The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-01
UNDERWOOD BEGINS SPEAKING TRIP ON AMENDMENT ISSUE Warmly Greeted at Albany Despite Recent Unpleas-
 ant Incident
STATEMENT MADE
 BY A. A. HARDAGE
Secretary Blair of Y. M. C. A. Re- fused Permission to Speak on Lawn, Where Brooks Law
 renee Recently Spoke
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

ny HUH N. ttobEnIS To an enormous and enthusiastic audi ence in Albany last night, Senator Jn- derwood initiated his north Alabama itinerary which will keep him on the musings for the remainder of the week.
 In Albany, as in other sections of the state. the senator spoke; first, of the war-a subject of which he has a most
 intimate and detailed knowledge-and, secondly of the danger which he thinks | is concealed in the plan of federalists
 to amend the constitution of the United States
 This afternoon Senator Underwood ad- dresses a crowd to be composed of citi- zens of Colbert, Limestone and Lauder dale at Lexington, in the latter county.
 There will be an old-fashioned commun- ity barbecue Tonight the senator speaks at Muscle Shoals, which, as a result of his labor. together with that of Senator Bankhead. is being developed by the gov ernment at an expenditure of $s0 0o0, ,000
 Tomorrow he speaks in Huntsville and tomorrow night, at some other point in
 Madison county. Friday he delivers an address at Scottsboro.
 Next week the senator will go into south Alabama, whence there have come TOT him persistent and urgent calls.
 THE PEOPLE STIRRED Freceding the arrival of Senator Un-
 derWood in Albany the people of that city
 were considerably stirred through an act Of the secretary of the Young Mems Christlah association. On account of the great crowd which it was known the sem
 a'or would draw, it had been determined .o nave him speak in the open from
 the lawn of the Y. M c. A. Permission or all the directors of the Y. M c A nad been obtained. At the eleventh
 noui'. however, Secretary Blair with oreW the permission theretofore extend. ed by the directors on the p,ea of h;s conviction" that the address of the sen. ator would be political address. In this connection, it is an interesting fact that tne Rev. Brooks Lawrence of Ohio. re garded as one of the really astute no,i- .icians or Alabama, sometime ago de- liFered characteristicaly political ad- dress from the same location
 THE Y. M. c. A. DEFENDED From information that has come to Rir.
 mingham. the people of Albany were so
 wrought up over the indignity which Mr bialr attempted to impose on one of the dlstlnguished men of the nation that A. A. Hardage regarded it as essential
 that a statement be issued defending
 in every respect the officials of the V M. C. A, and putting the blame solely on the shoulders of the secretary. His statement is herewith produced:
 Senator Underwood will. on Wednes
 day night, July 31, speak at the Masonic theatre, In the city of Albany, Ala instead of the Y. M. c. A. lawn Permis- sion for Senator Underwood to speak on the Y. M c. A. lawn was secured from all of the directors including Sec retsry Blair, but Secretary Blair, with out consulting the board of directors arbitrarily withdrew permission for Sem ator Underwood to speak on the lawn The public is hereby informed that the action in withdrawing the permission for senator Underwood to speak on this lawn was taken by Blair, upon his own re- spons1bility, and the public should not attach any blame to the board of drec- tors for this action. The action of Sec retary Blair in withdrawing permission for Senator Underwood. who is one of the worlds foremost statesmen, to speak on the lawn. in front of the r. M C. A. building. when the master politician
 Brooks Lawrence. was allowed to hold political meeting in the building itself seems very inconsistent
 The people of Morgan and adjoining counties should not fail to hear Senator Underwood, who in his address will, among other things, discuss the war and the problems of government coming out of the war. Senator Underwood has been one of, the Presidents main packers in all war legislation, and no man in the United States Senate is any better qualified to speak on war problems than is Senator Underwood, for he has made these problems a special study, and you will miss rare and intellectual treat if you fail to hear him.
 The ladies, and especially those hav- ing relatives in the war, are urged to be DreSent HAPn A(.L,,,