San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-27

hur anu tlcCltu II
dent of the United States and declar-
ing that the people of the South
must take the blame because they
have been content To take the second
place at the table. Senator Oscar w.
Underwood of Alabama Friday night
sounded the keynote of the next
presidential election when he addressed
an audience that filled the ballroom
Of the Gunter Hotel TO capacity on
the subject of the relations of the
United States TO Europe.
so far as government is concern
cd, you have ceased TO function in
Europe, and large numbers of people
have met disaster" he said. "Stabil-
ity is the objective we have in Europe
and it makes 10 difference BY what
means it is brought about. We must
have policy toward Europe within
the next four years. Whether
through league of nations or diplo-
matte channels, the forces of Amer
lea must he exercised TO restore peace
in finance, in business and in indus
try and to give the people of Europe
chance TO 60 TO work in order that
markets may be re-Cstablished for the
products of America"
Senator Underwood discussed at
length the need of stronger represcn-
tation Of the South in the government
of the United States.
Run BY Commissions.
"The government is run by commits
sions which have their hands on the
business pulse of the nation" be
stated. "These commissions tell you
Ia, 4 a,,1 xt-Iax
You can't do business.
"One-third of the population of the
country lives in the South. The
wealth of the South compares favor
ably with that of the rest of the
nation with the exception of few
financial centers. In business and in
area the South controls a third.
Measured from any standard it de-
serves one-third of the country's rep
resentation. And vet the membership
Of the commissions which control the
country's affairs numbers more than
100. and the South furnishes only
four of five of them"
Senator Underwood explained in
detail the composition of the Inter
state Commerce Commission and its
relation to the welfare of the coun-
try through the adjustment Of freight
rates.
Your prosperity depends upon get
ting your products TO market" Sena-
tor Underwood said. But when the
question of rates comes before the
commission. You have no representa-
ton on the board that determines
whether your commodity shall bear
an undue portion. When the doors
close on honest men. thcT first i'm
nulsc is to try To serve their con-
stituency, and others get what is
left.
who is to blame for this condi-
tion?" he asked 1t is not the fault
of Congress. Nor is it the fault Of
the appointing authority for he will
always respond when proper pressure
is brought to bear. The South Is
mainly TO blame. For years and de-
cadcs you have been content to take
the second place at the table. Under
a policy of expediency. for fifty years
you have never said you were entitled
TO representation.
Take Second Place.
at was at one time necessary for
you to yield to the cry of expediency,
but the veterans of two wars have
made your place in this nation. No
man nor set of men has a right to
dely it TO you. but you are denying
it to yourself. The mass of the peo-
ple in the North no longer believe the
issues Of go are the issues Of today.
but il is natural for the politicians of
the North to raise that cry. And
when it is made. you have formed the
habit of Quietly taking second place
at the table.
81 hone that this state tets the
country know il has the same right as
any other state. 1t is not a question
of who the man is going to be but
whether tine South is going TO claim
the position in the government which
it deserves. If you always yield TO
expediency when a President is TO be
elected. Of course you will be expect
ed to yield when a member is TO be
appointed to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the Farm Loan Commits
sion or any other commission"
The value of agricultural products
has increased 80 per cent since 1913,
and the cost of living has advanced
90 per cent during the same period.
Senator Underwood stated. The
value of livestock has increased only
two per cent. Whether or not the
people OF the South are to be pros
porous depends upon getting their
products to market at n rate that
will provide them sufficient income
for q living. Freight rates are ono
of the equations that must he worked
out. and the South is entitled TO rep
resentatiOn on the commission That
sets the rates. he contended.
People of Europe Idle.
He reviewed the present condition
of the farmers in the wheat belt and
said that the same plight is certain
10 come to the farmers of the South
the first time that an Over-production
of cotton is raised. The law of sup
ply and demand is going to control
the price. Temporary measures, such
as the buy-a-balc movement of 1911,
NAV bring relief for time. but con-
tinued prosperity demands that a
market be provided for the surplus.
agricultural America is the con-
suming market of manufacturing
America. " Senator Underwood stated.
when agricultural America is not
PROSPEROUS, manufacturing America
loses prosperity as well as the farm
er."
He expressed the opinion that the
low price of cotton in 1914 was not
caused by the war but by the fact
that the ships of England were busy
Transporting men and supplies TO the
battle fields instead of hauling cot
ton TO the European markets. More.
cotton was used by the guns of war
than by the Manchester mills in peace
times, he said
Europe. the great consuming mar
ket of America. is failing today be-
cause the people of Europe are not
find