans.
Colonel Watterson was instrument
al I'm the nomination of Samuel j.
Tilden I'm 1876 as he was in the nomi-
nations of Hancock and Cleveland in
later years.
Il will be remembered that upon
the sober "second-thought,' the presl
dent apologized to Colonel Harvey fol
his fWilson's) "rudness" towards him
so there must have been something in
the interview TO cause these gentle
men q have given 1t the coloring they
did.
After the interview this pape
changed its course and its affections
and took into its arms Champ Clark
Il had the evidence that his demo
cracy was so pure and undedled tina
Il had the endorsement and approva
of Gamaliel himself-that Mr.. Bryan
had accepted his credentials as dele
gate 20 the Baltimore convention
pledged TO his support.
Was not that a strong point in hi
. favor?
After studying the situation NOR
; calmly and thoroughly this paper be
came convinced in its own mind tina
Oscar W. Underwood was the bes
, equipped man for the high office an
as il had been fifty years since tn
south had had a bite at the cherry
was the sOuths time. And if tn
; south had stood Loyalty behind hir
, he would have won out and we sa
Il In no disparagment to the presen
, occupant Of the Whit House we be
leiye that he would have been tn
most popular president since Jeffel
sons day.
The fact that his father moved fror
. Kentucky to the north on account o
his opinions on the slavery question
and that Oscar Underwood was edu
Gated in the north and afterwards re
turned south and had become the lido
! OF the people of Alabama we though
. that that vVn1sid strangthan hts oondi