The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-29
SENATOR GOES BACK 4O YEARS DURING I ALk
Politics Ignored By AIabam- ian Expected To Announce His Entry Into Race For Presidential LaureIs Soon
PARADE FROM DOWNTOWN DISTRICT TRAGEDIES TALKS
Two Governors And Thr Congressman On PIatfoI To Welcome Distinguish
 Senator Back To Magic C

SClIolul OoOn U WI dHlG V
 Discussion of political matters taboo at the great reception United States Senator Oscar ". derwood when literal thousands Alabama people, despite a dri rain that fell for hours, gathere do him honor at East Lake park urday afternoon.
 All space in the big skating floor and surrounding balcon, the upper floor of the main bui Q the park was occupied, many on the stairways and many O who had failed to find room about the building on the Er outside to catch the words of state and national figures whO, reSenting their respective fiel presentation, welcomed Alab foremost citizen among them, and women with whom he grown up.
 Governors, congressman hea cities, judges, men and womer head organizations of citizens, ... tary officers each in turn words of welcome to Senator | wood and told the assembla what he has done and Is doing Alabamian and in the nation fairs.
 Maj. Matt Fl. Murphy, wh i sided, introducing speaker speaker, brought the great 1 blaze cheering to it's feet when. lu 1 finally introducing Mir. Underwood, he said:
 This Is the greatest honor tha, ] has come 10 me in life-introducing to you the greatest man in tha | country, Senator Underwood, who, 1 ! n l friendly relations with our allies and make the world what it should be D | Underwood Much Moved.
 Senator Underwood spoke simply, evenly. smilingly, but it was evident | from the deep tones of his voice that he had been deeply moved by the welcome given him.
 Why mind the rain? We are all ! here together. I'm home again with 1 the people who made me" he said Forty years ago l came to Bir | miugham an unknown boy. Ter years later you sent me to Congress ! In all that time you have sustained, | held up my hands and aided me. ! would be recreant fl l did not feel ! this welcome in the very bottom of | my heart.
 1 Forty years ago in Birmingham m and Alabama things were different l from what they are now. The city ! was comp assed in square mile. The ! great development you see had hard l ly start ed. What you see is but the ! promise As the men and boys of ! Alabama dreamed of what you real ize today, so forty years from now l when my successor stands before you as l do now, he can tell of your l dreams of today for a city, state and nation that will fulfnl our dreams. | It Is that great spirit and high ideal ! 1 sicn.
 Forty years ago Mobile was not | sending out of its port as it Is now | the products of Birmingham. Ala bama and other states to the ports of the world. Forty years ago the l Tennessee river flowed on as in a dream, it's way broken by rapids that l even a hundred years ago Congress was contemplating building a way around that the commerce of all the l outer world. Now great dam is building there that will rival that al Assouan, the dynamo of the Nile.
 O O O
 Paints Glowing Picture. | "I mention these things to Illus come to pass, and they are but specl- mems of what will be, what Alabama has yet to bring forth. Potentially in mineral, electric power, in agri- culture, in many 6elds of endeavor, | Alabama is as yet but a baby. In 1 her heart are almost lmitless re- l sources. No state has more poten- | ttalities. We have 2,500,000 peopls today, in forty years We will have five, siX, ten millions Men speaking 10 you in the coming years will know them.
 II am not going to make Sr cal talk, the time has not com that, there are too many good fl en here to welcome me with wi r1 differ politically. This is -n. ship meeting, old friends of . lao years standing are offerin ..- hand of fellowship and love, -rei lthroush the years.
 Tt is nearly 30 years sine, chose mo to represent you in gross. Sometimes we have di on the issues of the hour. spent the greater part of that 1 away from you in Washington. ! even there l have felt Nour l beats, realized your affection, fitted by your support. During period matters of national nect 1 have made me vote to send your to two wars. I stood and voteo i way I believed was the right and each time few knew how eretted voting that way. Your { have carried your flas always 1 honor among their friends. al
 
 not be human if I had not felt beat of your hearts in such ii throughout these years. ! "When l have been given lea ship I have felt your hands ] your love sustaining me. Ina l why | am so glad to be here to Perhaps in the months to come 1 1 meet and face many great audien 1 make many addresses where DO l cal battle lines and hot issues i he at stake, but no audience meant, braving the rain 10 say, 1 welcome me home.
 o O O l Highest Reward Possible.
 "The highest reward any man have is this show of friendsf Great offices are merely decoratio unless you serve we'll and faithfully i Although | have made many mis- i takes your presence testified you ! have forgiven and indorse my hon ! esty of purpose. ,Cs | What the future holds, w.Sy+v | ride my sdversaries down, oS'
 (COufIuued on PHpe