Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-02
UNDERWOOD READY
To CAST HAT INTO
: PRESIDENTIAL RING
"AII the Fighting Spirit |
Have viii Be Enlisted to
Garry Democracy's Call to
Triumph" He Declares

BY the Associated Press)-Senator
& Oscar w. Underwood of Alabama,
told the Alabama legislature today
he would accept the honor of be-
coming a candidate for the memo
cratic nomination for president If
his home state demanded it. He
. spoke 10 joint session, in response
to a resolution indorsing him for
the presidency.
Answering the resolution Senator
Underwood said that to be chosen
by the people Of his state as a can
didate for the presidency for the
second time was a great honor in,
deed and one he was delighted to
receive. If he becomes a candidate
for the democratic nomination, he
said, it must be as the choice of his
. home state.
Endorsed at Mass Meeting
AS soon as Senator Underwood
concluded speaking, he was given an
'ovation by the throngs in the cham
Der. The joint session was ad,
journed and at a mass meeting held
. in the same hall resolutions endors-
ing Senator Underwood for presi-
dent were adopted by a rising vote
II appreciate the compliment paid
me-" Senator Underwood said,
when I receievd your resolution
suggesting my name for the presi-
Dental nomination. I have been
greatly honored in the past by the
people of Alabama, and no man
could value these honors more than
1 do. To have my state for the
second time suggest my name as
the presidential candidate of my
party would be the browning honor
of them all-one that L would great
ly cherish and be delighted to re-
.Ceive.
: II feel that the question of be-
coming a candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for president is
one that L cannot decide for myself.
The responsibility is too great for
any individual to arrogate to him
self the right to determine so mo-
.mentous a question.
Il have long represented the peo
pie of Alabama in the congress of
The I'm ted States, they are well ac
tfllairtetl with me and know my rec
ord They know the principles that
[ stand for and the purposes that /
seek to attain.
IF the people of Alabama believe
1 can properly represent them as
the standard-bearer of the great
Democratic thought Of the nation,
and are willing to send their dele
gates to the next national conven-
ton instructed for me, l am willing
to do my part, but it must be Us
the candidate of my home state that
l enter the campaign. In reaching
such a determination, 1 am not I'M
aware of the difficulties that lie in
our path. 1 have neither the financial
support nor the organization to sue
cessfully make a nationwide cam
I eDaign, but [ do not expect that the
friends of any particular contender
for the nomination will control the
convention on the early ballots. In
the interest of party harmony and
success to our principles, it may be
wise if this proves true.
Great Battle Ahead
"A great political battle lies ahead
Of us-one that involves the funda-
mental principles of government and
the peace, the happiness, and the
prosperity of the American people.
Our party should be eager to an
nounce principles in its platform
that ring true to the cardinal! doc
trines of Democracy as established
hy jefferson, maintained by Jack
son and reaffirmed by Cleveland and
Wilson. We must not forget that it
was under the advocacy of Thomas
Jefferson that the bill of rights
Cwas placed in the constitution, and
the liberties of the people of Ameri-
ca guaranteed.
I'VE must not forget that local
self-government secured to the peo-
pie of the states is one Of the cardi-
nal principles that comes down to
us from our democratic fathers. and
.that today it is more necessary to
the preservation of the rights, lib
! critics and happiness of the people
Of the several states under the con-,
stitution than it was when an
nourced in the beginning. When our
party has declared its platform the
selection of a candidate who can
wisely and willingly represent its
principles will follow.
I'm the interest of our future sue
cess, it is we'll that this selection
should be made without rancor and
with elaboration. 1t has been go
years since James K. Polk. of Ten
nessee, was nominated and elected
president of the United States.
Eighty years since we have had
Democratic president from the
south.
Why South Should Name Man
To-day it is said by some that it
Is not exredient to have the stand
ard bearer from the south, that in
the interest of expediency we must
/. go to the doubtful states of the
union to select our candidate. Must
the south forever waive the right to
select one of it's citizens as the chief
executive of the nation, or must it
weaken in it's Democratic faith in
order that it can have one of its
sons as the president of the United
States? There may have been a
dav in the past when the cry of ex.
pediencey may have been justified.
but that time has long since passed,
THE SCARED veterans of two wars
testify to the part that we have
PLAYED in she union.
cit NAV be in the interest of some
politicians to raise the cry that it
is inexpedient to nominate a man
from a state that will surely es-
mousse any nominee who maintains
the principles of Democracy, but I
do not believe that any such thought
rests in the hearts and minds of the
great mass of people in the north.
4 am sure that our brethren from
Z the north are no longer considering
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