The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-03

I 1t is becoming a fact of wide discussion that the republicans are exerting every energy to encompass the defeat of the democratic leader, and thus take gratuitous slap at the democratic admin istration.
 Early in the campaign. Gilson Gardner, representative of the progressive-repub licans, visited Alabama and syndicated in anti-democratic newspapers partisan criticism of MT. Underwood, and islander of the men of this state who have ral- ried to the standard of the great demo- crat.. Later, Angus McSwcen represent stive of the Philadelphia North American, visited Birmingham, and having discuss ed the senatorial situation only with those peculiarly partisan individuals to see whom he was sent to Alabama. proceeded to heap abuse on the democrats of the state, terming them "reactit naries," "liquor- ites,' and machine politicians and re- ierring to the commonwealth itself. as one of the backward reactionary demo- cratic states of the unton."
 1nasmuch as the Philadelphia North American has always fought democrats and opposed democratic principles, the object of It's attack on MT. Underwood is we'll understood throughout Alabama. The Hobson forces are beginning to see the effect. and are haetening with mar vicious aptitude in an attempt to appease and explain.
 Affection of e. o. P." There are two reasons advanced in explanation of the love which the repub- licans have lavished upon the captain
 In inc flrst place they naturally despise Oscar w. Underwood because he Is repre- sentative of the present democratic ad- minstration and because he is the author Of that tariff bill which caused them to abandon their fevorite pastime of It nf ho masses
 In the second place, their love for the captain. is explained in the fact that whereas the leader has invariably stood with democrats for democratic principles, the captain has never made a record as a staunch iarty man. On four occasions as is remembered, he voted with Joseph G. Cannon. John Dalzell and Sereno Payne to continue an unbearable repub- licap tariff on lumber. the shelter of the poor
 And. whereas, Mir. Underwood stands for tariff for revenue only. the captain is quoted as having declared on the floor of the House that he stood for mod crate protection. His ideas seem to gibe with the ideas of the federalists, who be- lieve in a strong central government as opposed to the democratic idea of state rights.
 Effect of the Bolt AS to what effect the bolt of the cap- tain would have Is scarcely problematical. There is now no question but that as a democrat-avowed he Is badly beaten. After his defeat. should he urge the political prohibitionists, who are now fol- lowing him, to follow him further--for the. "cause's" sake-it Is believed that some of them would be consistent enough to follow. These, coupled with the dis gruntled republicans of Alabama, who have never been able to participate in the government of, the state. would com- pose a heterogeneous mass of about 40,O0O voters, against whom the undefiled col umns of democracy would have little trouble in securing victory. There are great many people of the democratic fold who would regret to sec the captain take the bolt" Those who care little whether he destroys himself or not, are in the minority.