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

country these two decades OF politics not one oil them mas won
deserved larger fame and general and cordial ad
miration than Oscar Underwood of Alabama.
Since John T. Morgan died in Alabama and Alexander
Stephens passed away Georgia the South has had states
genius and constructive achievement has
equaed present the Democratic majority upon the
floor of the House of Representatives
The history the Democratic party Congress within the
last years has been also largely the history of the Repre-
sentative from the Ninth Congressional District of Alabama.
Every tariff that has proposed adopted defeated
period largely buided largely amended
designed his powerful advocacy criticism As expert
upon tariff he has equal upon the Democratic side Every
currency bill every economic born within that period
has felt the formative reformave power of this master
economist and practical statesman
The least spectacular patient the thorough
determined and the popular in Congress
Mr. Underwood public life understand and to
industrial age and his public life has been udous
and diligent as it has been successful.
The South has this time that she could less
afford lose or to temporarily release from public life than
Mr. Underwood
Mr. Underwood and Champ Clark working successfully
and in perfect harmony have led the Democratic party Con-
gess of defeat and dsorganzaon and encouragement into
what year the most compact united effective and
triumphant majority party that post belum politics has
known If there to-day dividing wedge driven into its solid
column the work of the dictator and his blind and erve
followers that wrought the What Underwood
Clark and Doremus and German have stood for everywhere
vaanty has been the American spirit expressed against
foreign and English caton BY of his
he the leading American statesman of to-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 to the construction
passage currency bill which his name
but part his genius and leadership He wiser than
all his fellows the insertion into the tariff bill the last stage
of the per preferential tariff goods imported in Ame
ships which would have been the foundation of the Amer
merchant marine President Wilson and Secretary McAdoo
way Attorney General McReynolds
kill the amendment by law after Underwood had blocked and
defeated the Administration effort repeal Congress
But the quality which Oscar Underwood of Alabama
preeminen among all contemporaneous un
nchng public courage of conviction which daunted
stayed by influence by personal nteresthe rarest the
and the desirable quality American
ing in this of trucking and time serving
In the construction of the tariff which Oscar Underwood
his fellow Democrats presented President Taft in 1912 his
convictions rode successfully square the breach against
interests and his supporting environment of steel and
men in Alabama
When William Bryan capped the climax of his
of dictaon the ed Congress tell and
the Democratic House into obedience to his mandate it
Leader Underwood who OVERRIDE his arrogant assumption
thoy and when Bryan the very zenith of his power with
his will accepted lord by his crngng party denounced
derwood in The Commoner the Alabama statesman cool
collected without fear hesitation denounced Bryan upon
the floor Of Congress within few weeks of the assembling of
the national which the Nebraska might
despo power the Underwood candidacy for the
Presidency 1t bold brave thing that scarcely any
American politics had the and conviction to do
And to-day Oscar Underwood timid time serving
selfish Office seeker he would
and let President Wilson's of Juggernaut rough hod
his fearless of the American policy
the full Presidential influence the very crisis of his
campaign for the United States Senate from Alabama.
But Mr. Underwood worthy of the better days
of the republic He represents Alabama He represents Amer
honor American independence and the best American policy
of the future His country held high his
personal preferment
He has illustrated three great occasions not in words but
in splendid deeds that HE WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN
BE SENATOR FROM ALABAMA OR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Surely the great State of Alabama will no-can no-fail
send back with added power Washington in this hour of
need abes and bave constructive statesman
one this famous Commonwealth has contributed The