The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
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/, UNDERWOOD is THE MAN

4lt is the opinion of the observant Raymond
Clapper that the Democratic nomination lies
with the will of four men, Charles Murphy
RrennaH of Illinois and Joe Guffey of Penn.
sSISania. If so, then the fortunes of the
Democratic party are in worse case than
people realize 1t would be sad indeed if
! the party were subject to the dictatorship
Of any four men ; still sadder would it be, if
it were subject to the dominance of Tam
many Hall Nevertheless, the party invited
some such influence. when it chose New York
for the convention city. 1t win now be the
part of the backbone of the party to resist
bossism and contend for denomination of
the best available man. regardless of machine
favor. .r
The quiet but persistent campaign Of Oscar
Underwood commends, itself widely to the
people of this country. He has attacked no
rivals and sought to create no schisms; but
he has steadfastly adhered to the principles
for which he has always stood and with
which he has always been identified. Popular
opinion has been steadily swinging to his
direction. because there has developed the
feeling that this man rests his. campaign on
fundamentals and not upon. any favor of a
day, which tomorrow may wither. It also
cannot fal to attract public notice, that. no
matter How .anxious Oscar Underwood of
Alabama! may be as to his political fortunes,
when the call of duty comes he is not alb
sent from his post. but is steadfastly per-
forming his official functions at the national
capital. To seize this opportunity to serve
his own political fortunes at the expense of
the public welfare must be "A. temptation of
mo- ordinary nature; vet Underwood, Fesfsts
that temptation and is 'centent to letehis
public record and his daily acts plead for
him, :. H., 49,. "a
Alabama offers to the nation as It's can
didate for the presidency man of that fidel-
ity to his constituency and to the American
people that is. found only in exceptional pub
lie servants While he does not forget the
important matters affecting his own state,
and is a Jealous guardian of the interests of
hisSstate and his section, it is, equally true
nationwide boundary. He never loses sight
of the national interest when dealing with
matters particularly applicable to his state.
nor. does he, forget the. legitimate claims of
his state when taking his stand on matters
of national moment There is in his mind
no conflict between the state and the ma
tiofal interest because he perceiyes that the
whole nation cannot be well if any. of its
members, that is, the states, are unfavorably
affected. Under a measured and appropriate
administration Of public affairs, there is no
legislation of national benefit that would
adversely affect the general welfare of any
state; and there is no proper enactment in
behalf sof any; state which would be detri-
mental to the general welfare Of the nation.
1t. is man with such a concept of gov
eminent inter-relationships of state and ma
ton, and the desire at all times to promote
their mutual well-being that the United
States especially needs today. The centrali-
cation at Washington of those functions that
properly belong to the states would be I'm.
wise. The failure of the central government
to assume those responsibilities belonging, to
it would be equally unwise. Oscar Under.
wood is one who is exceptionally well able to
make the determinations essential to a
proper balancing of state and federal powers
and legislative fields. How much better it
would be if the Democratic nominee were
thus chosen because Of his outstanding and
undeniable merit rather than to be dependent
upon the favor of either four or forty bosses.
The best, Democrats in the party will see to
it that the nominee is thus chosen because
of merit and not because of any trucking to
bossism and machine politics.