The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-09

of cotton, he said, but the Presloent hdi power under the Lever act to fix it.
 Mfr. Hooper said that all that Senator Underwood or his committees wanted was that the people know the truth and that when they did know 1t they were not afraid of the result.
 o. K. HOOD SPEAKS
 c. R Hood of Gadsden declared that it was the work done by Senator un- derwood that made possible the cleo tion of a democratic President in 1912 and said that he was the greatest leader democracy had had since Samuel J. Randall and John G. Carlisle.
 He called attention to the fact that Senator Underwood stood by the late Representative John l.. Burnett in his fight for the things his people wanted; that he was largely instrumental in passing the farm loan law. which en- abled the farmers to borrow money at low rate of interest.
 We have the privilege of electing to the highest body in this country one of the greatest men in the country" MT. Hood stated in introducing Sen ator Underwood. He is able, he is honest and he is unwilling to repre- sent just one class. He believes this to be a government of the people, the whole people, and he is courageous enough to stand by his convictions"
 T would be unworthy of your con fidence," said Senator Underwood. ito seek office over the mistakes of my opponents if they have made any It has been charged that l have done nothing, but there are some things that have been written into the law of the country that cannot be forgotten if you wanted to forget them. If had nott done something l could not have been elected leader of the House f..4 I~t, in these charges as basis of fact The voters of Alabama are honest. conservative men. Some may have in- terests to serve, but the great major ity are honest. I can only point to facts and let the truth prevail, for it will prevail"
 BAGGING AND TIES TAX
 Recalling the charge made in the campaign six years ago that he had put tax on cotton bagging and ties, and which is being repeated in some places this year. he stated that under the republican tariff bills there had always been tax on cotton bagging and ties, but when he wrote the tariff bill in 1913 he put them on the free list, and that there is no tax on them now.
 Tt is charged by the gentlemen that oppose me that l am responsible for the drop in the price of cotton follow ing the signing of the armistce in November, 1918. Isn't it absurb to say that l, q representative of d cotton state, want the price of cotton to go down? It's unmitigated lie Un- der the Lever bill the President had the power to fix the price of cotton. There was talk of fixing the price. There was convention of farmers in Washington about that time The farm CTS opposed it. was asked to ad- dress the convention. I think that man who makes these charges against me was present I said then opposed the fixing of the price of cotton Up to the signing of the armistice the gov ernment was large buyer of cotton. When the armistice was signed it can celed its contracts. The European mar kets were not open. The price of cot ton dropped, and, of course, as soon as the markets opened again the price went up. That is all there is to it."
 lie told Of helping the late Represen : tatlve John l.. Burnett get through the immigration bin after it had been re- peatedly defeated by republican Con- gresses. He said he appointed Mir. Burnett on the immigration committee and when he introduced the immigra ton bill he sustained him and held
 
 He told of his efforts to compel the delivery of the grades of cotton sold on the New York cotton exchange and or the eventual lowering of the number of grades allowed there.
 lie pointed out the great industrial development that would follow the pas sage of the water power bill now in conference and said it would be passed before the present Congress adjourns He said he had aided in the passage of the bill through the Senate. and that when it becomes a law it will add mil lions of men to the population of Ala bama and millions and millions of dol lars to the taxes"
 CAUSE OF BLACKLIST
 For the first time in the history of Aia pama united States senator is blacklisted because he dared exercise the right to act for what he believed to be the best for the people" he said.
 Gompers and the great leaders of labor came to my office and demanded tbat l vote against the Cummins bill. and when l refused to do their bidding they said they would come to Alabama and defeat me. Well, they may defeat me. but l had rather be defeated thar sacrifice my self-respect and let Mir. Gompers tell me how to vote. I have rot been unfavorable to labor, but I must do what l believe is best for all i.the people In 1916 great railroad strike was threatened It meant ruin tc the farmers; it would stop the min ing of coal in winter; stop milk trains; bring on an industrial war The Presi- cent appealed to the railroad men and the owners to agree. They refused. Then he appealed to Congress. These same leaders came to my office and asked me to vote for the Adamson bill which fixed their wages, and they now blacklist me for voting for the Cum l nins bill, which creates court to fix their wages, They are the same in principle, but different in machinery. , He declared that no one class of labor has the right to set itself up as superior to any other class. Five per cent of the labor of the country is rep- resented by the railroad employees. 95 per cent in other lines. he said. Senator Underwood left at o'clock this afternoon for Birmingham and tomorrow morning goes to Tuscaloosa where he speaks tomorrow night