The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-10
TROY SPEECH

TROY SPEECH
Troy. January Especial Re
pudiating as false and slanderous
charges of Capt. r. P Hobson that he
is a tool of the liquor and other in
terests, yet disc1aIming all response
bility for the cartoons and circulars
that have been sent out over the state
ridiculing his opponent and presenting
fair. true and logical statement of the
issues of the present senatorial cam
paign, Oscar W. Underwood today de-
livered one of the most mastery ad-
dresses of his career before nearly 1900
voters of this city and county.
Mr.. Underwood began the last day
of his present campaign in the state
under most auspicious circumstances
Pike county voters had assembled in
large numbers to hear the popular
House leader speak and long before
the scheduled hour the courthouse be-
gan to fill with an eager and ex-
pectant crowd.
all descriptions had been parked by
the country people who had come to
Troy to hear Mr.. Underwood and the
scene around the building was one of
the most animated and lively nature.
1t was apparent that everyone of the
visitors had come to Troy with the
single purpose of hearing the demo-
during the course of Mr.. Underwood s
address that their expectations had
been rewarded.
Met by Leading Citizens
On his arrival in the city from Mont
gomery Mr.. Underwood was met at the
depot by a delegation of 100 leading
citizens and he was escorted to the
hotel for breakfast After a brief re-
spite he was taken through the streets
of the city. meeting citizens at every
turn, and receiving from them decIar-
ations of loyalty to his standard
Mr.. Underwood was introduced to
the citizens of Pike county by S. L.
II. Brannon, a prominent citizen of
Troy. Mr. Brannon paid high tribute
to the city's guest, declaring that he
needed no introduction on~any plat
form in the nation: that his distin-
guished services had been of such A
character as to make his name a
household word in the home of every
true democrat and predicting his GER
tain election as the next senator from
Alabama.
When Mr.. Underwood rose to speak
he was given loud and continued ap-
plause. Every seat in the courthouse
was taken, people crowded to the
aisles and corridors. and many sat
upon the floor In the rear of the stage.
Several peered over the transoms from
an adjoining room. The democratic
leader at once plunged into a discus
sion of the prohibition question.
Prohibition Not an Issue
Il feel that l should not take I'D
Your time by discussing what l con-
slider an extraneous subject" he de-
clared. But Captain Hobson has forced
me to do so. Prohibition is not and
never has been an issue In the cam
,paign, but has benin jected-into the
campaign by Captain Hobson and other
crusaders like himself with q desire to
tear down my character and reputa-
tion."
For nearly an hour Mr.. Underwood
then spoke of the prohibition question.
His manner of address was converse
tional. In clear voice he told his large
audience that Captain Hobsons ad-
vocacy of nation wide prohibition was
not democratic; that 1t was not in ac-
cordance with good Jeffersonian doc
trine.
II am submitting my cause to the
democracy of Alabama he said, ITO the
party that is now in power, that believes
In lew taxation, In white supremacy and
in local self-governmen.."
Then in a frank. confidential manner,
Mr.. Underwood told his audience why he
could not support nationwide prohibi-
tion. He declared that he would be
recreant to his trust as the party leader
TO advocate cause that was not demo-
cratic, and in logical manner explained
how the government could not afford to
attempt to legislate against the wishes OF
certain classes of her citizens.
Mr., Underwood gave a brief account of
MS efforts to secure a democratic victory
III the last national campaign. II went at
my own expense to several of the doubt
full states" he said, ''anl worked for the
cause of democracy"
He explained his attitude with refer
ence to prohibition and declared that he
would not support a nationwide prohi-
bition bill should he be elected to the
Senate.
Know Where He Stands
If you elect me to the United States
Senate you will know just where
stand" he told his hearers. owe will
do that cried an aged veteran who sat
In front of the speaker Continuing his
argument against Captain 1obson's meas
ure. Mr.. Underwood asked IL anyone in
his audience desired New York, Illinois
or any other northern state to come to
Alabam ma and attempt to regulate and
manage affairs here.
You would object II New York should
tell You how to run your schools said
Mr.. Underwood. Then you would also
protest If New York attempted to force
prohibition upon you when you desired
local option"
You know fanaticism cen carry some
of cur people a long way from the beaten
path" said Mr.. Underwood. 1T often
makes us lose our heads. 1t made me
sad when l saw that one Of our leading
Christian papers declared that my vote
for the Webb bill was not an honest vote.
Some people have grown SO fanatical in
thic state because l do not agree with
them that they are willing to tear down
my reputation and character.
THE temperance cause cannot advance
any faster than sentiment wants 1t to
advance. If you force people to accept
q law they do not want, they will hold
the law In contempt and disrespect
1.-THE radical man never placed constrIc-
tive LEGISLATION on our statute books"
Speaks Briefly of Record
Mr.. Underwood then spoke briefly OF
his record. "If my record as a democrat
were not good" ne said, the Ninth dis
trict would not have nominated me for
Congress 10 times, nine of which were
without opposition II my record as a
democrat was not good Alabama would
dency, and other states would not have
etood with me until the forty-fourth bal
lot had been cast. If my record as a DEM
ocrat was not good, the representatives
in Congress- would not have chosen me as