The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21
REFUTINC A CHARGE

| NET V A1N0 "A (AlfAN0G
 A recent expression of The Age Herald that the presidential am- bitions of Senator Underwood were being hindered, not advanced, through the mistaken policy of some of the Alabama friends of MT. Underwood, brought from the Montgomery Adver- tiser a measure of criticism of The Age-Herald. The Advertiser resorted to inuendo and characteristically sought to escape it's dilemma created by it's use of Republican condemns tion of a distinguished Democrat, by attributing improper motives to The Age-Herald.
 The view expressed by The Age Herald was that MT. Underwood, if successful, before the next Democratic National convention, would necessar- fly have to be nominated by delegates who at the present time were com mitted to other candidates, and that any criticism of other Democratic as pirants by the Alabama supporters of MT. Underwood, could but result in a hostility toward MT. Underwood that simple political philosophy would seek to avoid.
 Tn expressing such view, The Age Heraldreferred to an editorial in the Advertiser which was severe in criti- cism of former Secretary McAdoo, in which editorial the Advertiser quoted and indorsed an editorial from tke New York Tribune, hide-bound, un- fair, anti-South Republican newspaper. It was charged by the Tribune and indorsed by the Advertiser, that MT. McAdoo would use his influence to have embodied in the Democratic plat form a commitment for government ownership of railroads, the Advertiser specifically charging that MT. McAdoo was in favor of government ownership.
 Of course, 1t was clear misreprs- sentation of a distinguished Demo- crat's position, and the Advertiser, not gracefully, and apparently with reluc- tance, was forced last week to cor rection of its charge by publishing letter from MT. McAdoo, who said that this perversion of his position was "Reiteration of misrepresentation of my views by a persistent propaganda originating principally from Republi- can sources"
 The Advertiser published an extract of MT. McAdoo's testimony before a committee of the United States senave which accompanied the McAdoo letter to the Advertiser as follows:
 Senator Watson (of Indiana):
 Do you personally believe in gov
 ernment ownership of railroads?
 Secretary McAdoo: I do not,
 or have not, at least, felt that it was necessary to take the actual
 ownership of the railroads. I be- lieve that it will be impossible
 after the return of peace to re-
 store the competitive conditions
 to the same extent as they existed prior to the outbreak of the war. l favor some form of govern mental regulation and control of
 far stronger, more intelligent
 and effective character than we
 have had heretofore, because I
 am satisfied that a stronger gov
 ernment control will be demanded
 and will have to be worked out,
 both in the interest of the public
 and in the interest of the security
 holders of these railroads.
 The Advertiser now admits that Mir. McAdoo's testimony was tan ex- plicit rejection of government owner ship of railroads, but an advocate of far stronger, more intelligent and more effective regulation and control, the Advertiser quoting also another public expression sent by MT. McAdoo as refutation of that newspapers charge:
 The railroad problem is one of
 the most vital of all domestic
 problems to the farmer. It is
 equally vital to shippers and to
 all the people. It can be solved
 by intelligent, dispassionate and
 patriotic efforts with justice to
 labor and to investors without re-
 sorting to government ownership.
 This should not come until every
 thing else has failed.
 In confirmation of the view first expressed, The Age-Herald again sub mits to the loyal and disinterested friends of MT. Underwood that this sort of reckless attack upon candidates by Alabamians is calculated to create hostility to MT. Underwood both harmful and unnecessary. What Mir. Underwood's real friends should do is to seek the friendly and harmonious interests of the present supporters of other candidates, and not antagonize those whose support is necessary if. success is to come to our candidate. This is particularly emphasized, for The Age Herald has not been able to observe where any supporters of other candidates have other than sought the friendly support of the friends of MT. Underwood. in all instances refraining