The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-03

responsive to the public will and need
 Atlanta Constitution: Alabama will hold its senatorial primary election on May II.
 United States Senator Oscar Under wood is candidate for reelection. and throughout the country he is regarded as sure winner, and the general i'm pression prevails that he has no serious opposition.
 The facts are, however that he is meeting with very stubborn opposition. and, while his denomination seems to he assured, his friends are taknr no chances and are closing the campaign with whirlwind of enthusiasm in his behalf.
 The idea that he is not being seriously opposed is no doubt founded upon the theory that he should not be opposed and that Alabama should take pride in sending him back to the Senate with unanimous acclaim; for his return to the Senate means much, not only to Alabama, but to the entire nation.
 Underwood has been in Congress about twenty-five years.
 In the House he rose rapidly to the position of democratic leader. So con spicuous was his service in that body that he was transferred to the Senate by his state.
 No other man ever entered the Sem ate of the United States to be elevated so soon to the position of leadersh of his party's forces.
 Although he has been a member ,f the Senate but few years, Underwoc has broken all precedent by being ele vated over the heads of senators mar years his senior in tenure to the pof of democratic leader in that body.
 He won the distinction bv pnanimo, vote or his colleagues on the demt cratic side. for his conspicuous fitne. Ter tn, place eliminated all oppositios
 It would be a remarkable thing for state to disregard the national tribut thus paid to one of its sons by with. holding from him the honor of leader. ship so cheerfully bestowed upon him py the whole country.
 If by any chance in the vicissitudes Of political maneuvering Alabama should not return Oscar Underwood to the Senate the nation would stand aghast at it's action!
 We have too much confidence in the wisdom, sobriety and good Judgment of our sister state to doubt for a mo- nlent that the result of the senatorial primary will be otherwise than a splen- did and well-deserved tribute to this great democratic leader, who belongs not only to Alabama, but to the whole country.
 This election is primarily an Ala bama affair; but not wholly so. And that is our justification for having a word to say about what might other- wise appear to be local matter.
 The democrats of Georgia and of every other state are interested in the outcome of this contest
 It is more than a party matter. be- cause here is man who has achieved the confidence and esteem of the whole country regardless of party, and whose return to the Senate would meet with universal approval; for there never was a time when great men were needed in the affairs of our government more than now.
 Oscar Underwood is such man. He has proven his worth by his work.
 The country looks with full confi- dence to the result In Alabama as over whelmingly returning its distinguished son to the Senate.
 Disappointment would be general should the verdict of the state be to the contrary.
 Alabama will, of course. not take such a back step as would be involved in Underwoods defeat.
 From the Providence Journal: sena- tor Oscar w. Underwood, of Ala. lama, who was chosen to succeed Senator Hitchcock. of Nebraska, as minority leader of the upper -brancf of Congress. is a man of high stand. ing not only in his own party organi.
 
 gard to party. He has demonstrated his substantial talents during his long service in Congress. which dates from 1895. in which year he became q. member of the House. After twenty. years in that branch he was elected to the Senate. where his first term still has year to run. He has been a, loyal party man. but not a hidebound follower of the present administration In its diplomatic vagaries. He has been willing, for example, to have the peace treaty ratified as amended hy the Lodge reservations.
 MT. Underwood's selection for the leadership. while finally unopposed, was at first contested by MT. Hitch, cock. and the caucus ballot taken some months ago showed the two tied for the honor. Since that time the Hitchcock Wilson combination has suffered series of hard knocks and eventually the Nebraska senator withdrew from the struggle. leaving the field free for his Alabama com petitor. The change is one on which the party has right to congratulate itself.
 ALABAMA'S DUTY Lsroy, The Nochuil1a