The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-28
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ENATOR CHARLES A. Gull

CENATOR CHARLES A. CuL
- BERSoN's decisive victory owe
ex-Gov. o. B. Colquitt in the Texas
run-off primary Saturday was sig
nificant-about as significant as
Names state election in September
will be. Texas is so overwhelmingly
democratic that
Result of Texas the chief inter.
Primary Significant est in a presi
Dental election
centers in the size of the majority
But as the two candidates of largest
following made President Wilson an
issue, the eyes of the whole coun-
try were turned to the Lone Star
state.
Senator Culberson, who has just
been chosen to succeed himself in the
Senate, is a stanch supporter of the
administration, while Colquitt was an
anti Wilson democrat of very pro-
nounced sort. The latter's antagonism
to the President was based on the ad-
ministration's Mexican policy. He
never lost an opportunity of assailing
Wilson, and no republican-not even
Mr.. Hughes--could have been more
bitter in criticism of the democratic
executive than Colquitt's friends.
They appealed to the Kaiserbund for
its moral aid" and received it.
The German-American alliance is
not represented in Texas by a large
body Of voters, but it is believed that
Colquitt polled the full strength of
those citizens whose slogan is: "Any-
thing to beat Wilson!"-or a partisan
Of Wilson.
1t is easy to imagine that many
good Texans disapproved of the ad-
ministration's 'watchful waiting" at
titude toward Mexico. Good democrats
in other states have held views at va
rance with the Presidents with re-
gard to the way Mexico should be
dealt with. But that did not cause
them to start fractional row.
Culberson's splendid majority over
Colquitt makes it plain that Texas
will give the usual good account of it.
self in November.
T HE people of Alabama are becom-
i ing aroused in behalf of the
school tax amendment to be voted
upon in November, and a large ma
jority for the measure seems now as
sured. No proposition before the cleo
torate equals in Importance the
amendment to the constitution which
authorizes the
Growing interest IN voters o
Amendment Campaign each county
and each
school district to levy small tax for
the improvement of school condi-
tons.
It is a great pity that such change
was not made in the organic law when
the question was first introduced in
the legislature several years ago. Had
an amendment been submitted then
and ratified, as it probably would have
been, Alabama would today be far
along in the betterment of her rural
schools and in the reduction Of the
states illiteracy rating. 1t would be
of little profit, however, to dwell upon
the past, or what might have been
It is the present which demands the
public's attention.
The educational forces are well or
ganized, and effective work for the
amendment is being done in nearly
all the sixty-seven counties. If the
matter were allowed to drag along
with no concerted effort on the part of
public-spirited citizens to bring out a
large affirmative vote, there would
be no ratification. This amendment
as has been the case with certain other
amendments, would go by default.
But in order for the school amend
ment to carry by the sweeping ma