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
deserved larger fame and more general and cordial adj
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 achievement has
eouaed the present leader majority upon the
floor of the House of Representatives.
history of the Democratic party Congress within the
years been also largely the history of the Repre-
from the Ninth Congressional District of Alabama
Every tariff that has been proposed adopted defeated
within that period has been largely buded largely amended
designed his powerful advocacy criticism AS expert
upon the tariff he has equal upon the Democratic side Every
currency bill every born within that period
has felt the formative power of this
economist and practical statesman
The spectacular the patient the thorough
the and the most popular Congress
Mr. Underwood He entered public life understand and to
industrial and his public life has been studious
and dligent as it has been successful.
South has this time statesman that she could less
temporarily release from public life than
Mr. Underwood.
Mr. Underwood and Champ Clark working successfully
perfect harmony have led the Democratic party Con
ress out defeat and dorganzon encouragement into
what year ago the most compact united effective and
triumphant majority party that pobelum politics has
known If there to-day dividing wedge driven into its solid
followers that has wrought the schm What Underwood and
Clark and oGomn have stood for everywhere
vaanty has been the American spirit expressed against
the surrender foreign and English dcato BY of his
record he the leading American statesman to-day He has
been the indispensable aid to the Wilson Administration in fran
ing and supporting and pushing to conclusion the tariff bill
which bears his He equally vital to the construction
and passage the currency BILL which does bear his
but part of his genius and leadership He wiser than
all his fellows in the insertion into the tariff bill at the last stage
ships which would have been the foundation of the
merchant marine President Wilson and Secretary McAdoo
went out of their way Attorney General McReynold
kill the amendment by law after Underwood had blocked and
defeated the Administration effort repeal Congress
But the quality in which Oscar Underwood of Alabama
pre- eminent among all contempoaneous statesmen his
fnchng public courage of conviction which daunted
stayed by influence by personal nteeshe rares
and the desirable quality American
ing in this era of trucking and time serving
the of the Oscar Underwood and
his fellow Democrats presented to President Taft in 1912
convictions rode successfully square against his
interests and his supporting environment of steel
in Alabama.
When William Bryan capped the climax his successive
visits of dicaton the cd Congress tell and to coerce
the Democratic House into obedience his mandate was
Leader Underwood who OVERRIDE his arrogant assumption
thory and when Bryan the very zenith of his power
his will accepted lord by his cngng party denounced I'm
derwood in The Alabama statesman cool and
collected without fear hesitation denounced Bryan upon
the floor of Congress within few of the assembling of
the national convention which the Nebraska autocrat might
exercise despoc power the Underwood candidacy the
Presidency 1t bold brave thing scarcely any other
American politics had the courage and conviction
And to-day, if Oscar Underwood timid serving
statesman selfish Office he would stand aside
and let President Wilson's of Juggenau roughshod
his fearless American policy and so
receive the full Presidential influence in the very
campaign for the United States Senate from Alabama
But Mr. Underwood worthy better days
Of the republic He represents Alabama He represents
honor American independence and the best American policy
of the future His counys held high above his
personal preferment
He has illustrated three great words but
in splendid deeds HE WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT
BE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA OR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES
Surely the great State of Alabama will not-can not-a
send back with added power Washington this hour
need the abe and brave constructive statesman save