The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-11
OSCAR ". UNDERWOOD
 Alabama's Distinguished Senator
By CHARLES WALLACE COLLINS

[ and it's highest aspirations. Without any thought of personal advantage. and in
 the face of strong appeals from power I full financial interests in his own and
 other states. he stood there fighting
 the battles of the plain people of the country, writing into the tariff law free sugar and free pig iron.
 The record of Underwood as leader of the majority party in the House and as a senator from Alabama is an open bS~r. well worthy to he held up for the e.N1- i lation of those who aspire to public of | flee. Upon the occasion of his leaving
 the house to take his seat in the Senate,
 when his portrait was presented to the House, Mir. Palmer, now attorney gem
 erai but then a member of the House, l speaking in behalf of his collea gues, among other things, said:
 | am sure that 1 speak for all of 1 the donors when I say that with the l gift goes the love, the admiration of l every member of this House for MT. 1 Underwood. Loud applause} He has been a leader whom it has been | delight for his friends to follow and 1 and a pleasure for his opponents to ! honor. (Applause) As he has been l the leader here, we have no doubt ] he will soon become the leader there. l (Applause) We commend him and I his qualities of leadership to the [ thoughtful and serious consideration l of the august body of which he fz l about to become member.
 He combines all the qualities l necessary for successful leadership l in a great legislative body. He has a commanding presence. strong per sonality a sweet disposition, ana with these he combines consummate ahSnlutp self boise, self-control, and sound judg- ment under all circumstances. lie leaves this body with the best wishes of every member in it. (Applause) We know that his record in the other branch of Congress will reflect honor
 upon himself and credit to his coun- trv hut he need do nothing more than
 that which he has already done in
 this House to entitle him to be known
 as one of the greatest Americans of
 his tina Cloud applause)"
 A fitting tribute from the House or representatives.
 The farmers of Alabama know that Un- derwood has always fought for them in Congress. The salaried man, struggling against the high cost of living. knows that in Underwood he has a friend. And union labor what great measure have they advocated for national legislation during the past ten years that has not received the support of Underwood? On this, as on others, his record is the rec ord of the democratic party Organized labor threw it's support to Woodrow Wal son because of the labor measures which pa ssed the House under the leadership of Underwood. Among these were the eight hour day for labor on public works; the crea ation of a department of labor with head in the Presidents cabinet; the prevention of the further use of injunc- tions in the federal courts as 8 means of settling labor disputes the prevention of punshing labor leaders of contempt of court without a trial by jury; the exemption of labor unions from the oper- ation of the antitrust acts; and the declaration by law that labor was not to be considered by the courts as a conn modity of commerce. This is the char ter of liberty which the democratic party. under the statesmanlike leadership of Underwood gave to labor.
 The people of Alabama know that the statement of certain labor union lead CTS that Underwood is hostile to labor is without foundation and is contrary to his open record. The fact that he advocated compulsory anti-strike clause in the railroad bill--upon which, by the way, his view was sustained by ma jority of the Senate-is but another evil dence of his independent courage and
  to strike by employees of a great govern ment controlled public utility upon the same basis as the right of government employees themselves. to strike and for this act he needs make no defense to his constituents
 Six years ago the state gave Under wood an overwhelming majority against the strongest candidate the politico-pro- hibition forces could muster Then as now Underwood was engaged in public business at Washington during the period of the campaign. Then as now he was the object of wild a..aclz and extrava- gant misrepresentation such as can come only from self rifteousness degenerated into fanaticism. The attempt now to drag prohibition into the campaign as leading issue serves only the purposes of confusion. The great issues which we must face during the next six years are involved in the national policy toward production, distribution, transportation communication, foreign trade and foreign affairs. And upon these who but Under wood can best represent in the Senate the interests of the state of Alabama
 Alabama has a vested interest in Sen. ator Underwood. She has educated him as national legislator. For twenty-five years she has kept him in Congress. She TOW has in him public servant O. f1reat value. a leader in the highest branch of the national legislature who is Thoroughly familiar with the most intri- cate workings of the national govern ment. He has shed glory and honor on his state. He is a national figure of whom any state or country would be proud. It is nconceivable that the peo- pie of Alabama will repudiate the de- mocracy of Underwood. for in so doing they would be rejecting the dem ocracv of Thomas Jefferson. of Andrew Jack son and of Woodrow Wilson